Delaware State Hospital Cemetery at Farnhurst
Historical background. This cemetery is also known as the “Spiral Cemetery” and is located at the northwestern edge of the Holloway Campus, just southwest of the Springer Building (across the parking lot). It was the official cemetery for people who died at the Delaware State Hospital/Delaware Psychiatric Center and were not claimed by friends or family for burial elsewhere. The 778 burials date from 1891 to 1983, and are indicated by small numbered granite markers in a spiral pattern (#1 at the center). Only one grave has an actual headstone. One Civil War Veteran (Arnold Morris, 25th US Colored Infantry,
Union, Grave #199) has been identified to date.
Most of the people who are buried in this cemetery were indigent patients of the Delaware State Hospital (DSH). Today, the successor of the DSH is the Delaware Psychiatric Center (DPC); the DPC serves only individuals with mental illness. In the past, however, the DSH also served individuals with developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, seizure disorders, syphilis, alcohol and substance abuse problems, and various types of senile dementia. In addition, because the DSH was better equipped to provide medical care of all kinds, seriously ill residents of the New Castle County Almshouse were also routinely transferred to DSH.
The Almshouse, later known as the New Castle County Hospital, (NCCH) was once located adjacent to the main DSH building. In the photo above, the Almshouse/NCCH is the building on the left facing DuPont Highway. The matching building on the right is the original Delaware State Hospital; it is ow the Main Administration Building at the Holloway Campus. The Almshouse burned to the ground in the 1950s.
In addition to indigent patients from the DSH and Almshouse, the Spiral Cemetery includes at least one employee of DSH, a painter, who died of smallpox at a time when the campus was under quarantine.
There is a “Cemetery Book” that records the names, dates of death, and grave numbers of (almost) everyone buried in the Spiral Cemetery. The original is housed at the Delaware State Archives in Dover, and the data are available on-line at www.findagrave.com (Delaware State Hospital Cemetery).
Accomplishments to date. The following tasks have been accomplished for the Farnhurst Spiral Cemetery:
Union, Grave #199) has been identified to date.
Most of the people who are buried in this cemetery were indigent patients of the Delaware State Hospital (DSH). Today, the successor of the DSH is the Delaware Psychiatric Center (DPC); the DPC serves only individuals with mental illness. In the past, however, the DSH also served individuals with developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, seizure disorders, syphilis, alcohol and substance abuse problems, and various types of senile dementia. In addition, because the DSH was better equipped to provide medical care of all kinds, seriously ill residents of the New Castle County Almshouse were also routinely transferred to DSH.
The Almshouse, later known as the New Castle County Hospital, (NCCH) was once located adjacent to the main DSH building. In the photo above, the Almshouse/NCCH is the building on the left facing DuPont Highway. The matching building on the right is the original Delaware State Hospital; it is ow the Main Administration Building at the Holloway Campus. The Almshouse burned to the ground in the 1950s.
In addition to indigent patients from the DSH and Almshouse, the Spiral Cemetery includes at least one employee of DSH, a painter, who died of smallpox at a time when the campus was under quarantine.
There is a “Cemetery Book” that records the names, dates of death, and grave numbers of (almost) everyone buried in the Spiral Cemetery. The original is housed at the Delaware State Archives in Dover, and the data are available on-line at www.findagrave.com (Delaware State Hospital Cemetery).
Accomplishments to date. The following tasks have been accomplished for the Farnhurst Spiral Cemetery:
- The overlying brush and vines have been cleared away, and the grass is routinely mowed by a crew from DHSS Facilities
- A landscape plan has been drawn up; once implemented, it will mark off and beautify the cemetery, which is currently not very noticeable (plan available from Faith Kuehn)
- A comparative report on what other states have done to restore their long-forgotten mental institution cemeteries has been prepared (report available here)
- A fund (FR 1204) has been established with the Delaware Community Foundation, to facilitate financial contributions to the committee
- An application has been made to the state Cemetery Board to register the cemetery, which will make it eligible for support from the Distressed Cemetery Fund. UPDATE 2016: The Cemetery is now officially registered with the state, but it was ruled ineligible for support from the Distressed Cemetery Fund, as it is located on State of Delaware property, and therefore should be maintained by the state.
- Outreach has been made to various other stake-holders, including members of the peer community
- UPDATE 2016: All of the above goals have been accomplished. The cemetery was (re)dedicated at a lovely ceremony on May 9, 2016 featuring speakers, poetry, bagpipes, other music, and the placing of U.S. flags at the three veterans' graves. A memorial monument with tiles displaying the names and marker numbers of all of the cemetery's occupants was designed and created through the auspices of the Creative Vision Factory under the direction of Michael Kalmbach and artist William Slowik. A Delaware State Historical Marker was erected at the site.
- UPDATE 2022: There have been multiple issues with the memorial monument and its tiles. First, the non-name/number tiles (the decorative ones) failed, due to some error in the firing process. The entire monument was re-built, even nicer than before, but alas, the adhesive used to affix the tiles was not the correct type and many of the tiles fell off (though not the one for Baby Crumlish, which was affixed with Gorilla Glue back in 2016). Currently, plans are underway to re-do the memorial yet again in the spring of 2023, for the third time under the direction of Michael Kalmbach. What can I say? I have nothing to do with that aspect of the project. In addition, the current Potter's Field site next to the Baylor Women's facility reached capacity and a decision was made -- without input from anyone connected to the DSH Spiral Cemetery restoration -- to bury people all around the perimeter of the historical DSH cemetery. Some of the granite numbered headstones in the DSH Cemetery have been damaged by the bulldozers digging new graves immediately adjacent to the outer spirals. Despite protests, this practice has continued. Once this space has been filled, graves will be placed in the woods along the Markell Trail and Baylor Blvd., where the trail goes underneath the I-295 ramp. This will eventually encroach on the NCCH/FPF Cemetery. Sigh.