Ridge Home Information (Denver, Arvada, Englewood: for sale, houses, neighborhoods)

[Veritech YF-17]

Hi how you doin? If it is Ridge home you are inquiring about I have a tale for you. My friends and I during our high school years stumbled accross this place, we were the first ones to really started hanging out there and made it a party spot when we wanted to make some noise, we had no idea as to the history of the place when we were hanging out there we just new of the rumours passed down by parents and friends, we all as well as myself had explored that place inside and out as well as traversed the tunnels underneath the place, so if you would like to know more I am an expert on the creepy side of that place.

[winglady]

Originally Posted by MVpara

It was mental hospital also known as Colorado State Home for Mental Defectives at Ridge located in Arvada Co,most made up of juviniles some we're perfectly normal children that were dropped off to live there the rest of their lives then later they became socially mentaly disabled

I'm sure jm175 would be far more informed than I am, however, while doing volunteer work with what we then called "mentally retarded" children back in my high school days, we toured the Ridge Home, and spent a little time there working with children who were at a higher level of function than most in the home.

The vast majority of children we saw there were obviously severely handicapped, both mentally and physically. Even in my wildest imagination, I cannot see how any of them were ever "perfectly normal children" who "became" socially or mentally disabled due to their stay there. Many of the residents clearly required nursing care 24/7. While seeing the residents was certainly disturbing, it wasn't due to something that had been done to them when they were placed in the home.

I'm wondering if most of the rumors, tales, and ghost stories aren't simply the stories told by teens and even adults, based on their fear of people who are seriously handicapped, rather than based on any actual facts.

[PorcelainPrincess]

Originally Posted by winglady

I'm sure jm175 would be far more informed than I am, however, while doing volunteer work with what we then called "mentally retarded" children back in my high school days, we toured the Ridge Home, and spent a little time there working with children who were at a higher level of function than most in the home.

The vast majority of children we saw there were obviously severely handicapped, both mentally and physically. Even in my wildest imagination, I cannot see how any of them were ever "perfectly normal children" who "became" socially or mentally disabled due to their stay there. Many of the residents clearly required nursing care 24/7. While seeing the residents was certainly disturbing, it wasn't due to something that had been done to them when they were placed in the home.

I'm wondering if most of the rumors, tales, and ghost stories aren't simply the stories told by teens and even adults, based on their fear of people who are seriously handicapped, rather than based on any actual facts.

You know, this wasn't rumors and no one was scared of the seriously handicapped in my family. My grandmother worked there, she was a "pill pusher" and I have spoken with so many people that actually worked at Ridge that could tell you the same. There was honestly perfectly normal children that would end up there. They would become that way. Reading into psychology... It happens.

[livecontent]

Originally Posted by winglady

I'm sure jm175 would be far more informed than I am, however, while doing volunteer work with what we then called "mentally retarded" children back in my high school days, we toured the Ridge Home, and spent a little time there working with children who were at a higher level of function than most in the home.

The vast majority of children we saw there were obviously severely handicapped, both mentally and physically. Even in my wildest imagination, I cannot see how any of them were ever "perfectly normal children" who "became" socially or mentally disabled due to their stay there. Many of the residents clearly required nursing care 24/7. While seeing the residents was certainly disturbing, it wasn't due to something that had been done to them when they were placed in the home.

I'm wondering if most of the rumors, tales, and ghost stories aren't simply the stories told by teens and even adults, based on their fear of people who are seriously handicapped, rather than based on any actual facts.

I agree with this post. I was also a Volunteer at these facilities. I saw much and what is said, I could not say any better. It was a difficult situation to see; there were children that were severely handicapped beyond what you can even imagine.

I get very sad when I think of what I saw and how difficult it was to care for them. These conditions of pain and suffering are another indications of the mercy and compassion of the gods that you praise.

To go on about a ghost here and ghost there, is for the ignorant or bored people in society who have nothing better to do with their time. I would suggest find another avenue for your energies--like helping and volunteering in similar care facilities--that will cure you and teach you some valuable life lessons. It taught much to me.

Livecontent

[Noahma]

my father and my mother met there. my grandfather did some high management stuff there, and they lived on campus in a house on the opposite side of the railroad tracks from the campus from the 60's-80's I remember very little about visiting the place to see my mom and dad at work. They used to have satellite homes as well in the area which had some of the less disabled children. I think alot of the story's are a little exaggerated.

[livecontent]

Originally Posted by Noahma

my father and my mother met there. my grandfather did some high management stuff there, and they lived on campus in a house on the opposite side of the railroad tracks from the campus from the 60's-80's I remember very little about visiting the place to see my mom and dad at work. They used to have satellite homes as well in the area which had some of the less disabled children. I think alot of the story's are a little
exaggerated.

The satellite homes were the newer buildings on the property. They were built to give more of home feeling to these children.

I was between jobs and somewhat depressed. I decided that because I was such a "great chef" that I would give some of my services to help prepare the meals and special diets--this was about 25 years ago. I got to go to all the buildings; I have never forgot the experience of seeing such unfortunate human beings. I would go home every day emotionally shaken. It took special people to work in that situation; I never saw abuse but I do not deny in a such a place, it could occur. Most of the people I worked with were just normal people with normal emotions and feelings; at times, the situations could be difficult.

It did help me get over my depressions and help me see I was comparatively lucky and had much in my life. The experience made me more compassionate and also helped lead me to a philosophy of social humanism without theism.

Livecontent

[PorcelainPrincess]

Originally Posted by livecontent

It took special people to work in that situation; I never saw abuse but I do not deny in a such a place, it could occur. Most of the people I worked with were just normal people with normal emotions and feelings; at times, the situations could be difficult.

It has been federally documented that there was abuse, in front of Feds. no less. But how much this was blow up, who knows. It says two orderlies used "excessive force" to make a man stop banging his head on a wall. This was in the end of Ridge, early 90s.

I do agree about the people who worked there. My grandma loved the kids there very much. My great aunt also worked there. My grandma was there for over 8 years. Ridge Home scared my mom when she was little because, yes, at her age and that time, she was scared of the people there.

But my grandma also had a group of friends who worked there with her, trying hard to change how people were treated. She didn't like how they were being treated. In her day, which was the 60s and 70s at Ridge, she was the one who had to drug them. She said they were basically living drugged.

Another great aunt of mine had a baby who was born with Down Syndrome. When he was born, the doctors told her she should hand him over to Ridge Home. My grandma begged her not to, told her she would even take care of him if she didn't want him. He was born in the early 60s. So he never ended up in state care.

He instead ended up becoming a great member to Arvada. He was in the Sentinel for the work he did with horses and the family farm. No one believed someone of his mental state could do things like that back then.

I believe the reason people were as they were at Ridge is because, yes while most the staff loved them, there just wasn't enough staff or trained well enough staff to help them. Because they could have been helped and didn't have to be stuck as severally disabled as they were.

As far as the whole ghost thing. I can't fully say I believe that stuff. I believe in the left over feelings and sort of like feelings and memories imprinted on places. I think people who are more empathetic than others can feel it stronger. But I am not fully sure on the ghost thing.

EDIT - I have to add too. You can't say there was no abuse, there was no perfectly normal kids dropped off there, you can't say how much everyone cared because the fact is, Ridge was opened in 1912, so yes, it could have happened so much more than you know. Ridge Home was open and running for over 90 years. The histories of asylums, state homes and other places for mentally disabled show that back in the early 1900s they couldn't tell the difference between mentally disabled and mentally insane. They thought they were all the same. When Ridge Home was first opened, you couldn't leave. You would have to die or be transfered to Pueblo. Pueblo was an insane asylum then.

But no, don't anyone buy into the Ridge Home was all bad, Ridge Home was nothing but abuse because it wasn't. They took the kids out on the hills to have camps, they would try to give most the people there as normal of a life as they could. But some of the people just didn't care.

[livecontent]

Originally Posted by PorcelainPrincess

It has been federally documented that there was abuse, in front of Feds. no less. But how much this was blow up, who knows. It says two orderlies used "excessive force" to make a man stop banging his head on a wall. This was in the end of Ridge, early 90s.

I do agree about the people who worked there. My grandma loved the kids there very much. My great aunt also worked there. My grandma was there for over 8 years. Ridge Home scared my mom when she was little because, yes, at her age and that time, she was scared of the people there.

But my grandma also had a group of friends who worked there with her, trying hard to change how people were treated. She didn't like how they were being treated. In her day, which was the 60s and 70s at Ridge, she was the one who had to drug them. She said they were basically living drugged.

Another great aunt of mine had a baby who was born with Down Syndrome. When he was born, the doctors told her she should hand him over to Ridge Home. My grandma begged her not to, told her she would even take care of him if she didn't want him. He was born in the early 60s. So he never ended up in state care.

He instead ended up becoming a great member to Arvada. He was in the Sentinel for the work he did with horses and the family farm. No one believed someone of his mental state could do things like that back then.

I believe the reason people were as they were at Ridge is because, yes while most the staff loved them, there just wasn't enough staff or trained well enough staff to help them. Because they could have been helped and didn't have to be stuck as severally disabled as they were.

As far as the whole ghost thing. I can't fully say I believe that stuff. I believe in the left over feelings and sort of like feelings and memories imprinted on places. I think people who are more empathetic than others can feel it stronger. But I am not fully sure on the ghost thing.

EDIT - I have to add too. You can't say there was no abuse, there was no perfectly normal kids dropped off there, you can't say how much everyone cared because the fact is, Ridge was opened in 1912, so yes, it could have happened so much more than you know. Ridge Home was open and running for over 90 years. The histories of asylums, state homes and other places for mentally disabled show that back in the early 1900s they couldn't tell the difference between mentally disabled and mentally insane. They thought they were all the same. When Ridge Home was first opened, you couldn't leave. You would have to die or be transfered to Pueblo. Pueblo was an insane asylum then.

But no, don't anyone buy into the Ridge Home was all bad, Ridge Home was nothing but abuse because it wasn't. They took the kids out on the hills to have camps, they would try to give most the people there as normal of a life as they could. But some of the people just didn't care.

Good Post. We cannot also apply ideas learned today on social programs of the past. People did what they though was correct at that time and we have different ideas today. In the same idea, we may fail the judgments and ideas of the future.

Livecontent

[krs100]

where was this located

[SheridanL]

My first husband and I lived the first residential block to the west, on Simms Place. He still lives there. His mother, my ex- mom in law, worked there(and retired from there).
My sister used to volunteer there when she was in high school.
My ex has one of the fire escape stairs (metal, outdoor) from one of the buildings, he has it going from his 3rd story playroom to the back yard. 51st & Simms Place.

I have never heard of hauntings. I will ask my oldest son if he has any info.
I was shocked when it was torn down.....don't know why?

I guess I'm always shocked at how much everything has changed since I have moved down to southern CO. All of that area, Denver, Aurora, Arvada....