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AustinTX

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  1. In 2016, Joanie posted a request for more information on Hedgecroft Hospital in the 1960s. It was at 5010 Montrose Blvd. in Houston TX (built 1923; demolished 1970). The building was originally the home of Neill Turner Masterson; then a polio hospital; and then Houston's first psychiatric hospital. It's been replaced by a modern building, the Administration building for the Houston Museum of Fine Arts. (I don't think it was ever part of St. Thomas University - that's further north on Montrose). It was across Bartlett Street from a big, beautiful old hotel/apartment building (still there, now Prosperity Bank Bldg) which had a nice restaurant. Hedgecroft was indeed a beautiful old home, with a great staircase, and lovely grounds and large shady trees, where I used to picnic on my lunch hour. I worked there during the summers of 1966-1968, first in Medical Records and then upstairs as a ward clerk. The staff were all professional, dedicated, kind people. I can't compliment them enough. ECT treatments (AKA electroshock therapy) were indeed done there, but not on every patient. Some mental health treatments were still in a research phase, and new treatments weren't always found to be successful for specific diagnoses. The first medical chief of staff was a psychiatrist, Dr. Mills. There were about 15- 20 psychiatrists with hospital admitting privileges. I did not personally know the psychiatric nurse, Louise Welters, but learned of her, and that she was from the Netherlands. She was also a World War II heroine. I learned later that she was a licensed pilot, and recruited in America from England, to be part of England's war effort, by the Royal Air Force ATA (Air Transport Auxiliary), one of the 166 women in this women-only branch - the first women-only branch to fly. (That ATA unit has a website now, with profiles of each of these women, but few service women still survive.) Louise (maiden name Schuurman) was recruited in America, where her father was serving as Consul General from the Netherlands in New Orleans. She served in England throughout the war. The ATA members ferried planes manufactured in the US (many by women like "Rosy the Riveter") across the Atlantic, for use in war by the (male) Allied pilots. The ATA also ferried planes used in training male Allied pilots in England, from one air base to another. Those ATA pilots learned how to fly every type of airplane used in the war effort, and had to fly from one to another type in the same day. Women pilots were not always accepted by the men, but overcame many obstacles as females in service, and did exemplary duty. Some even died in crashes. After the war, they were not allowed to claim veteran status as officers, not allowed pensions or benefits, nor even allowed to discuss their service in public - it was considered classified information. It was only in the 1980s or so (decades later) that they were officially recogized and honored by the military and the government. It was unfortunate that Louise Welters did not live to see that day. She kept up her pilot's license and flying hours, but tragically died in a rented plane crash in 1962, near the Galveston airport. We owe much to the women who served unselfishly during this War, especially when their service was not officially recognized. (The United States soon afterwards had a Women's Air unit during World War II: the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). They trained at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas, and were also considered non-military, despite their service. They are also honored now, and can be buried at National Cemeteries with full Military Honors. The new WASP Museum at Avenger Field is a small, but very impressive one, with profiles of each woman pilot, and several planes. They also have a website. The Museum is worth a trip.)
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