The Gazette, April 28, 1900

Arrival of the Insane Patients

Hastings is now an insane asylum town in fact as well as in name, the first installment of patients having been received Thursday. They were brought up from Rochester. The class of men received are above the average found in asylums, and were picked with a view of making a good record for our institution. They are mostly of middle age.

The board of trustees are to be congratulated upon their wise selection of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Carmichael as superintendent and matron. No better or more competent persons could have been found for these positions. The interests of the state are carefully looked after, and Mr. Carmichael has exhibited sound judgment in the minor appointments, his sole aim being to secure the most competent help obtainable.

Almost exactly to the day 78 years later and 16,015 patients later, the hospital closed its doors. The decline in numbers was attributed to new forms of therapy and trained staff. As part of Hastings history was gone, a new history would begin several days later when the first residents moved into the Minnesota Veterans Home which now occupies the former Hastings State hospital campus.