11 Most Endangered Historic Places
Human Services Center
Year Listed: 2009
Location: Yankton, South Dakota
Current Status: Favorable
Threat: Demolition
Human Services Center
Patient Tug of War in front of the Meade Building, threatened with demolition.
Latest News
April 2011: The new state administration has informed the National Trust and partners that it will not demolish the historic Human Services Center buildings during its tenure.
Significance
The oldest public institution in the state, the Human Services Center – formerly the South Dakota Hospital for the Insane – played an important role in South Dakota history. It was here in the 1890's that Dr. Leonard Mead implemented his groundbreaking idea of creating an environment that would be therapeutically beneficial for patients instead of the sterile, fear-provoking asylums of the day. As he added buildings to the campus in the former territorial capital of Yankton, it became more New England college than prairie hospital. Surrounding a landscaped central park, the 65-acre campus, constructed between 1882 and 1942, featured neoclassical, Art Deco, Italianate, Prairie and Neo-Renaissance buildings, many constructed of South Dakota-quarried Sioux quartzite. Each building had sun-drenched dayrooms with columns and attractive architectural features, like Carrara marble and granite staircases. Today, more than 125 years after the institution was founded, the State is moving forward with plans to demolish many of the historic buildings on the Yankton campus.
In 1899, a fire at the hospital took the lives of 17 patients. In the aftermath, Dr. Mead ensured that all subsequent buildings were rock-solid – constructed of stone, with foot-thick walls, clay tile roofing and concrete for fireproofing. An amateur architect, Dr. Mead left his artistic mark in the wide porches, fan and Palladian windows, pedimented porticos, balustrades, bracketed eaves, arches, pillars, coffered ceilings and terrazzo floors that adorn the campus.
The collection of buildings on the Human Services Center (HSC) campus is both architecturally significant and representative of the style of treatment for the mentally ill between 1880 and 1940. Many patients spent their entire lives at the hospital, and, as a result, the majority of the endangered buildings once served as patient wards. The campus also includes barns and farm buildings where patients would engage in therapeutic activities such as growing vegetables.
Updates
February 2011: Lieutenant Governor Matt Michels held a meeting with representatives from the Yankton County Historical Society, HSC Advocacy Coalition, state administrative heads, and the three Yankton legislators to present the state’s position on the historic HSC buildings and to listen to the interests of the various meeting attendees. One of the unresolved issues discussed was options of future property ownership; i.e., whether or not the buildings could be sold or leased for future development. Through research, the Lt. Governor learned that the buildings can indeed be sold or leased with the proceeds directly benefiting the HSC. This opens doors to potential reinvestment scenarios.
January 2011: The National Trust briefly met with the new Lieutenant Governor Matt Michels, a Yankton resident, during the South Dakota Historic Preservation Advocacy Day in Pierre to discuss the new administration’s interest in the threatened historic buildings on the HSC campus. The Lt. Governor stated that the administration is not interested in demolishing the buildings and will assist in efforts to save and re-use them, most especially the Mead Building, which the Yankton County Historical Society is currently assessing for re-use as the Dakota Territorial Museum and Cultural Center. The Mead Building planning efforts have been supported by two Francis “Peg” Lamont Fund grants from the National Trust and Deadwood Fund grants from the South Dakota State Historical Society and City of Deadwood.
May 2, 2010: In commemoration of the one-year anniversary of the Human Services Center designation to the 11 Most list and celebration of Preservation Month, the Dakota Territorial Museum, Preserve South Dakota and National Trust are inviting the public to a free tour of the historic Mead Building and to learn about the campus' other National Register-listed buildings in need of re-use. Join us on May 2nd from noon to 3:00pm! More information can be found here.
April 2009: In the 1990s, the State determined that the HSC's historic buildings were no longer needed and constructed a new mental health facility on campus called the Mickelson Center. Since that time, many historic buildings have been left vacant - without even utility service or routine maintenance. Despite being neglected, the buildings have endured because of their solid construction.
In 2007, the South Dakota Joint Appropriations Committee voted to approve funds to begin demolition of selected historic buildings on the HSC campus, but budget constraints resulted in a temporary reprieve. The continuing economic downturn prevented a similar appropriation in 2008, but a future ask will more than likely be made and could be approved.
Submitted by hannah at: September 24, 2010
move the human services center and keep the buildings for other things like museums. those buildings have historic signifacance. i feel that they should be preserved
Submitted by JoJo at: September 8, 2010
I vote for saving the Meade Building located on the north edge of Yankton.
Submitted by Troy at: June 29, 2010
Visit Preserve South Dakota's website to learn more about advocacy efforts to save the HSC. http://www.preservesd.org
Submitted by Claire at: May 17, 2010
So extremely beautiful
Submitted by suthernrican at: April 8, 2010
I love to tour historical architecture and as i get older ( and as the kids start moving out) I will get much more opportunity to do so. This is one place I would love to add to historical places I want to tour in addition to places such as Charleston, Savannah, New Orleans, and DC. The building is absolutely beautiful and to destroy it would be to deny our children a glimpse of our countries History.
Submitted by T-bone at: April 1, 2010
I would love to tour the buildings on the site. I think these buildings need to be preserved. The state could raise money by giving tours of these beautiful buildings.
Submitted by N D at: February 15, 2010
One can only pray that someone has the sense to stop the destruction of these beautiful historic buildings.
Submitted by Kathy at: February 9, 2010
My great-grandfather, Halsted E. Dreyer was a patient and died there in 1928. I think it would be wonderful to tour and I really think that history should be preserved.
Submitted by CAN at: November 30, 2009
The November 1, 2009 open house at the Mead Building on the Human Services Center Campus had nearly 1,000 people attend after the final count was tallied. Members of the Yankton County Historical Society, in charge of the rehabilitation project at Mead, were overwhelmed with the support and thank everyone that was able to make it that day.
Submitted by MB at: November 2, 2009
Cool i'm from Yankton and it makes me proud to see that they will be saving a beautiful building of this quality. i went on a tour there yesterday and it was definitely deteriorating but not past the point of saving. it was truly a beautiful building and i will definitely tour it again if the chance is presented. there was a good turn out yesterday so there is definitely people interested in saving it. i bet the was at least 200 people that came to see it.
Submitted by TR at: October 19, 2009
I know much of what we writed is not gonna make a diffrence. But these are all voices that care of a very historical and for some memorable land mark At the age of 31 i have no memory or connection but, this place has stories and the remarkable art and talent that was put in to this building its a shame anyone would want to destroy it. This building can still be restored along with many that already have in Yankton. And put it to good use of the people who enjoy the art life brings. it will cost to restore it but with donations and when it's finish it can be used for tours . Some parts can be taxable. The history of Yankton is incrediable but if the land marks keep being destroyed , all the history is gone. Why are our kids learning the history , because its an important part in life that brought us to where we are now. If history is destroyed what is there to learn. Destroying history tells me its not important to you so why should it be to my kids or any others.
Submitted by DJ at: October 6, 2009
Looks like this would make an excellant college campus. It already has the historic buildings like many IVY LEAGUE SCHOOLS!!! They should go green and restore rather than destroy!!!
Submitted by J at: September 23, 2009
My first experience with the facility was as a highschool student in a nearby town in the late 70's. A small number of us were allowed to tour some of the buildings which included active patient units. I clearly recall the large marble staircases and a specific column that had a worn groove around it. The story told to us was that was from a restraint that held a particularly aggressive patient over many years. (Times have changed.) My second experience of the facility was as a medical student doing an 8 week rotation. By then some of the buildings were no longer being used. I was recently passing through the area and decided to drive through the old campus and I am still struck by the significance of the old buildings. It makes me somewhat sad to think that some of this cannot be preserved. It certainly would be an interesting attraction to the area if handled correctly.
Submitted by Anonymous at: August 18, 2009
This stuff makes me sick. You will never again find the craftsmanship of this time period. It's gone. The same thing happened to Penn Station in New York. Most of that pillars and gorgeous statues ended up in swamps outside the city. I don't understand the thinking in not preserving these works of art.
Submitted by M at: August 4, 2009
My sibling did a mental health rotation at this facility in the mid- 1960's. I recall going to the facility with my mother to pick-up my sibling for a weekend trip home. Listening to the stories on the way home was a bit haunting. Later in life this facility would assist our family with another family member's mental illness. Mental illness touches a family in a profound and biting way and I believe mental illness is still misunderstood. After dropping off my sibling at the conclusion of our weekend visit I recall looking back at the gates as they closed behind us. Even at a young age I realized that I was able to leave and that so many we unable to leave.
Submitted by Anonymous at: July 21, 2009
An architecturally similar structure (and fellow former state mental hospital) in Northern Michigan has undergone an extremely successful renovation and is now a thriving business/residential community. Check it out at http://www.thevillagetc.com/
Submitted by sfjkbgs at: May 18, 2009
Why the hek should we save it
Submitted by sombody at: May 18, 2009
its rele rele cool
Submitted by Anonymous at: April 30, 2009
As senior at Menno High School in 1953, we were invited to present our senior play at the Human Services Center. It was great experience. We had never been in such a beautiful settng. The audience was very appreciative and made us feel great with their warm applause and laughter. Vic Rames
Submitted by Nick at: April 30, 2009
I would personally turn it into a tourist attraction Yankton is not far from state lines so make it into a museum dedicated to the buildings their creator, and period medicine that has been practiced in the facility threw out the years. Lots of naval ships, forts, medical facilities all over the country do the same. It’s a shame when beautiful buildings like Danvers get torn down for new development.
Submitted by CJ at: April 29, 2009
Has anyone thought of turning this into a Luxury Resort? I think that could be a great use for the buildings. It could be a great resort town with posh guest suites, Day spa's, mabye even re-use the barn for aquestrian pursuts. You could also build some small cottages that mach the arcatecture of the surrounding buildings. Dooing that could help the local economy. Don't beleve me? Well Detroit turned an old pharmacuticals plant (built around the same time) into a luxury hotel and it is a huge success.
Submitted by bhp at: April 29, 2009
I remember being a student nurse in 1972 and living in Lee Cottage which no longer exists...and Mead building was the show case. I would really hate to see this wonderful architecture destroyed. I agree a historical place with history inclosed would be great but the college idea sounds good too. Whatever the decision may it not be destroyed.
Submitted by vp at: April 29, 2009
I was a nursing student at Mount Marty College and did my mental health nursing rotation at this facility, it is beautiful and should be preserved as an historic site.
Submitted by ndb at: April 28, 2009
i remember first visiting the Mead Bldg. I was agast at seeing the chain marks around the pillars where inmates had been chained. I also worked ther as an RN in the youth arrea. This needs to be preserved! Please help!
Submitted by PGMerkle at: April 28, 2009
Why not put these up for sale? If the State of South Dakota no longer needs the buildings, it seems that it would gain immensely to return the structures to the tax roles. I'm sure that's been looked at and rejected, or their demolition would not have been planned. It's time to look at it again. Keep me posted of the invitation to bid!
Submitted by Duane at: April 28, 2009
My mother was a part of this Human Services Center from 1935 to a date I'm not sure of although she passed away just a few years ago at 90 years of age. I was very young while she was there. To destroy buildings as amgnificent as these is to destroy a part of each of us, You can avert another tragic mistake by making use of this campus for positive comunity needs.
Submitted by Lynn at: April 28, 2009
I agree! It will probably cost just as much to demolish the beautiful buildings as to repair them. Why not give Yankton another historic monument and bring in money at the same time! You have to wonder what people are thinking...wanting to demolish such gorgeous buildings.
Submitted by Diana at: April 28, 2009
Open your eyes....It's a ready-made college! Seriously, they have an amazing opertunity to restore history and enhance post-secondary educational opportunities in one shot. I can easily see this as becoming an amazing college for pyschology, design, history, art, and sociology majors.