Skywatch Friday - August 15, 2025

Skywatch Friday 

A few years ago I went to Salem, OR to accompany someone taking a professional state license exam (Salem being the state capital). 

While there we visited the OHS Museum of Mental Health.  Opened first as an "asylum" in 1883, it was still a hospital when used as a filming location for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.  It certainly seems highly inappropriate now that employees, including the superintendent, were cast in the film, and even more so that patients were involved, behind the scenes, as well as on-screen.  There is no public record of their consent, if they were even able to give it. 

Of course, there is a new hospital now, on the same grounds.  

While it's not a happy place to visit, I do recommend it if you are ever in Salem.  It was eye-opening to see exhibits and read about the patients and "treatments."  So many women were keep against their wills due to their husbands claiming they were acting "crazy" or menopausal.  

It's a beautiful building, with beautiful grounds.

The Baby Hercules Fountain was originally installed around 1900.  It went through several moves, storages, and vandalizations, before it was placed in its current location, sans a working fountain.

I dragged these oldies out for their bright blue skies.

It's been too hot this past week to even think of going outside to sky watch!  I'm talking 106° hot.  Yesterday the heat wave broke, and the upcoming week is forecast only in the 80s.  The 50% chance of rain tomorrow is something to look forward to. What a relief!  Mickey may actually get a walk to the park this weekend.  Except I have something in the bottom of my foot, it might be an old sliver of glass that I think has been there for a few weeks, but only just started hurting.  It's hard to see the bottom of your own foot!  I may have to see the doctor to get whatever it is out. 

Have a nice weekend.