‘Utica’ Describes History Of The Old Main

By Clara Shupp

At the Oneida County History Center last month, a talk and screening of the film “Utica” took place.

“Utica” is a short documentary detailing the innovative past of what is called Old Main, or as it was first known, the New York State Lunatic Asylum at Utica.

The director of the History Center said around 180 people were in attendance at the screening.

Before the screening took place, Mark Hanna, portraying the “ghost” of Dr. Amiriah Brigham, discussed his relation to Old Main. Brigham was the first superintendent of the asylum, invented the “Utica Crib,” and founded the American Journal of Insanity (now named the American Journal of Psychiatry), among many other achievements.

Hanna maintained a humorous portrayal of Brigham, while also remaining in character and educating the viewers.

Dennis Webster, local author of “The New York State Lunatic Asylum at Utica: A History of Old Main” and a main speaker throughout the documentary, was also on hand for a book signing.

A Utica Crib replica was displayed on stage, and Hanna spent most of his portrayal discussing it.

A Utica Crib was a box-shaped cage mechanism meant to contain and restrain potentially dangerous individuals.

Although the Utica Crib is now considered tortuous, it was an alternative to chaining up individuals at risk of hurting themselves or others, and was considered extremely progressive for its time.

It was not intended as punishment, yet a more humane way to protect an individual.

The documentary was filmed with special permission in areas of the Old Main building otherwise off limits to the public.

The videos inside of the now barren asylum take viewers through the halls and room.

Utica was chosen to be the location of the New York State Lunatic Asylum because of Utica's convenient location, being in the center of the state, and easy accessibility by railroads and waterways such as the Erie Canal.

The building opened in 1843, and cost a quarter of a million dollars to build-around $11 million today.

The limestone used for the building was locally sourced from Little Falls and Stittsville.

The building was built with the intention of having a Utopian look.

This was demonstrated in many ways, including its six massive Doric Columns, which the documentary identified as being the biggest freestanding columns in the state. ...