Comments for Ride With Tank http://ridewithtank.com Never trade the thrills of living for the security of existence Thu, 01 Jul 2010 19:25:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Comment on Mystery Ride in Eastern Pennsylvania by Deanna http://ridewithtank.com/2009/04/06/mystery-ride-in-eastern-pennsylvania/comment-page-1/#comment-177935 Deanna Thu, 01 Jul 2010 19:25:37 +0000 http://ridewithtank.com/2009/04/06/mystery-ride-in-eastern-pennsylvania/#comment-177935 I worked at Polk in 1967. I don't remember the name of the building but it was the first one when you entered up the side road. I was young (20) and had purposely gone there for a job because I wanted to work with mentally handicapped. I came from a town near New York state line and eventually worked in group homes in Pa that took in some Polk residents. I saw some pretty horrible things as well as good things while there. Some staff members were mean to the residents and of course some caring and compassionate. We were so understaffed, two staff per 50 women, mostly violent. I think supervisor of mine from the group home eventually went to work at Polk.I would love to know what happened to him. I loved seeing the photos. I worked at Polk in 1967. I don’t remember the name of the building but it was the first one when you entered up the side road. I was young (20) and had purposely gone there for a job because I wanted to work with mentally handicapped. I came from a town near New York state line and eventually worked in group homes in Pa that took in some Polk residents. I saw some pretty horrible things as well as good things while there. Some staff members were mean to the residents and of course some caring and compassionate. We were so understaffed, two staff per 50 women, mostly violent. I think supervisor of mine from the group home eventually went to work at Polk.I would love to know what happened to him. I loved seeing the photos.

]]> Comment on Flat Wheel Tank by Tank http://ridewithtank.com/2010/04/20/flat-wheel-tank/comment-page-1/#comment-172434 Tank Mon, 26 Apr 2010 03:14:17 +0000 http://ridewithtank.com/?p=1849#comment-172434 I am hoping the bike is back on the road Tuesday! I am hoping the bike is back on the road Tuesday!

]]> Comment on Flat Wheel Tank by Verne http://ridewithtank.com/2010/04/20/flat-wheel-tank/comment-page-1/#comment-172379 Verne Sat, 24 Apr 2010 23:24:06 +0000 http://ridewithtank.com/?p=1849#comment-172379 I am shocked it cooked both rims. Good you keep her up though. Stay safe out there. I am shocked it cooked both rims. Good you keep her up though. Stay safe out there.

]]> Comment on Flat Wheel Tank by Keisa Updike http://ridewithtank.com/2010/04/20/flat-wheel-tank/comment-page-1/#comment-172154 Keisa Updike Wed, 21 Apr 2010 00:36:12 +0000 http://ridewithtank.com/?p=1849#comment-172154 Lol thank god your ok we miss you tank <3 Lol thank god your ok we miss you tank <3

]]> Comment on Mystery Ride in Eastern Pennsylvania by Anita http://ridewithtank.com/2009/04/06/mystery-ride-in-eastern-pennsylvania/comment-page-1/#comment-171890 Anita Sat, 17 Apr 2010 01:58:30 +0000 http://ridewithtank.com/2009/04/06/mystery-ride-in-eastern-pennsylvania/#comment-171890 I work at Polk Center now. About 304 individuals still live there full time. Alot of total care, not being able to do anything for themselves. Some are very independent and are able to move about the grounds freely. They work doing different things and get paid accordingly. Some go out into the surrounding communities to work and get paid. ALL residents go out and about doing different things such as shows, shopping and out to eat on a regular basis. They are all very well cared for and the staff that work there genuinely cares for each and every person that lives there. It is an old place and it shows its age. But...we have the most up to date equipment and supplies to care for our people and try to make them as happy as we can. I work at Polk Center now. About 304 individuals still live there full time. Alot of total care, not being able to do anything for themselves. Some are very independent and are able to move about the grounds freely. They work doing different things and get paid accordingly. Some go out into the surrounding communities to work and get paid. ALL residents go out and about doing different things such as shows, shopping and out to eat on a regular basis. They are all very well cared for and the staff that work there genuinely cares for each and every person that lives there. It is an old place and it shows its age. But…we have the most up to date equipment and supplies to care for our people and try to make them as happy as we can.

]]> Comment on Mystery Ride in Eastern Pennsylvania by GEOF http://ridewithtank.com/2009/04/06/mystery-ride-in-eastern-pennsylvania/comment-page-1/#comment-169368 GEOF Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:20:41 +0000 http://ridewithtank.com/2009/04/06/mystery-ride-in-eastern-pennsylvania/#comment-169368 HI Interesting pics- I worked there as volunteer while I was at Clarion State (now Clarion U). NO horror stories then (1972-76) ANyone know what is happening there now? I was told all 'residents' went to group homes. Was well run opearion when I was there- but hear some pretty grim stories of why some older residents were sent there! Curious what is happening to the place now? GEOF HI

Interesting pics- I worked there as volunteer while I was at Clarion State (now Clarion U). NO horror stories then (1972-76) ANyone know what is happening there now? I was told all ‘residents’ went to group homes. Was well run opearion when I was there- but hear some pretty grim stories of why some older residents were sent there! Curious what is happening to the place now?

GEOF

]]> Comment on Mystery Ride in Eastern Pennsylvania by paul http://ridewithtank.com/2009/04/06/mystery-ride-in-eastern-pennsylvania/comment-page-1/#comment-167938 paul Fri, 12 Feb 2010 06:40:34 +0000 http://ridewithtank.com/2009/04/06/mystery-ride-in-eastern-pennsylvania/#comment-167938 I've worked with former residents who now live in group homes.Some real horror stories out of this place. Some former patients actually said it was OK.A guy I cared for is deaf, autistic, he had a real hard time. His mom hated to take him there when he was 10. She said they wanted to put him in a cage. She wouldn't allow it. He was in a four point restraint alot lf the time. In the group home, he would ask daily if he would have to go back. He had terrible flashbacks. He got out in 1990 and it took years for him to calm down. I can't imagine what his life was like there. There is a cemetary to the left of the bldgs., through a cornfield, past a sign that says "keep out". Sad place, think bodies were creamated. Glad those places are gone but alot of those folks wound up in prisons. What's better? I’ve worked with former residents who now live in group homes.Some real horror stories out of this place. Some former patients actually said it was OK.A guy I cared for is deaf, autistic, he had a real hard time. His mom hated to take him there when he was 10. She said they wanted to put him in a cage. She wouldn’t allow it. He was in a four point restraint alot lf the time. In the group home, he would ask daily if he would have to go back. He had terrible flashbacks. He got out in 1990 and it took years for him to calm down. I can’t imagine what his life was like there. There is a cemetary to the left of the bldgs., through a cornfield, past a sign that says “keep out”. Sad place, think bodies were creamated. Glad those places are gone but alot of those folks wound up in prisons. What’s better?

]]> Comment on Cycle World International Motorcycle Show – Cleveland 2010 by Tank http://ridewithtank.com/2010/02/07/cycle-world-international-motorcycle-show-cleveland-2010/comment-page-1/#comment-167790 Tank Mon, 08 Feb 2010 23:24:15 +0000 http://ridewithtank.com/?p=1821#comment-167790 Seeing you guys made it feel like summer was back! We put on our best weather for you guys, now the weather has totally turned to crap. I am glad you guys didn't need to suffer through our current weather! Seeing you guys made it feel like summer was back! We put on our best weather for you guys, now the weather has totally turned to crap. I am glad you guys didn’t need to suffer through our current weather!

]]> Comment on Cycle World International Motorcycle Show – Cleveland 2010 by Darryl Cannon http://ridewithtank.com/2010/02/07/cycle-world-international-motorcycle-show-cleveland-2010/comment-page-1/#comment-167699 Darryl Cannon Mon, 08 Feb 2010 01:11:50 +0000 http://ridewithtank.com/?p=1821#comment-167699 Good to see you there too Tank! We had a good time, and the weather was actually nicer up there for once. ;) Good to see you there too Tank! We had a good time, and the weather was actually nicer up there for once. ;)

]]> Comment on Mystery Ride in Eastern Pennsylvania by Nancy Johnson http://ridewithtank.com/2009/04/06/mystery-ride-in-eastern-pennsylvania/comment-page-1/#comment-164479 Nancy Johnson Mon, 11 Jan 2010 02:11:21 +0000 http://ridewithtank.com/2009/04/06/mystery-ride-in-eastern-pennsylvania/#comment-164479 I've just happened across your site. I grew up in Polk, PA. The facility you visited was originally "Polk State School for the Feeble Minded". It was built in 1897. I lived there during the 1940s and 50s. It was then "Polk State School and Hospital". My great-grandmother was among the first employees hired to work there. My father was the head gardener, so we lived in a staff house on the grounds. It was a wonderful,vibrant place. It was almost completely self-sustaining. 800 acres of fields, orchards, dairy herd, cattle, chickens and hogs for food. It had it's own bakery, butcher shop, carpentry shop, etc. When I lived there there were about 3,000 patients. About 1,500 staff. In the early 1970s, patients began to be transferred into group homes or released to live on their own. Nowadays with advanced medical care, relatively few people are institutionalized. I'm not sure what's being done there now. The photos that you took are wonderful. I hope you don't mind if I save them for my own photo files. I'm 65 and have lived in Virginia for over 30 years. Those photographs bring back endless, happy memories. I’ve just happened across your site. I grew up in Polk, PA. The facility you visited was originally “Polk State School for the Feeble Minded”. It was built in 1897. I lived there during the 1940s and 50s. It was then “Polk State School and Hospital”. My great-grandmother was among the first employees hired to work there. My father was the head gardener, so we lived in a staff house on the grounds. It was a wonderful,vibrant place. It was almost completely self-sustaining. 800 acres of fields, orchards, dairy herd, cattle, chickens and hogs for food. It had it’s own bakery, butcher shop, carpentry shop, etc. When I lived there there were about 3,000 patients. About 1,500 staff. In the early 1970s, patients began to be transferred into group homes or released to live on their own. Nowadays with advanced medical care, relatively few people are institutionalized. I’m not sure what’s being done there now. The photos that you took are wonderful. I hope you don’t mind if I save them for my own photo files. I’m 65 and have lived in Virginia for over 30 years. Those photographs bring back endless, happy memories.

]]>