A  dubious distinction

Enlarge
Feb. 27, 1980 Town Courier

We were one of the first offices to herald the epidemic of so-called "sick buildings." While I never got any symptoms, I observed both staff members and visitors have their eyes turn red and swell nearly shut after a short time in the building. Thousands of dollars were spent to see if there were any toxins or irritants present. Specialists were brought in from the state health department, Michigan State University and from two private firms. The Center for Disease Control even reviewed all the findings. All that was ever found was a minute amount of formaldehyde in the air, less than would be expected from any building where people smoked cigarettes.

Regardless of these scientific findings, we were forced to move to the temporary quarters, pictured below. The new tenants of the building never had any health problems.

Click to enlarge.
Pictured left to right: Barbara White and Linda Ward, and Kathy Hill and Barb White.
My office was behind the black shelves with an old tablecloth for a door.
Interestingly, we suffered no drop-off in client referrals while we occupied this building.

The rooms upstairs had no doors when we moved in, so we constructed and installed plywood doors ourselves. Day Treatment moved to the basement of the Farm Bureau two blocks away. For privacy we always had the radio blasting. Office space in the area was scarce, so for three months we had no idea when (or if) we would move. Despite the fact that we were working under trying conditions, we always found time
for a break.

Satellite Clinics < Continuing to grow in physical size < NEXT > The Vietnam Veteran's Program > Day Treatment Program > The future fades > Staff from 1971 - 1989