The Julaine Farrow Museum

The Museum is open to the public every Thursday afternoon from 1:00-3:30, February through October.

The J. Farrow Museum is dedicated to Mrs. Julaine Farrow (1917-1991), who was a Registered Nurse at Winnebago Mental Health Institute for 36 years.  It was through the personal interest of Mrs. Farrow that the history of Winnebago was gathered and preserved.

Julie started as a Staff Nurse in 1938.  She lived on Butler Avenue with her husband.  She was totally committed to Winnebago and the patients she served.

The J. Farrow Museum was instituted during Winnebago's Centennial Year of 1973.  It is the realization of those who have devoted their lives to the care of the mentally ill.  Julie wrote Winnebago State Hospital 1873-1973.  The proceeds from this book helped set up the Museum in the Blacksmith Shop in 1979.  This historic building was a fitting home for the Museum until the exhibits and artifacts outgrew the space.

The Museum moved to the old Superintendent's House in 1989.  What started as a two room exhibit has grown to ten rooms.  The Museum chronicles the contributions of the early pioneers in the treatment of the mentally ill; it has pictures dating to 1875 as well as furniture and a variety of displays.

For the first 100 years, the Hospital's Superintendent and his family lived on the grounds.  Originally they lived on the second floor of "Old Main."  The Superintendent's House was built in 1922 under the leadership of Dr. Adin Sherman.  This gave the family much appreciated privacy and beautiful outdoor space.  The home is a stately, three story structure that was built for less than $8,000.  Each of the carpenters working on the home was paid $.75 per hour.

Dr. Charles Belcher was the last Superintendent to live in this home.  After that time, staff physicians lived here; and it was later used for program and office space.

Scenes from a Museum