As Oakdale grew from a modest cluster of cottages into Michigan’s largest institution for people with epilepsy and developmental disabilities, it also became a microcosm of the era’s most controversial medical and social policies.
From the early 1900s through the 1950s, the institution was shaped by two parallel narratives. On one side, Oakdale was seen as progressive—a place where vulnerable people were fed, housed, and given structure. On the other side, it became the setting for forced labor, restrictive treatment, and even the practice of eugenics, reflecting the darker currents of 20th-century public health policy.
Life Under Control
Life at Oakdale was tightly regimented. Each resident had a defined daily schedule: early wake-ups, assigned chores, structured mealtimes, and supervised recreation. Those who were able-bodied were expected to contribute labor to the institution—working in the fields, kitchens, laundries, or workshops. Officially, this was described as “training,” but it also kept the sprawling campus economically self-sufficient.
For residents unable to work, life was even more restricted. They spent long hours in dormitories with minimal personal space, often with little meaningful activity beyond mealtimes and basic care.
Superintendent reports from the era referred to residents as inmates, emphasizing the custodial mindset of the time. Privacy was rare. Movement between buildings was monitored. Physical and chemical restraints were used when staff deemed them necessary to maintain order.
The Eugenics Era
By the 1910s, the national eugenics movement began influencing policies at institutions like Oakdale. Eugenics, the pseudoscience of improving society by controlling reproduction, was embraced by many state governments and public health officials. In Michigan, the belief that people labeled as “feebleminded” should not have children became official policy.
In 1923, Michigan passed a sterilization law targeting residents of state institutions. Oakdale was at the forefront of carrying it out. Over the following decades, hundreds of residents—many of them young women—were sterilized, often without their full understanding or consent.
One of the most infamous cases involved Fred Aslin, a resident whose forced sterilization sparked legal battles that revealed the extent of Michigan’s program. For the state, sterilization was considered “progressive,” a way to prevent the birth of future generations who might require institutional care. For the individuals affected, it was a profound violation of their rights.
Changing Medical Treatment
Beyond sterilization, medical care at Oakdale reflected the evolving but often experimental practices of the time. Residents with epilepsy were treated with harsh medications that carried heavy side effects. Those deemed aggressive or unmanageable were sometimes placed in isolation rooms or restrained for long periods.
Yet there were also glimmers of genuine progress. Occupational therapy programs emerged, giving residents small opportunities for creativity and skill-building. Education within the campus schools improved, particularly for children. Social events, music, and sports teams offered moments of joy amid an otherwise institutionalized existence.
Public Perception vs. Private Reality
For much of the early to mid-20th century, Oakdale enjoyed public support. Most citizens of Lapeer County saw it as a source of jobs, stability, and even pride. Few questioned the sterilization policies or the restrictive treatment of residents, because the prevailing belief was that the institution was doing what was best—for the residents, and for society.
But internally, staff saw the cracks. Overcrowding made personalized care almost impossible. Ethical concerns began to surface quietly, especially among younger employees who questioned the justice of sterilization and the lack of resident autonomy.
By the 1950s, attitudes were slowly beginning to shift. The horrors of eugenics in Nazi Germany had discredited the movement worldwide, and in the United States, disability advocates and reformers were starting to challenge the idea of life-long institutionalization. At Oakdale, these changes came slowly, but they set the stage for the eventual decline of the eugenics program and the move toward deinstitutionalization decades later.
Foreshadowing Reform
By the mid-century mark, Oakdale was both a symbol of care and a reminder of control. It had given shelter and routine to thousands who otherwise might have been abandoned. But it had also taken away their choices, controlled their bodies, and shaped their futures in ways they could not resist.
In the coming decades, new policies would challenge the very foundation of Oakdale’s existence. National debates over human rights, disability advocacy, and community-based care would slowly dismantle the system of large institutions. But before that change arrived, Oakdale would remain a place defined by its paradox: both protector and oppressor.
Key Details from Part 3
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Daily life was highly regimented, with residents providing labor for the institution.
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Michigan’s 1923 sterilization law made Oakdale a center for eugenics policies.
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Hundreds of residents were sterilized, often without true consent.
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Medical treatments were primitive and sometimes harsh, but occupational therapy and education offered limited relief.
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By the 1950s, the eugenics movement declined, paving the way for future reforms.
Sources for This Article
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Oakdale: The Lapeer State Home by William Fromwiller & Ron Gillis
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Michigan state sterilization law archives (1923)
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Case history: Fred Aslin and legal challenges to sterilization
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Superintendent annual reports and internal medical records (Archives of Michigan)
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Oral histories from former Oakdale staff and families
Teaser for Part 4: Life at Oakdale—Residents & Staff
What was it really like to live or work at Oakdale? In the next chapter, we’ll step into the daily lives of residents and staff, exploring the routines, relationships, and human stories behind the walls of Michigan’s largest institution.