By the 1970s, the towering presence of Oakdale—once a symbol of stability and progress—began to feel outdated, even oppressive. The world outside its gates was changing rapidly. Attitudes toward mental health, disability, and civil rights were shifting. What had once been celebrated as a model institution was now being questioned for its size, its methods, and the very philosophy that had built it.
The Winds of Change
After decades of growth, Oakdale reached its peak population in the 1940s, housing over 4,600 residents. But by the late 1960s, its numbers had started to decline. The civil rights movement had sparked national conversations about individual freedoms and the rights of marginalized groups. At the same time, new medical and psychological research suggested that smaller, community-based programs could be more humane and effective than massive institutions.
Nationally, the deinstitutionalization movement gained momentum. Advocates argued that large state homes like Oakdale were outdated relics of a paternalistic era. Families began demanding alternatives, and lawmakers were listening.
Policy Shifts and New Names
In 1937, the institution’s name had changed from the Michigan Home for the Feeble-Minded and Epileptic to the Lapeer State Home and Training School, a reflection of its expanded mission. In 1972, it was renamed again—the Oakdale Regional Center for Developmental Disabilities—to align with more modern language and shifting views.
But these new names couldn’t hide the reality that Oakdale was struggling. Overcrowding had eased, but the massive campus felt hollow with fewer residents. Staff levels remained high, leaving the state to shoulder rising costs for a population that was steadily shrinking.
Life in the Final Years
For those who remained at Oakdale, daily life changed slowly. Smaller cottages were closed as populations consolidated. Some residents moved into new community homes, while others remained in the aging buildings they’d known for decades.
Staff began to see fewer young admissions. Instead, they cared for long-term residents who had spent most of their lives within Oakdale’s walls. Many were elderly, with nowhere else to go. Others were finally being transitioned into supervised group homes or foster programs outside the institution.
A former employee remembered the atmosphere of those years:
“It was like watching a city fade away. Buildings closed one by one, the halls got quieter. People you had cared for your whole career were suddenly leaving—or passing away. It felt like the end of an era.”
The Final Decision
By the late 1980s, it was clear that Oakdale could no longer continue in its original form. Across Michigan, other state institutions were closing as part of a broader policy to reduce large-scale institutional care. In February 1990, officials announced that Oakdale would be closed permanently within two years.
The last residents left in September 1991, ending nearly a century of institutional care on the site. After the closure, 400 acres of the property were sold to the City of Lapeer for just $1, while other portions were redeveloped or left abandoned.
Demolition and What Remained
Between 1992 and 1996, most of Oakdale’s buildings were demolished. The sprawling campus that had once been a self-sustaining city slowly disappeared. But a few structures survived:
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Building #45 (the former nursery) became part of Mott Community College’s Lapeer campus.
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Building #71 (administration) was repurposed as the Chatfield School, an elementary and middle school.
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The cemetery, where over 1,000 residents were buried, remains a solemn reminder of Oakdale’s history.
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Small relics, like cupolas, playground equipment, and the dolphin statue from the administration building, were saved and integrated into downtown Lapeer.
Today, a visitor to the former grounds would find little trace of the enormous institution that once dominated the area. Only scattered markers, a few buildings, and the cemetery testify to what was once there.
The Legacy of Deinstitutionalization
For some former residents, leaving Oakdale meant freedom and a new chance at life in a community setting. For others, the transition was disorienting and difficult. Many had known no other home.
For the staff, the closure brought mixed emotions. There was sadness in saying goodbye to residents they had cared for, but also relief in knowing that newer models of care would give people more autonomy and dignity.
Oakdale’s closure marked the end of an era in Michigan—a final chapter in the long history of large-scale institutionalization. It left behind a complicated legacy: one of shelter and stability for some, but confinement and lost potential for others.
Key Details from Part 5
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By the 1970s, deinstitutionalization and civil rights movements began to challenge Oakdale’s model.
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The institution was renamed Oakdale Regional Center in 1972 as part of reform efforts.
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February 1990: Closure announced; September 1991: last residents departed.
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Most buildings were demolished 1992–1996, but a few were repurposed (Mott Community College & Chatfield School).
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The cemetery and small relics remain as reminders of Oakdale’s history.
Sources for This Article
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Oakdale: The Lapeer State Home by William Fromwiller & Ron Gillis
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Michigan Department of Mental Health closure announcements (1990–1991)
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The County Press articles on Oakdale’s final years
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Oral histories from Oakdale staff during the transition period
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Lapeer Historical Society archives
Teaser for Part 6: Aftermath—Demolition, Preservation & Legacy
After Oakdale closed, what happened to the land, the buildings, and the people who lived there? In the next chapter, we’ll explore the aftermath of Oakdale’s closure, what remains today, and how its legacy lives on in Lapeer.