Uncovering the New Jersey State Village for Epileptics

In 1898, only miles away from Morven in nearby Montgomery Township, the state of New Jersey broke ground on the New Jersey State Village for Epileptics. The State Village was designed to be a completely autonomous community for patients with epilepsy including educational and medical facilities, a theater, a fully functional farm, a firehouse, housing, and even a power plant.

Spanning the course of Governor Walter Edge’s two nonconsecutive terms in office, the State Village suffered financial cutbacks and overcrowding that led to terrible conditions for residents. Join historian and archivist Emily Borowski for a deep dive into the social and medical history that led to and maintained the State Village up until the 1950s.

This talk, occurring on the anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, will touch on the greater story of those living with disabilities in the community surrounding New Jersey’s first Governor’s mansion.

This event is hybrid – held both live and online. Doors open for the in-person event at 6:00 p.m. in the Stockton Education Center at Morven. The virtual waiting room opens on Zoom at 6:00 p.m. Q&A for both live and virtual attendees will follow the talk.