N.D. State Hospital psychologist returns to visit for anniversary

Talk about it

A former staff psychologist who worked at the North Dakota State Hospital in the 1960s and again in the 1980s was surprised by some of the things he saw when he returned for the 125th anniversary of the facility this week.

“We visited some of the wards yesterday and were surprised by the low number of residents,” said Dr. Phil Stack, currently of Spring Hill, Tenn. “There are more staff than patients now.”

He also noted many changes to the grounds and facilities.

“The change is remarkable,” Stack said. “I looked around for certain buildings and things have really changed.”

One of the changes he noted was the fences around the James River Correctional Center, the state prison that is located on the campus of the State Hospital.

“We were always a secure facility,” he said. “But there were no fences.”

Stack was in charge of programs for the elderly patients at the State Hospital while he worked there.

“I was in charge of the geriatric unit,” he said. “My emphasis was to integrate them into the community. I started buses to take the people into town for dining and maybe even dancing. We wanted to develop their skills so if they left the facility they could take care of themselves.”

Stack said he has fond memories of his time in Jamestown.

“My best memories are of Dr. (Hubert) Carbone,” he said. “He and I would get together and discuss cases. He did a lot of changes during his time there. A lot of good changes.”

Stack said the staff at the State Hospital at that time was excellent because they cared about the patients. He also said problems of recruiting psychologists to North Dakota existed back then as well as now.

His bad memories were of the weather.

“Fe got stuck in a snow bank when it was way below zero,” he said. “I was beside myself.”

Fe Stack, Paul Stack’s wife, also traveled to Jamestown for the anniversary.

“I have good memories of the neighbors we had when we lived here,” she said. “It was a good life and we had good friends. We still stay in communications with people in Jamestown. The warm hearts here make up for the cold winds.”

Stack has retired from the profession of psychology but still attempts to help people.

“I’ve grown and evolved in helping people,” he said. “But now I use my poetic talents. The whole concept is to help lift the spirit and make them feel like they’re worth more. You can’t make them feel like they’re worth something if you ask something in return.”

Stack distributes greeting cards he designed and printed that contain his own poetry, to people who look like they could use a boost in self-esteem.

“Sometimes you get a hug but you always get a response,” he said. “But you know you helped someone feel better about themselves.”

Sun reporter Keith Norman can be reached at (701) 952-8452 or by e-mail at

knorman@jamestownsun.com

Tags: north dakota, local news, state hospital, celebrations, news, jamestown, anniversary