From Hell To Heaven
My sister and I departed early Friday morning enroute to Dix Park in Raleigh. This was not just any location. This location had a notorious history. This was the site of the first psychiatric hospital in North Carolina. It opened its doors in 1856 with Dorothea Dix at the helm.
I remember in college taking a tour through this facility with my pychology class. As soon as you walked through the doors and down the long hallway there were loud voices and sometimes even screams. We had heard over the years rumors of experimental treatments and abuse. This was a place right out of a horror movie. Even the short time our class was there you you never for a moment felt comfortable there.
If you walk out into one of the fields you can see the remains of the graveyard. Another creepy place as there are only scattered stones remaining. Most of the stones are from the 1800’s and,assumed to be, former patients.
The facility finally closed in 2012 putting an end to the dismal past. For three years only the hauntings remained. In 2015 the City of Raleigh purchased the property from the state with dreams of a new beginning hence creating Dix Park.
The city now has positive plans for Dix Park including its newist family, a troll family. Thomas Dambo the brilliant recycle art activist creates large scale wooden trolls. Now in black in white you can meet this frolicy family of trolls.
Dix
Dix proudly leads you into the forest.
Mother Strong Tail
Mother Strong Tail may be sleeping but her ears are open and her tail keeps her little one close by.
Dax
Dax is the one who runs off to play. If you tell him stay he says “no way”.
Dux
Dux is the quiet one all timid and shy that here you see he hids his eyes.
Daddy Bird Eye
Here sits Daddy Bird Eye with a limb in tow.
Don’t mess with his family or his temper he’ll show.
This whimsical family has turned this dismal place into a small piece of heaven. Thousands have already visited this unique family. Just look at this view. No longer a place of horror, you can sit on this hill and look at this skyline.
Click on this link for more about Dix Park.
Love God, love self, love your neighbor!
Through My Eyes 