I was born in Sedro Woolley, not far from Northern State Hospital. I thought I might be able to tell you what I know about the place itself. It was not only a hospital but a huge complex of buildings and pastures and farming operations. I remember all the black and white cows as a child. The fields on the complex were full of hundereds, if not thousands, of cows. The complex was located on several hundered acres. I believe the patients of the hospital were required to work and maintain all the farming operations. The place itself is beautiful. Many of the buildings remain and the farmland and fields are still there as well. However, that is all about to change. The county is going to turn the complex into an enormous recreation site. The planning is already underway. I would like to see them preserve some of the history, but I have not seen any preservation mentioned in any of the planning. I have included a link to an article about the early history of the hospital www.geocities.com/skagitjournal/NorternState1.html