1874 Report: 'Pidge' Describes Texas State Lunatic Asylum in Austin

During the 1870s, a contributor who wrote under the pseudonym “Pidge” sent letters, reports, and poems to Austin newspapers, including the Democratic Statesman, a predecessor of the American-Statesman. “Pidge” was Texas Ranger Thomas C. Robinson, originally from Virginia, who rode with Leander McNelly. His writings often covered cattle drives, border raids, and backwoods conflicts. Robinson returned to Virginia in 1876, where he was killed by a neighbor, Jesse Mitchell, with whom he had a feud.

The origin of the name “Pidge” is debated. It may derive from Middle English, meaning “someone who lives near a ridge,” but Chuck Parsons, author of Pidge, Texas Ranger (revised edition, Texas A&M University Press, 2013), suggested it stemmed from Robinson’s affection for Pidgie Mitchell, sister of his killer.

Pidge’s writing stood out in the Statesman, which otherwise featured dry reports and political rants. One example is his account of a visit to the Texas State Lunatic Asylum (now Austin State Hospital), a neoclassical facility chartered in 1856 and operational by 1861. Surrounded by gardens, a promenade, and a lake along Waller Creek, the asylum attracted visitors from Austin and the nearby Hyde Park neighborhood.

Austin, July 10, 1874: Pidge described his meandering journey to the asylum, where he encountered two young men who jokingly mistook him for an escaped patient. Upon arrival, a porter asked if he wanted work, to which Pidge responded with silent pity. He praised the asylum’s well-maintained grounds, rare plants, and immaculate interiors, escorted by Mr. Hadley Roberts Sr. He noted the cleanliness, comfortable rooms, and strict policies against staff violence toward patients. Pidge commended Dr. Wallace, Dr. Bibb, and steward Mr. Wilson for their humane management.

(His descriptions of patients reflected outdated mental health views and are omitted here.)