LIFE FOREST neWS & PRESS RELEASEs
For Immediate Release: July 9, 2024
Life Forest
1087 Elm St., STE 414, Manchester, NH 03101
www.thelifeforest.com 603.315.0790 | [email protected]
LIFE FOREST® TO HONOR FORGOTTEN REMAINS OF OREGON STATE HOSPITAL PATIENT AFTER 85 YEARS
Auburn, ME – Life Forest® Whistle Ridge is set to honor the memory of William R. Harland, a patient who passed away at the Oregon State Hospital in 1939, with a special burial service on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at 11:00 AM. This poignant event is part of Life Forest's ongoing mission to provide dignity and remembrance to every individual, regardless of their circumstances.
In 2016, the family of William R. Harland, a relative of one of the stewards of Life Forest Whistle Ridge, became aware of his unclaimed cremated remains found among over 3,500 sets at the Oregon State Hospital. William passed away in 1939, but for decades, his remains were lost to time and memory, hidden away in a corroded copper canister marked with the number 2322.
"Nobody wanted them, nobody called for them, nobody came to see them. They died, and then they didn't know what to do with the bodies, and so they cremated them, and they put them in cans, and then they put the cans away, and still nobody came. Nobody ever came. They never came." – Peter Courtney, Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Hospital, once a place of supposed care, became a symbol of neglect and forgotten lives. Thousands of patients’ cremated remains were stored in copper canisters, only to be discovered in various states of corrosion and disrepair decades later. These individuals, many of whom had no family to claim them, were left in a state of anonymity and abandonment. The discovery of these canisters exposed a dark chapter in the history of mental health care and the treatment of society's most vulnerable members.
The documentary "Library of Dust" sheds light on this heart-wrenching story. It explores the discovery of these unclaimed copper canisters, each holding the cremated remains of individuals who once lived, loved, and mattered. Through powerful imagery and narratives, the film addresses themes of memory, loss, and the inherent dignity of every human life. Ultimately, it reminds us of our responsibility to honor those society has often overlooked.
William R. Harland's remains, received by his family in Maine, will finally be laid to rest with the care and respect he deserves. This burial is not only a personal family reunion but also a broader symbol of our commitment to remembering and respecting every life.
“There are four things our ancestors need from us: acknowledgment, validation, understanding, and forgiveness.”
- Steven D. Farmer
You can watch the trailer for "Library of Dust" here, if you wish: https://youtu.be/Yg1ozyjgmog. There is also a beautiful book of photography by David Maisel.
About Life Forest® Whistle Ridge:
Whistle Ridge Farm hosts a total of 80 acres, utilizing multiple land protection and land use purposes, and has committed to dedicate a protected parcel for Life Forest Woodland Trail Burials. Life Forest deed records burial plots' latitude and longitude location as an amendment to the Whistle Ridge Land Deed. This is important to protect you and your beneficiaries’ rights to the space. https://www.thelifeforest.com/life-forest-at-whistle-ridge