History Tuesday – Wilhelm Reich’s Orgonon in Rangeley Maine

OHU50K Notes

History Tuesday at Old Houses Under $50K is for informational purposes only. They are NOT for sale. Today we feature Wilhelm Reich’s Orgonon.

Wilhelm Reich was an Austrian psychoanalyst and scientist who gained recognition for his unorthodox theories and research on human sexuality and the concept of orgone energy. In the 1940s, Reich established a laboratory in Rangeley, Maine, where he conducted his controversial experiments.

The Laboratory

 

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Wilhelm Reich’s laboratory in Rangeley, known as Orgonon, was situated on a secluded piece of land that spanned over 175 acres. It was here that Reich conducted his groundbreaking research on orgone energy, a life force energy that he believed permeated the universe and influenced human behavior and emotions.

Reich’s laboratory consisted of several buildings, including a small cabin where he conducted his therapy sessions, a laboratory for conducting experiments, and storage facilities for his research materials. The laboratory was equipped with various instruments and devices that Reich designed to study and harness orgone energy.

Its main building, designed by James B. Bell and built for Reich in 1948, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  It is a significant example of the International Style architecture.  Here is where Reich did his research and had his office and library. The fieldstone building has two stories high, with a flat roof. Reich’s laboratory was on the right and on the left a kitchen, bathrooms, and playroom for Reich’s son. The upper level, included a bathroom, office, and bedrooms. Knotty pine walls, plywood ceilings and vinyl flooring are throughout.

Inventions

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One of Reich’s notable inventions was the orgone accumulator, a box-like device made of alternating layers of organic and inorganic materials. Reich believed that the orgone accumulator could accumulate and concentrate orgone energy, which had various therapeutic benefits. He claimed that sitting inside the accumulator could improve overall health, enhance sexual potency, and even have positive effects on weather patterns.

Reich’s work in Rangeley attracted both supporters and critics. Some of his followers believed in his theories and reported positive experiences with orgone energy therapy. However, his unconventional ideas and practices also drew the attention of the medical and scientific community, leading to scrutiny and skepticism.

Downfall

 

In the late 1940s and early 1950s, Reich’s work faced increasing opposition from various authorities, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA accused Reich of making false and misleading claims about his orgone energy devices and initiated legal action against him.

In 1954, the FDA obtained a court order to destroy Reich’s orgone energy devices and publications. The court deemed his work fraudulent and ordered the laboratory to be shut down. The FDA conducted a public burning of Reich’s books, research papers, and orgone accumulators, including those from the laboratory in Rangeley.

Following the court order, Reich was arrested and eventually sentenced to two years in federal prison for contempt of court. During his imprisonment, Reich’s health deteriorated, and he passed away in 1957.

Today

 

Today, the laboratory site in Rangeley, Maine, where Reich conducted his experiments, is no longer operational. However, Orgonon still exists as a museum and research center dedicated to preserving Reich’s work and legacy. It provides visitors with insight into Reich’s controversial ideas, his laboratory, and the impact he had on the fields of psychoanalysis and alternative medicine.