Reich and Rangeley, Maine (1940)
In the summer of 1940, during a camping trip to New England, Reich discovered the beautiful Rangeley Lakes region. While staying in a small cabin on Mooselookmeguntic Lake (the largest of the Rangeley Lakes), Reich’s observations of the night skies verified the existence of orgone energy in the atmosphere. This discovery of atmospheric orgone was a major thrust forward in Reich’s research. With its low humidity and clean air, Reich realized that the Rangeley region provided an ideal environment for this work. (In contrast, since water and high humidity absorb and hold orgone energy, the summer weather in New York City made it difficult to carry out his research.) Later that year, Reich purchased a cabin on Mooselookmeguntic Lake where he returned in the summers to continue his experiments.
ORGONON – A Permanent Home for Reich’s Work
In September of 1942, Reich purchased an old farm a few miles from his cabin in Maine. The roughly 175-acre property of fields, forests, and hills bordered a small lake known as Dodge Pond, and commanded stunning views in all directions. Reich called the property “Orgonon,” and envisioned it as a permanent home for his work.
In 1945, a Students’ Laboratory was built on the property, and three years later, construction began on the Orgone Energy Observatory which included additional laboratory facilities, Reich’s library and study, and outdoor observation decks to observe and study atmospheric orgone energy phenomena. Funding for these buildings and for Reich’s research came exclusively from his own income as a physician and teacher, and from loans and contributions from students.
Research into the use of devices such as the orgone energy accumulator and medical DOR-buster to treat human illnesses led Reich to give serious consideration to the construction of a hospital on the property.
By 1947, after less than eight years in America, Reich’s work was attracting considerable interest as orgone research expanded into new areas of psychiatry, medicine and biophysics. As Orgonon continued to grow, Reich’s dream of developing a secure, long-term base for his work was slowly becoming a reality. Sadly, it was a dream that would only be partially fulfilled.
