| hospitals, asylums, prisons, schools, and institutions |
| most names have been changed |
athina state hospital
from its founding in 1874 to its closing in 1993, athina state hospital's name was changed ten
times. its design was built on the kirkbride plan and its grounds were designed by a student of the
man who designed central park; many of the original patients were civil war veterans. over 200
lobotomies performed by the infamous dr. freeman and the odd stain left by the decomposing
body of a female patient who 'escaped' into an abandoned wing and was thereafter trapped are
two of the more interesting parts of this asylum's colorful history. gallery added 4/06
from its founding in 1874 to its closing in 1993, athina state hospital's name was changed ten
times. its design was built on the kirkbride plan and its grounds were designed by a student of the
man who designed central park; many of the original patients were civil war veterans. over 200
lobotomies performed by the infamous dr. freeman and the odd stain left by the decomposing
body of a female patient who 'escaped' into an abandoned wing and was thereafter trapped are
two of the more interesting parts of this asylum's colorful history. gallery added 4/06
reading jail
originally built in 1853 as part of a complex of buildings including a poorhouse and hospital,
the reading jail's castle-like facade was removed in 1906 and the current prison was
designed, complete with a trapdoor and gallery for hangings. when a new prison was opened
in a nearby township in 1979, the reading jail was closed. it was purchased in 1982 and the
new owner had a multitude of ideas for reusing it, but none took off and now it continues to
sit unused until it is sold. gallery added 06/06
originally built in 1853 as part of a complex of buildings including a poorhouse and hospital,
the reading jail's castle-like facade was removed in 1906 and the current prison was
designed, complete with a trapdoor and gallery for hangings. when a new prison was opened
in a nearby township in 1979, the reading jail was closed. it was purchased in 1982 and the
new owner had a multitude of ideas for reusing it, but none took off and now it continues to
sit unused until it is sold. gallery added 06/06
mt cameron tuberculosis ward
hidden away in the midst of a residential neighborhood, a college campus, and a golf course,
this tuberculosis ward holds many strange secrets, and its barred day rooms are a testament
that it was not only a hospital but in many ways, a prison for the ill.
gallery added 04/06
hidden away in the midst of a residential neighborhood, a college campus, and a golf course,
this tuberculosis ward holds many strange secrets, and its barred day rooms are a testament
that it was not only a hospital but in many ways, a prison for the ill.
gallery added 04/06
mayflower state hospital
built from 1931-1940 to alleviate overcrowding in nearby asylums, mayflower state hospital
consisted of dozens of buildings on almost two thousand acres of campus, capable of
housing 12,500 patients. currently it still is the largest psychiatric facility in the world, and in
its heyday one to two thousand lobotomies were performed on a campus that was literally a
city for the insane. as the need for care dwindled over 50 buildings were demolished in
2003, but a portion remains in active use to this day. gallery added 04/06
built from 1931-1940 to alleviate overcrowding in nearby asylums, mayflower state hospital
consisted of dozens of buildings on almost two thousand acres of campus, capable of
housing 12,500 patients. currently it still is the largest psychiatric facility in the world, and in
its heyday one to two thousand lobotomies were performed on a campus that was literally a
city for the insane. as the need for care dwindled over 50 buildings were demolished in
2003, but a portion remains in active use to this day. gallery added 04/06
donnersburg tuberculosis ward
up on a hill overlooking a state hospital, this tuberculosis ward still houses many poignant
reminders of the ill people who were housed there. gallery added 04/06
up on a hill overlooking a state hospital, this tuberculosis ward still houses many poignant
reminders of the ill people who were housed there. gallery added 04/06
abbingdon sanatarium
abbingdon sanatarium was established between 1920 and 1925 depending where you check,
and in 1963 was converted to a home for profoundly mentally retarded children. closed in
1985, the 23 buildings that comprise its campus have been scarred beyond repair by vandals,
ghost hunters, and teenagers. despite the toll that time and neglect have taken, there are still
spots with an ethereal beauty unique to this site. galleries added 08/06, 09/06
abbingdon sanatarium was established between 1920 and 1925 depending where you check,
and in 1963 was converted to a home for profoundly mentally retarded children. closed in
1985, the 23 buildings that comprise its campus have been scarred beyond repair by vandals,
ghost hunters, and teenagers. despite the toll that time and neglect have taken, there are still
spots with an ethereal beauty unique to this site. galleries added 08/06, 09/06
fuller state school
a home for disabled children and adults who were wards of the state, fuller state school was
closed in 1991 amid reports of horrific abuse and neglect and a variety of lawsuits filed on
behalf of former residents, some of whom were confined to cribs for their entire lives, denied
food, clean clothes, sheets, and proper medical/dental care. when the facility was closed the
neglect continued, and many residents are still not being properly cared for. currently a
portion of the site is being used as a prison-like drug rehab. galleries added 08/06, 09/06
a home for disabled children and adults who were wards of the state, fuller state school was
closed in 1991 amid reports of horrific abuse and neglect and a variety of lawsuits filed on
behalf of former residents, some of whom were confined to cribs for their entire lives, denied
food, clean clothes, sheets, and proper medical/dental care. when the facility was closed the
neglect continued, and many residents are still not being properly cared for. currently a
portion of the site is being used as a prison-like drug rehab. galleries added 08/06, 09/06
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