Nov 8, 2016 the state lunatic hospital at danvers built in 1874 and opened in 1878 on an isolated site in rural massachusetts. One of the facilities now demolished is the danvers state insane asylum located in danvers, massachusetts, home of the widely known salem witch trials in 1692. So what has earned danvers state such distinctions. The focus leaned away from institutionalizing patients and toward outpatient care. Danvers state hospital abandoned, used in session 9, then. Danvers state hospital formerly danvers state lunatic asylum was a kirkbridestyle psychiatric hospital built in 1874 on what was then an isolated site in rural massachusetts. Danvers state hospital continued to operate until the entire facility closed in june of 1992. Jun 24, 2011 welcome to danvers state insane asylum, home to some of the most demented men and women in the country. Danvers state hospital danvers state insane asylum dsh. Danvers state hospital in danvers, ma page 10 haunted. The death of sarah eustace in danvers state hospital unexplained death i was researching the origins of some creepy photos floating around on the internet when i came across this creepy pasta wiki outlining the death of sarah eustace, an alleged patient in the danvers state hospital outside boston. Sep 01, 2007 high atop hathorne hill, near boston, sits danvers state hospital.
The tunnels under danvers state mental hospital in danvers, massachusetts. The danvers state hospital was officially opened in 1878 after four years of construction. The tunnels under danvers state mental hospital in danvers. It would stand abandoned until 2005, when demolition began. Tiptoe photos of the abandoned danvers state hospital.
There are 770 graves between both sites, the north cemetery has 677 people buried, with 542 identified and 354 have matching names to their number. Danvers state insane asylum, danvers state hospital, preston interview, employee that worked at danvers state hospital for 24 years. Danvers state hospital by katherine anderson overdrive. Danvers state gives an insiders view of what really went on at the state run insane asylum. Americas most haunted locations danvers state hospital. A history of danvers state hospital by michael ramseur, is a chilling look at a recent past history that some would rather forget.
Memoirs of a nurse in the asylum barbara stilwell on. Basement tunnel prev next danvers state hospital page. Jul 23, 2017 americas most haunted locations danvers state hospital vevvork. Danvers a raging fire reduced four unfinished apartment buildings to rubble at the site of the former danvers state hospital early yesterday. Six abandoned asylums with genuinely chilling backstories io9. The danvers state hospital had been a mysterious place for many years. Danvers state hospital danvers, massachusetts atlas obscura. Bradlee, it is a handsome and intact implementation of the nationally recognized kirkbride plan. Avalon danvers apartments nee danvers state hospital. This book brings to the forefront images that should not be forgotten, but learned from and studied. It was built in 1874, and opened in 1878, under the supervision of prominent boston architect nathaniel jeremiah bradlee, on an isolated site in rural massachusetts.
Most of the buildings on campus were connected by a confusing labyrinth of underground tunnels. The hospital was used as a filming location for the movie session 9 2001. Americas most haunted locations danvers state hospital vevvork. Abandoned asylums of massachusetts images of modern america. It was a multiacre, selfcontained psychiatric hospital and is rumored to be the birthplace of the prefrontal lobotomy. I can honestly say ive been everywhere that you could possibly go in that hospital. Danvers state hospital was originally called the state lunatic asylum at danvers a cheerful name, for sure. I was fascinated with this place for quite some time and finally seeing it in person was a great experience. Danvers state hospital opened in 1878 as a mental health hospital, serving some 600 patients under its imposing gothic spires. Any more info in the statements about danvers state insane. Bradlee, superintendents, image galleries, time lines, videos historic.
History and photos of the abandoned danvers state hospital, in danvers, ma. While the film was not a financial success, session 9 was moderately wellreceived critically and is considered a cult film. Ive been getting into alot of haunted hospitalasylum themed books lately and the ones ive. The abandoned danvers state hospital listed on the. The danvers state insane asylum is, of course, the most famous of all abandoned psychiatric hospitals. It was built in 1874, and opened in 1878, under the supervision of prominent boston architec. We did visit on a sunny summer day, though, so im sure if we had gone on gloomy day in november our experience would have been different. Asbestos suit tunnel photo of the abandoned danvers. A site called hawthorne hill also known as hathorne hill in danvers was chosen for the new hospital.
Photographer captures haunting images of sights inside the. Danvers state hospital was built in the late 19th century in the architectural design known as the kirkbride plan. It wasnt the firstbuilt kirkbride building it began construction in 1874, however, it is known as the most famous, or more accurately infamous, of them all. The idea of the archival center evolved from a 1970. His book, abandoned asylums of new england, chronicles the storied temples of control, treatment and rehabilitation that once populated the region. Lovecrafts arkham sanatorium, danvers has a gothic design that has captured the imagination of horror aficionados. Norwich state hospital is a chapter in my book, abandoned america. Buy a signed copy via this link or get it on amazon using the link below to read more. Ghosts of danvers state hospital insane asylum said to be the inspiration for h. The film takes place in and around the danvers state mental hospital in danvers, massachusetts, which was partially demolished five years after the film was made.
Danvers state insane asylum in massachusetts luxury living. Like all kirkbride asylums, it was famous for its gothic architecture and its use of now outdated medical techniques to treat insanity. Built in 1874 and opened in 1878, the danvers state hospital was under the supervision of prominent architect from boston, nathaniel jeremiah bradlee. Dec 10, 2019 the danvers state hospital, also known as the state lunatic hospital at danvers, the danvers lunatic asylum, and the danvers state insane asylum, was a psychiatric hospital located in danvers, massachusetts. Firefighters were still dousing the smoldering wreckage. Apparitions of former patients who died at the hospital are fairly common in the building and the grounds. J when you hear danvers state hospital come up in the news or when someone mentions it whats the first thing you think of. We desperately needed a place to put them, but the state of georgia was already taken and reality television hadnt been invented yet. Thomas story kirkbride, a physician and mental health. Discover salem village witchcraft victims memorial in danvers, massachusetts. Members of the cast and crew, including brad anderson, signed the wall directly behind the tunnel entrance. I listened to the episode again this morning and was horrified by it, i cant shake the awful feeling after hearing what went on there, in particular the people going missing in the 1980s.
The massachusetts facility, the state lunatic hospital at danvers is actually quite famous in horror. Project 17 is a young adult novel, written by laurie faria stolarz, published by hyperion books in 2007. This was placed by the film crew of session 9 for more of a horror feel. The book is entitled the philadelphia state hospital at byberry. The danvers state hospital, also known as the state lunatic hospital at danvers, the danvers lunatic asylum, and the danvers state insane asylum, was a psychiatric hospital located in danvers, massachusetts.
Sep 19, 2012 danvers state hospital was one of many hospitals built in massachusetts during the industrial revolution danvers state hospital was a psychiatric hospital built in 1874 on hathorne hill, where the salem witch trials judge john hathorne once lived. If i could pick any horror book this would be the one. Infamous, haunting, beautiful, a memory snuck in myself in 2003 he he he. It was part of the countrywide concept at least in the late 1800s that people with psychological problems needed to be cured inside specially made facilities. Bradlee, superintendents, image galleries, time lines, videos historic images maps, floor plans, patient artwork, records, files. Danvers state hospital, originally known as the state lunatic hospital at danvers, is significant in both architectural and social history. Interview danvers state hospital danvers state insane asyl. Danvers state hospital by katherine anderson and robert duffy. Lovecrafts arkham sanatorium danvers is also mentioned in lovecrafts stories pickmans model and the shadow over innsmouth and it served as the setting for the film session 9.
Danvers archival center a brief guide establishment the danvers archival center is a department of the peabody institute library of danvers, massachusetts. The abandoned danvers state hospital listed on the national. There isnt an asylum that existed in the late 1800s that would have been beneficial for you to be there, no matter how ill you were. Katherine anderson and robert duffy have spent the past decade documenting asylums in both print and media, working to continue the legacy of dr. Kirkbride buildings the buildings danvers state hospital photo. This is a freaky place, there is a tunnel under the danvers state hospital which doesnt feel right at all. Danvers state hospital danvers, massachusetts atlas.
Danvers state hospital was a psychiatric hospital built in 1874 on hathorne hill, where the salem witch trials judge john hathorne once lived. The most haunted places in massachusetts haunted rooms. The danvers state hospital, also known as the state lunatic hospital at danvers, the danvers. The main character in the book references the groups actions as reminding him of. The danvers state hospital in danvers, ma, was completed in 1878 during the big sanitarium boom of that century. It was built in 1878 in an extremely rural location in massachusetts. It brings to light the harsh treatment of mental illness in decades past. Walter jackson freeman ii an american physician conducted numerous lobotomy procedures in the hospital. Like i mentioned before, the tremendous things they could do there was simply amazing. The danvers state hospital had been a mysterious place for many years, even after its demolition in 2006.
The book provides details about the facilitys dark past and the melancholy lives of her inhabitants. Medfield state hospital medfield, massachusetts atlas. Doctor eugene charles, head of the asylum and manager of its inner workings, has seen his share of insanity in the eyes of every patient residing behind the walls of his asylum, but the newest addition to his facility will redefine the meaning of true insanity, once and for all. Hah, i just noticed the glove giving the middle finger when making. Danvers state hospital wikimili, the free encyclopedia. Sep 06, 2012 his book, abandoned asylums of new england, chronicles the storied temples of control, treatment and rehabilitation that once populated the region. Kirkbride and the many men and women who lived and worked at danvers state hospital. Things changed in the 1920s and that horrible period formed the ghosts we know today. Danvers state hospital was one of many hospitals built in massachusetts during the industrial revolution. The guy next to me in the photo had a comprehensive historical book published about byberry. Fire at danvers state hospital had tremendous head start. I was in the tunnels, sub tunnels, wards, the turrets, and even inside the water tower. To view more of this site click on an image in the gallery below.
A group of teens spend the night to film a movie, and encounter supernatural events much like the psychological aspect of this movie. Medfield state hospital was founded in 1892, and for over 100 years served as a selfsustaining institution and community for thousands of mentally ill patients until closing its doors in 2003. It can be noted that it is away from roads, one has to park at the top of the hill there is a small lot there and make your way down the hill to the cemetery. The problem with these kind of places was a simple lack of understanding about the causes and treatments to counter the causes of mental health. Mar 21, 2014 the guy next to me in the photo had a comprehensive historical book published about byberry. The danvers state hospital, also known as the state lunatic hospital at danvers, the danvers lunatic asylum, and the danvers state insane asylum, was a psychiatric hospital. The complete history and architecture of the danvers state hospital, danvers state insane asylum, the state lunatic hospital at danvers, danvers insane hospital including nathaniel j. Danvers state hospital danvers, massachusetts hospital.
The peabody institute library is the towns public library, established in the midnineteenth century through the philanthropy of native son george peabody 17951869. Surely if any town could claim to have seen such madness before, it would be danvers, the creepiest town in america. It has rare archival photos and a terrific history on the asylum. Inside the building was pitch black, but there were intervals where boards were off and sunlight allowed in. Mental health care reform changed everything for danvers state asylum, which closed in the 70s. The hospital was a mental health facility built in the year 1874 that consisted of seventeen buildings used to house male and female patients, some of whom were suffering from extreme mental health conditions. Abandoned insane asylum danvers state hospital otherwise known as danvers lunatic asylum peeling walls, doors leading to darkness. Danvers state hospital ghosts, ma haunted rooms america. Written in 19 bc, the aeneid chronicles the adventures of trojan warrior aeneas, including. In june 2006, all of the danvers state hospital buildings that were marked for demolition had been levelled with the ground including those listed on the national register of historic places. The hospital never spoke about it publicly, because their. A selfcontained psychiatric hospital which is designed and built in accordance to the kirkbride plan, danvers is also rumored to be the birthplace of the prefrontal lobotomy.
In 1873, the need for another psychiatric hospital to serve the boston population had risen once again. The aeneid, book vi, virgil virgil famously described a cave with a hundred openings as home to one of the most famous prophetesses of ancient legend the cumaean sibyl. Two friends and i just randomly decided to check out a patch of woods in danvers where i heard the infamous danvers state mental hospital. While it was built with a surprisingly caring and modern attitude. High atop hathorne hill, near boston, sits danvers state hospital.
Danvers state hospital was one of many hospitals built in massachusetts. This is a freaky place, there is a tunnel under the danvers state. Danvers state hospital was one of the most notorious asylums during its time. This macabre turn of events was nothing new for danvers. Overall the danvers state hospital cemetery felt sad rather than scary, and its good to see that the site is not neglected.
Danvers state hospital images of america 9781467127660. Actually, when the hospital was constructed in 1887, it was designed by nathaniel j bradlee according to the theories of mental health. The death of sarah eustace in danvers state hospital. It was a multiacre, selfcontained psychiatric hospital designed and built according to the kirkbride plan. Danvers state hospital prided itself on the hygiene of its facilities and the advanced, gentle treatments of the time, which included hydrotherapy and good old fresh air. The hill is a 257feethigh glacial drumlin located in danvers. Danvers state hospital hauntings ghostly activities. Memorial of the salem witchcraft hysteria in the town of danvers, where it all began. It tells the tale of six teens who break into the abandoned mental institution, the danvers state hospital.
Any more info in the statements about danvers state insane asylum from episode 6. The main thing i really enjoy about the book is that it took place at the danvers state mental hospital. Built in 1878 and closed in 1992, this abandoned mental institution is rumored to be the birthplace of the lobotomy. Probably the scariest place you could ever visit in my opinion. Cemeteries danvers state hospital danvers state insane asylum. See more ideas about insane asylum, abandoned asylums and psychiatric hospital. The book gives so many chills throughout the whole story and actually makes you think and feel that youre really there. Also known as danvers state insane asylum, danvers state. Built in the 1880s, it served the noble purpose of helping mentally ill children. Truth in destruction is a photographic chronicle of forgotten places.
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