I attended Ohio University (who bought the building and used it for multiple purposes), The Fine Arts department had graduate student studio spaces in the former men's wing. My studio had bared windows and disturbing words engraved in the window ceils. It was frightening, but I loved the history and was fascinated imagining the former patients. The grounds were beautiful and included three large cemeteries with graves marked only by numbers. We broke into many areas that were cut off from use and found old patient records and furniture, paint and décor marking the decade spaces had last been in use. When I realized I was the last person working at night, I left right away. Only looking forward and walking quickly. When no one was in the wing but me a often heard soft instrumental music that may have only been my imagination. Feral cats lived in abandoned buildings and heards of deer who came onto the hill in the moonlight cast an otherworldly feel.
I appreciated this comment and enjoyed it so much that I reposted it over on the A Tourist in the Land of Reason Facebook page so that I might be able to be seen, enjoyed, and appreciated there, as well. Thank you so much for having shared it, too, as your own experiences add so much depth and detail to the old historic facility's more modern-day uses and history. To me, one of the greatest strengths of this channel will always be the comments that viewers such as yourself choose to share and take the time to do so.
It is clear that you do quite a bit of research for your videos. They are informative and fascinating. Thank you for treating each story and the facilities former patients with respect and dignity.
Thank you so much for having watched this video and for having taken the time to respond and share your thoughts. And the knowledge that these videos are coming across in the ways that I had hoped for and intended touches my heart more than you know, as well :-)
Definitely a happy ending on this one - at least in terms of the facility, anyway. Two or three others of the old lunatic-asylums-turned-state-hospitals have also been either deeded over to or annexed by state universities located in their near vicinities, as well. Not only is this a VERY good use of these old facilities, but I also think that it benefits all of the students that are now making use of these structures in such positive ways, opening up their minds to the mentally ill, their histories, and the lives that they at one time were forced to live.
I worked in mental health in Athens from 2012-2015. Some of the people I served remember the lobotomies, until they ceased this treatment. The dairy barn is now an art center, situated next to current mental health and addiction services. Drove past the graveyard plenty of times and always had a sense of sadness since it's numbered gravestones. I lived there when they tore down the old TB ward, just on the other side of the hillside. Let's just say it stirred up some spirits into the valley beneath it after demolition.
Thank you so much for having taken the time to watch this video and to have commented upon it in the way that you have. The personal experiences that you've shared help bring the entire video even more to life, and they help others understand both the facility's history and the impact that it has had on the whole world around it. There is so much that we can learn from the past, and there is so much inspiration to be found there to help us in moving forward today. We always walk best when we walk together.
Thank you so much for having taken the time to both watch and comment upon this video - these things mean more than you know and help accomplish more than you might realize ❤
We need to reopen these places for the homeless and to treat all those trapped in addiction. Of course, the staff must be qualified and able to perform their jobs properly. Restoring the working farms and resident run infrastructure is also a good idea that should be revisited. People need to work at meaningful jobs that are truly needed by others, ie. you bake bread and see others eating it the next day. Being useless is a terrible thing.
I wholeheartedly agree with you here...but there is a very sad truth that few people realize that falls along these lines. Most people automatically assume that the government is failing to take steps in utilizing these old places to help today's mentally ill - and especially the mentally ill homeless. But sadly, and in numerous cases, the government would actually LIKE to repurpose these old facilities in such ways and at times even drafts official plans to do so...and it's the people now living in and around these areas that rise up derail the efforts. Everybody wants to do something about the mentally ill - and especially the homeless mentally ill - but nobody wants to have it done in or around their neighborhoods. Right now, New York City is trying to revitalize the old historic Creedmoor State Hospital complex along these lines, and while a lot of people are all for it, the same usual groups and coalitions are rising up in an effort to prevent it. Hopefully, this will be the time when the angels are finally able to rise up over the devils and see that the right thing is done.
That's so sad to here and very tragic, too. The farther these old facilities fade into our nation's past, I guess, the fewer champions they are going to have in the days ahead. If people were made aware of their histories on a consistent and lasting basis, then I'm certain that they would no doubt fare better in the years ahead...which is one of the primary driving purposes behind my ongoing desire to produce and share these videos.
Wow, thank you so much for having watched this video, taking the time to make a comment, and for sharing your own family's history pertaining to this old facility. To me, one of the strongest aspects of this channel will always be the comments that people such as yourself take the time to share pertaining to the videos within it. People who have spent time at these facilities, people who have families with history pertaining to them...these comments always give these videos a sense of depth and meaning in ways that nothing else will ever be able to do .
Are there any records whereby the occupants of the graves can be identified? Some sort of a public guide should be made available to tell the stories of those who are buried there, awaiting the final redemption. (Even if you don’t believe, it is still proper to honor the deceased.) Possibly, families may wish to locate their loved ones, even rebuying their remains elsewhere. Upon learning she was buried on Hart Island, (NYC), we had my great aunt’s remains disinterred and gave her a proper funeral and burial in the family plot.
Sadly, and for the most part, such information and histories regarding this facet of these old historic facilities has been long last. Furthermore, the practice of simply putting numbers instead of names on the headstones only makes such things even more difficult, as the lists that told of the names associated with the numbers have all been long lost, as well. Here in Arkansas..the old Kirkbride insane asylum was initially built in the 1870s, it would transition into the Arkansas State Hospital in the early 1900s, and it would remain in operation at its original site until the 1950s. At that time, it was demolished and rebuilt elsewhere in the city in order to make way for an Interstate bypass beltway around the city...and then it was demolished and relocated elsewhere in the city again some twenty years later for similar reasons. At the time of its first demolition and move, there remained over 5,000 former patients buried in the old cemeteries located upon its grounds. The facility had long stopped burying deceased patients on its ground by the 1950s, or course, and in order to make way for the new Interstate bypass, all of these graves were unearthed and reburied elsewhere in the city. Then, as the city continued to grow, they were unearthed a second time and buried elsewhere in the city yet again...which is where they now continue to be located today. But due to the moves and closures, all of the headstones with their numbers are long lost, and the lists that assigned names to the numbers are long lost, as well. Today, there is simply a stone monument (erected in 1978) in an obscure field noting that "here lies the remains of thousands of unknown and unclaimed mental patients." And for the most part, nobody in the city of Little Rock is even aware that this field and its monument even exist today, too. These poor people knew no rest during their lives, they have also been deprived of rest since they have passed, and today, for the most part, they have all been simply forgotten altogether. But when I die myself, I'm going to have my remains cremated and then sprinkled around that old field and its monument. Those are my people...and I think that I will finally be able to find rest for myself there with them.
My thoughts Are..Why Ppl Aren't Asking Why So Many Asylums..We know these Buildings Where Already here 🤔 and No person in our lifetime Built those Structures..Were Ppl Put in These Asylums Because they Wouldn't COMPLY with Something..Those Buildings were Founded ..The Secret is Out...
I believe many people were institutionalized in the past because they could see more than the average person. Matter of fact, I don’t think that. I know it’s true. I believe that many Schizophrenics could see the evil going on & just stuff in general that the masses are lied to about & they would lock them up & sedate them so they couldn’t influence anyone. That’s just a small example of what I felt was & is going on. There’s not as many hospitals in Ohio anymore. I lived here 42 years.
Right. Seriously, who do you think built them? Aliens from outer space? The video tells us about Dr. Kirkbride. No, they were not built in “our” lifetime! Nobody is still alive from the early 1800’s. As to the actual human laborers, these places were constructed by immigrants and young men seeking their fortunes in this world. In some instances, patients did a lot of the work. It was only when overcrowding became an issue that these institutions turned into snake pits.
I hope unlike so many others, it hasn't fallen victim to vandalism and spray paint and can be preserved without being converted to overpriced condos and apartments like Danvers was.
I read an interesting statistic about a week ago now. It's been estimated that over 70 of the old asylums were built and that around 25 of them are still standing in various states and capacities. I hope to be able to eventually do more research on those, too.
I attended Ohio University (who bought the building and used it for multiple purposes), The Fine Arts department had graduate student studio spaces in the former men's wing. My studio had bared windows and disturbing words engraved in the window ceils. It was frightening, but I loved the history and was fascinated imagining the former patients. The grounds were beautiful and included three large cemeteries with graves marked only by numbers. We broke into many areas that were cut off from use and found old patient records and furniture, paint and décor marking the decade spaces had last been in use. When I realized I was the last person working at night, I left right away. Only looking forward and walking quickly. When no one was in the wing but me a often heard soft instrumental music that may have only been my imagination. Feral cats lived in abandoned buildings and heards of deer who came onto the hill in the moonlight cast an otherworldly feel.
I appreciated this comment and enjoyed it so much that I reposted it over on the A Tourist in the Land of Reason Facebook page so that I might be able to be seen, enjoyed, and appreciated there, as well. Thank you so much for having shared it, too, as your own experiences add so much depth and detail to the old historic facility's more modern-day uses and history. To me, one of the greatest strengths of this channel will always be the comments that viewers such as yourself choose to share and take the time to do so.
It is clear that you do quite a bit of research for your videos. They are informative and fascinating. Thank you for treating each story and the facilities former patients with respect and dignity.
Thank you so much for having watched this video and for having taken the time to respond and share your thoughts. And the knowledge that these videos are coming across in the ways that I had hoped for and intended touches my heart more than you know, as well :-)
I’m so glad they found use for this iconic building! A university campus is perfect.
Definitely a happy ending on this one - at least in terms of the facility, anyway. Two or three others of the old lunatic-asylums-turned-state-hospitals have also been either deeded over to or annexed by state universities located in their near vicinities, as well. Not only is this a VERY good use of these old facilities, but I also think that it benefits all of the students that are now making use of these structures in such positive ways, opening up their minds to the mentally ill, their histories, and the lives that they at one time were forced to live.
Another fantastic video. Informative and very well done. Thank you.😊
Thanks for giving a enough time to read all the words….very interesting
This was informative, fascinating and a much appreciated does of stories about my country. Loved it.
That was great!
I worked in mental health in Athens from 2012-2015. Some of the people I served remember the lobotomies, until they ceased this treatment. The dairy barn is now an art center, situated next to current mental health and addiction services. Drove past the graveyard plenty of times and always had a sense of sadness since it's numbered gravestones. I lived there when they tore down the old TB ward, just on the other side of the hillside. Let's just say it stirred up some spirits into the valley beneath it after demolition.
Thank you so much for having taken the time to watch this video and to have commented upon it in the way that you have. The personal experiences that you've shared help bring the entire video even more to life, and they help others understand both the facility's history and the impact that it has had on the whole world around it. There is so much that we can learn from the past, and there is so much inspiration to be found there to help us in moving forward today. We always walk best when we walk together.
Wonderful to see one of these institutions saved from the bull dozer.. Thanks for this
Loving the new videos, it’s about time someone makes a documentary on these wonderful buildings
I hear about this and watched the video that is sad what happened too those patients 😢😢 R.I.P. too them
I attended OU from 1986 to 1990 and we would drive up there and look around. It is imposing upon the University upon the Hill.
Thank you so much for having taken the time to both watch and comment upon this video - these things mean more than you know and help accomplish more than you might realize ❤
We need to reopen these places for the homeless and to treat all those trapped in addiction. Of course, the staff must be qualified and able to perform their jobs properly. Restoring the working farms and resident run infrastructure is also a good idea that should be revisited. People need to work at meaningful jobs that are truly needed by others, ie. you bake bread and see others eating it the next day. Being useless is a terrible thing.
I wholeheartedly agree with you here...but there is a very sad truth that few people realize that falls along these lines. Most people automatically assume that the government is failing to take steps in utilizing these old places to help today's mentally ill - and especially the mentally ill homeless. But sadly, and in numerous cases, the government would actually LIKE to repurpose these old facilities in such ways and at times even drafts official plans to do so...and it's the people now living in and around these areas that rise up derail the efforts. Everybody wants to do something about the mentally ill - and especially the homeless mentally ill - but nobody wants to have it done in or around their neighborhoods. Right now, New York City is trying to revitalize the old historic Creedmoor State Hospital complex along these lines, and while a lot of people are all for it, the same usual groups and coalitions are rising up in an effort to prevent it. Hopefully, this will be the time when the angels are finally able to rise up over the devils and see that the right thing is done.
I was born in 1993
I’d like to see you do Elgin mental health center
I'm always looking for suggestions on where to go to next...I'll put it in my list of potential projects :-)
The ridges is now in danger of being tore down for apartment buildings!
That's so sad to here and very tragic, too. The farther these old facilities fade into our nation's past, I guess, the fewer champions they are going to have in the days ahead. If people were made aware of their histories on a consistent and lasting basis, then I'm certain that they would no doubt fare better in the years ahead...which is one of the primary driving purposes behind my ongoing desire to produce and share these videos.
A couple of distant cousins were inmates in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Maybe they are in a picture (doubt it)!
Wow, thank you so much for having watched this video, taking the time to make a comment, and for sharing your own family's history pertaining to this old facility. To me, one of the strongest aspects of this channel will always be the comments that people such as yourself take the time to share pertaining to the videos within it. People who have spent time at these facilities, people who have families with history pertaining to them...these comments always give these videos a sense of depth and meaning in ways that nothing else will ever be able to do .
Are there any records whereby the occupants of the graves can be identified? Some sort of a public guide should be made available to tell the stories of those who are buried there, awaiting the final redemption. (Even if you don’t believe, it is still proper to honor the deceased.) Possibly, families may wish to locate their loved ones, even rebuying their remains elsewhere. Upon learning she was buried on Hart Island, (NYC), we had my great aunt’s remains disinterred and gave her a proper funeral and burial in the family plot.
Sadly, and for the most part, such information and histories regarding this facet of these old historic facilities has been long last. Furthermore, the practice of simply putting numbers instead of names on the headstones only makes such things even more difficult, as the lists that told of the names associated with the numbers have all been long lost, as well. Here in Arkansas..the old Kirkbride insane asylum was initially built in the 1870s, it would transition into the Arkansas State Hospital in the early 1900s, and it would remain in operation at its original site until the 1950s. At that time, it was demolished and rebuilt elsewhere in the city in order to make way for an Interstate bypass beltway around the city...and then it was demolished and relocated elsewhere in the city again some twenty years later for similar reasons. At the time of its first demolition and move, there remained over 5,000 former patients buried in the old cemeteries located upon its grounds. The facility had long stopped burying deceased patients on its ground by the 1950s, or course, and in order to make way for the new Interstate bypass, all of these graves were unearthed and reburied elsewhere in the city. Then, as the city continued to grow, they were unearthed a second time and buried elsewhere in the city yet again...which is where they now continue to be located today. But due to the moves and closures, all of the headstones with their numbers are long lost, and the lists that assigned names to the numbers are long lost, as well. Today, there is simply a stone monument (erected in 1978) in an obscure field noting that "here lies the remains of thousands of unknown and unclaimed mental patients." And for the most part, nobody in the city of Little Rock is even aware that this field and its monument even exist today, too. These poor people knew no rest during their lives, they have also been deprived of rest since they have passed, and today, for the most part, they have all been simply forgotten altogether. But when I die myself, I'm going to have my remains cremated and then sprinkled around that old field and its monument. Those are my people...and I think that I will finally be able to find rest for myself there with them.
My thoughts Are..Why Ppl Aren't Asking Why So Many Asylums..We know these Buildings Where Already here 🤔 and No person in our lifetime Built those Structures..Were Ppl Put in These Asylums Because they Wouldn't COMPLY with Something..Those Buildings were Founded ..The Secret is Out...
What bro 💀
I believe many people were institutionalized in the past because they could see more than the average person. Matter of fact, I don’t think that. I know it’s true. I believe that many Schizophrenics could see the evil going on & just stuff in general that the masses are lied to about & they would lock them up & sedate them so they couldn’t influence anyone. That’s just a small example of what I felt was & is going on. There’s not as many hospitals in Ohio anymore. I lived here 42 years.
Right. Seriously, who do you think built them? Aliens from outer space? The video tells us about Dr. Kirkbride. No, they were not built in “our” lifetime! Nobody is still alive from the early 1800’s. As to the actual human laborers, these places were constructed by immigrants and young men seeking their fortunes in this world. In some instances, patients did a lot of the work. It was only when overcrowding became an issue that these institutions turned into snake pits.
I hope unlike so many others, it hasn't fallen victim to vandalism and spray paint and can be preserved without being converted to overpriced condos and apartments like Danvers was.
I read an interesting statistic about a week ago now. It's been estimated that over 70 of the old asylums were built and that around 25 of them are still standing in various states and capacities. I hope to be able to eventually do more research on those, too.
This one is currently preserved actually
@@Leatherface123. thank you I didn't know that
🙏 p♥r♥o♥m♥o♥s♥m
Bull Shit!!
A Dr designed it 😂
What a narrative!!