Abandoned, Western State Mental Hospital

Western State Mental Hospital, located near Bolivar, was the last state mental hospital to be constructed and habitually the one least funded. In December 1885 the site commissioners chose the farm of Paul T. Jones as the location for the proposed facility.
The institution's patient population grew from a few hundred in the 1890s to over 2,000 in the 1960s as patients remained hospitalized for decades. Many were crowded into large dormitories and had little privacy. With a limited number of doctors and attendants and a large patient population, many were simply "warehoused."
Patients at Western received the treatments available in their period of institutionalization. These treatments ranged from hydrotherapy and insulin shock therapy to lobotomies and electric shock therapy. With the severe staff limitations, however, patients were fortunate to receive ten minutes per week with a psychiatrist.
The system for securing financing for patient care limited the operating budget. In Tennessee, there were three classes of patients: the state-pay patients, the county-pay patients, and the private-pay patients. State agencies agreed to pay for one patient out of a population of one thousand. Once this portion of the payment had been satisfied, the county was responsible for additional costs. The county payments consistently lagged behind, and superintendents had to engage in deficit spending to keep the hospital operating. The two most influential superintendents, Dr. Edwin Cocke and Dr. Edwin Levy, often faced political pressure from state officials, but both managed to make some improvements in the care offered at Western.
In modern times, "deinstitutionalization" produced a marked decrease in the patient population as mental health experts called for treatment of the mentally ill in local mental health clinics. Although there have been indications that this treatment has not been successful, it continues to the present time, and the indigent mentally ill continue to pose a major problem for society.
www.asylumproj...

[@jokestermasteroflaughter7754]

my grandparents used to live down the block from this place. when i was younger my brother and i thought it was hogwarts.
also i found out that my uncle took swimming lessons in thier pool back in the 50s with other kids from school since that was the only pool around.

[@reademuncy1959]

I was just there yesterday and drove around. there are still about 10 buildings and several houses still around the facility. It was very creepy just driving by some of those old abandoned buildings

[@PacificNorthwest360]

Brother, awesome video. I just subbed. I do the same thing around Washington State.
Cheers
Olympia WA

[@pandyjohnson8980]

This is really a nice looking building

[@JMExplorations]

New supporters here! We are looking forward to checking out more of your explores! Tennessee is one of our favorite places! We spent our annual explore vacation down there a couple years ago. This place is so gorgeous and you presented it perfectly!!! LOVE the music and the drone work! Very beautifully done! BTW....LOVE the name!!! LOL

[@bigcountry425]

I'll definitely be checking out y'alls content as well!
We live in Kentucky, just 45 minutes from the state line to Tennessee, so we're down there often. We ride side by sides in the mountains there often.
I appreciate your words on the video & yes, your channel name is awesome too!

[@pandyjohnson8980]

This is really a nice looking building.

[@markmem1234]

Hello from Middleton Tn thanks for the video

[@timelesstruths]

Enjoyed tour Great Post.

[@tarmancer]

great video and music to go with. love looking at these old gothic places. you did an awesome job

[@bigcountry425]

Thanks!
I'm just an amateur, but we enjoy traveling once in a while to different places to get aerial footage.
You may like this one as well...th-cam.com/video/OB-y6MGVh9A/w-d-xo.html

[@Lola-lh5kl]

Creepy anyone else noticed those windows bricked up????

[@hollyinhell]

This video far exceeded my expectations!

[@taraelizabethdensley9475]

Love the music, the building gives me the creeps though

[@bigcountry425]

Thanks!

[@tomlehr861]

Drove by there when living in tacoma

[@paulgrimm]

That is one creepy place

[@joyride2013]

Awesome video

[@bigcountry425]

Thanks!

[@jennycartwright3266]

Great video

[@bigcountry425]

Thanks!

[@patrickmohan9452]

Where is the hospital at

[@BigMitch]

Hey would you happen to know how I could get into contact with the owners of this hospital?

[@bigcountry425]

The new one is right next to it, there's folks there to talk to. That's what I had to do, but this was a few years ago.

[@BigMitch]

@@bigcountry425 I saw that. So do I just call the number listed on Google maps?

[@PennyPatterson-i1d]

They wanted let Noone go in the old building and let noone in unless u work here give you a head up

[@robertrobinson3788]

The music going with it should be black Sabbath.😅

[@hillbilliepsycho5235]

I live right down the street from it only 15 mins its so creepy

[@Blu_babyy]

What is the address to this place ? I’d love to take my own video

[@hillbilliepsycho5235]

@@Blu_babyy it’s in bolivar Tn

[@daviddedmon6576]

Come to Central Baptist Church. Where just a few minutes from you down 125 and lake Hardeman rd

[@gingercrosby8609]

He's a medium from long island.

[@roxannerandle9155]

🙄
1. Potential ( WHAT SHALL BECOME OF IT)
2. Hazard
3. Criminality
4. OBSTRUCTION
5. FEES (MAINTENANCE, MANICURE OR OTHER)
MAKE IT MAKE SENSE !

[@parramorecrewautorestorations]

I live in that town the second you step foot in or around the original building police and gaurds are coming for ya it has heavy security

[@terrancebradshaw2314]

What city is this in?

[@bigcountry425]

Bolivar, TN.

[@terrancebradshaw2314]

@@bigcountry425 thanks brother, we have a western state hospital in Hopkinsville,Ky.

[@bigcountry425]

@@terrancebradshaw2314 right, I've been by that one. I inquired, but they aren't affiliated with one another at all. I assumed they were.

[@terrancebradshaw2314]

@@bigcountry425 it was built in the 1800s, and is still open, i worked there in the 1980's

[@annettemiliken3555]

I would love to see inside that place

[@Thestockxj96]

Didn't they shut this down because of lead paint?

[@bigcountry425]

That's very possible, considering it's age.
It has been declining for years, there's a new facility just next to it that took it's place.

[@Thestockxj96]

@@bigcountry425 haha yeah it's very interesting because the place is 30 minutes away from me. Wish I could explore it more but they have security around the place.

[@bigcountry425]

@@Thestockxj96 right, I had to jump through hoops to get permission to fly it from a distance. I didn't get to see it close up, in person like I was hoping to.

[@Alvisr7]

@@bigcountry425 wait so we can go explore it?

[@bigcountry425]

@@Alvisr7 no, I was at a distance, across the road from it. They'll ticket you for getting on the property, let alone going in it.

[@robertrobinson3788]

It's built with prison blue prints....

[@leedee4968]

Just use your imagination😮

[@roxannerandle9155]

🤔

[@leemblake]

Haunted house old McDonald’s farm eieio $$$

[@lanehensley8988]

When people say "this building" WHY DONT SAY SAYS "BUILDINGS" THERE WAS 5 OF THEM LITTEN HALL, WINSTON HALL, AND I CANT REMEMBER THE OTHER 3