Mar 21, 2014 it has rare archival photos and a terrific history on the asylum. The institution began as a small work farm for the mentally ill. While the description above sounds like something out of a horror movie, it actually comes from a 1946 life magazine expose of philadelphias byberry mental hospital. It was written by deutschi think around 1950 and is an expose of the horrors at state mental hospitals. It was specifically located in the somerton section of the city on the border with bucks county.
One especially frightening urban legend concerns a former patient. A few years ago, he put together a book of images from those buildings, titled asylum. Abandonded patient files in the basement of the longclosed. A farewell to overbrook asylum essex county hospital. Looming on the outskirts of philadelphia county since 1906, the mental hospital most commonly known as byberry stood. Mad house specifically looks into the insane asylum wards of 19th century new york and the rich assortment of doctors and patients that inhabited them.
Shortly after that, it was established in 1907 as the byberry mental hospital and originally followed the theory of physician benjamin rush that mental illness was a. Byberry mental asylum carrie dean on november 25, 2018 thousands spend their days often for weeks at a stretch locked in devices euphemistically called restraints. Established in an age when mental illness was poorly understood, its administrators and doctors surely meant well, but the place was overcrowded, understaffed and too few people cared much about the mentally ill patients who were sent here, often to live out their lives. Abandonded patient files in the basement of the long. Former site of byberry, the infamous and terrifying. Philadelphias state hospital for mental diseases, also known as byberry insane asylum, was built at the end of roosevelt boulevard in the somerton section of northeast philadelphia. During its time as a psych hospital, it was bought out and the name changed many times philadelphia state hospital, byberry state hospital, byberry city farms, and the philadelphia hospital for mental diseases, but mostly known as byberry. The following true story happened to my friend and a bunch of his friends a number of years ago when we were all still in college. He also has an amazing website about byberry called the story of byberry and is easily found at the top of any websearch. Also some of the building contain asbestos, another reason for the shutdown.
Based on his participant observation field work he was employed as a physical therapists assistant under a grant from the national institute of mental health at a mental institution in washington, d. If youre interested in the philadelphia state hospital at byberrys history and the foundations of corruption in philadelphia government starting around 1900 with israel wilson durham and the gang that ran philadelphia at that time, along with the horrors of being underfunded and neglect to patients, this is the right book with the depth of research you are looking for. Even today, inhumane conditions and patient abuse are the main legacies of the byberry mental hospital officially known as the philadelphia state hospital. While walking in the footsteps of historys mentally ill, readers will continue to be amazed at their treatment, their stories and the ever evolving world of mental health in the united states. Featuring found photographs from real asylums and filled with chilling mystery and pageturning suspense, asylum is a horror story that treads the line between genius and insanity and should appeal to fans.
With insufficient security patrolling the land, and a multitude of horror stories. Apr 27, 2008 has been torn own, byberry, mental hospital, philadelphia state mental hospital. As more and more people were admitted to the hospital, byberrys population significantly expanded which led to severe patient neglect and unbelievable. Its said he wields a large knife and chases unwelcomed explorers.
Abandoned building and urban exploration of the abandoned byberry asylum, with history. Old byberrians and urban explorers will take notice of the condition prior. Sep 07, 2018 the philadelphia state hospital was originally opened as a psychiatric hospital in northeast philly. Partial walkthrough of tunnels catacombs, buildings and grounds. Well, northeast philadelphia is home to one of the largest mental hospitals in the usa. I n 18th century philadelphia, when grassy hills gently rolled from the delaware river on the east across to the schuylkill on the west, an infamous building once stood in. Jones concludes the book with a look at the abandoned crumbling.
For nearly 200 years, northeastern philadelphia had treated its surrounding mentally ill citizens to keep them off the. The philadelphia state hospital was originally opened as a psychiatric hospital in northeast philly. It was closed down due to unlivable conditions and mistreatment of patients. Pennhurst, the legendary haunted hospital complex has opened its doors after 25 years and is accepting new patients. As i understand it back in the early 1950s the place was built to house all types of the mentally unstable, from the criminally insane all the on down to people who had alzeimhers disease or some other mental illness and they were misdiagnosed as someone who for. Byberry mental hospital first opened its doors to the public in 1907, when it started off as a working farm for the mentally ill before it became a fullyfledged mental hospital in the 1920s.
A warren of tunnels, once used for transferring patients, runs beneath the 17 buildings that cover the compound. Though now torn down, it was once the site of horrific abuses, dehumanizing treatment and naturally, a place of restless spirits. Pennhurst haunted asylum is pennsylvanias newest and best destination haunted house. The philadelphia state hospital at byberry was a psychiatric hospital located on either side of roosevelt boulevard us route 1 in northeast philadelphia, pennsylvania. Inside the closed world of state mental hospitals the mit press christopher payne 4. It has rare archival photos and a terrific history on the asylum. Since it closed its doors in 1990, the notorious asylum has decayed, leaving behind a morbid, intricate skeleton. The philadelphia state hospital at byberry was a psychiatric hospital located on either side of. Windowless corridors connect enormous rooms flooded in darkness and filled with mangled medical equipment. One thing i do have access to is a copy of the chapter on byberry that was part of the book the shame of the states. Philadelphia state hospital at byberry psh was a psychiatric hospital in northeast philadelphia, first city and later stateoperated. Ancora asylum and the abandoned village of the damned. Oct 23, 2016 tragic tales of horrific living conditions and unimaginable abuse emanated from philadelphia state hospital also known as byberry in pennsylvania during much of the 20th century.
We walk the dark, dusty steps of old castles and houses. Byberry was first constructed in 1906 and opened its doors to its first patient in 1907. The hospital, in its most popular form, was founded in1907, and known as the byberry mental hospital. The mental asylum, originally meant to help cure the mentally ill, became little more than a terrifying nightmare for those who lived there. The lost and forgotten children by susan tarr, a madness so discreet by mindy. Soon, plans were made to turn the farm into a cottage plan asylum. It was conceived as a statefunded and operated facility, to house any individual deemed feebleminded, and. Also, someone is committing visually grotesque murders just like those of a serial killer once confined at the institution that now serves as a dorm.
This book provides an unprecedented window into the good, the bad, the unusual, and. Byberry mental hospital, philadelphia, pennsylvania. The primary buildings were constructed between 1910 and the mid 1920s, the newer buildings were constructed between 1940 and 1953. In 1896, essex county officials designated 325 acres of land as the new location of the essex county asylum for the insane. Philadelphia state hospital, also known as byberry, was shut down in 1990. An illustrated history of the mental asylum check out our photos of an illustrated history of the mental asylum. Pennhurst haunted asylum pennsylvania haunted house.
Growing up in levittown i heard a lot of creepy stories about byberry. Popular insane asylum books meet your next favorite book. The miles of catacombs beneath the abandoned byberry mental hospital in. The name of the institution was changed several times during its history being variously named philadelphia state hospital. The acre campus of byberry state mental hospital sprawls across the somerton section of northeast philadelphia like the rotting corpse of a giant. Be prepared to be both educated and entertained as you follow along with keene and the sad, but engaging inhabitants in. A record of discharges, deaths, and transfers of patients at woodville state hospital. Hospital in philadelphia, pennsylvania have given rise to some strange stories. Sep 04, 2011 a few years ago, he put together a book of images from those buildings, titled asylum.
A book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Six abandoned asylums with genuinely chilling backstories. Byberry mental hospital, facts, pictures, maps, and advice. The building opened in 1903 and over the decades eventually expanded to become one of pennsylvanias largest hospitals, housing the mentally ill and criminally insane. Top photo from an abandoned building at trenton state hospital, by david scaglione it can be hard to separate fact from fiction when it comes to asylum stories. Back in the mid 1960s, fledgling tv reporter bill baldini ran a fiveepisode expose of pennhurst state school and hospital on philadelphias tv10 now an nbc affiliate. Hospital at byberry news newspapers books scholar jstor january 2011 learn how and when to remove this template message. The byberry facility is a featured location in the haunted philadelphia popup. It began its humble beginnings as a work farm for the mentally ill but between 1910 and 1920 construction of a large asylum was begun and completed. It then became the worlds greatest abandoned mental hospital playground until it was completely demolished in 2007. The tunnels danvers state mental hospital danvers massachusetts the scariest place on earth ive read about these once pretty interesting history behind them rusted passage photo of the abandoned danvers state hospital buffalo state hospital, ny asylum. The story of byberry is uniformly sad and outrageous. The miles of catacombs beneath the abandoned byberry mental hospital in philadelphia, pennsylvania have given rise to some strange stories. Whittingham asylum, charming and even quaint on the outside, makes the list if only for its sheer size.
Images of america haunted america american palate hidden history postcard history. In the 70s, boston township was the site of a government buyout, and subsequent mass eviction of citizens. Byberry mental hospital in philadelphia pennsylvania the miles of catacombs beneath the abandoned byberry mental hospital in philadelphia, pennsylvania have given rise to some strange stories. Urban exploration and history of the abandoned byberry asylum. Novels that are set, or partially set, in a mental hospital or a psychiatric ward in a regular hospital. Apr 17, 2016 byberry mental hospital is located on the outskirts of philadelphia, pennsylvania. We roam the halls of asylums and tunnels, hoping to glimpse something otherworldly. Dowdall from the arrival of its first patients in 1911 to 1990, when the commonwealth formally closed it down, the philadelphia state hospital, popularly known as byberry, was the home for thousands of mental patients. It was home to people ranging from the mentally challenged to the criminally insane. The site was selected due to its remote, high altitude location, which, it was believed, could.
A look inside abandoned state mental hospital photo. Featuring found photographs from real asylums and filled with chilling mystery and pageturning suspense, asylum is a horror story that treads the line between genius and insanity. Madeleine rouxs new york times bestselling asylum is a thrilling and creepy photoillustrated novel that publishers weekly called a strong ya debut that reveals the enduring impact of buried trauma on a place. During its tenure as a psychiatric hospital it was known by several names philadelphia state hospital, byberry state hospital, byberry city farms, and the philadelphia hospital for mental diseases. In 1991, because of the overall decrease in facility use and budget cuts to the department of public welfare, woodville state hospital closed. Byberry mental hospital bensalem, pennsylvania hospital. Whittingham was virtually a miniature city, and its expansive grounds included a brewery, post office, and even its own brass band. Featuring found photographs from real asylums and filled with chilling mystery and pageturning suspense, asylum is a horror story that treads the line between genius and. One especially frightening urban legend concerns a former patient who reportedly still lives down in the tunnels. An illustrated history of the mental asylum seeker. Haunted insane asylum photos and stories lovetoknow. Philadelphia state hospital in pennsylvania was a creepy. Parents need to know that asylum is a horror novel in which archaic, violent psychiatric treatments of the mid20th century come to terrifying life in story, illustrations, and old photographs from mental institutions.
The northern part of summit county in ohio is known by the eerily blunt moniker, helltown. Philadelphia state hospital byberry history this large complex has its humble beginnings as a small work farm for the mentally challenged in a section of philadelphia called byberry, in 1906. I live in a suburb just outside of philadelphia a few miles from byberry manor and yes that place is very very damn spooky. A farewell to overbrook asylum essex county hospital weird nj. He also has an amazing website about byberry called the story of byberry and. Byberry state hospital by hannah karena jones arcadia.
Hide caption beauty salon, trenton state hospital, n. Infamous for its harsh conditions, shocking neglect and incomprehensible human rights violations, during the 80 years the hospital was open it was easily one of the most hellish and terrifying places in the united states. Officially the philadelphia state hopsital, it was a mental institution off. Webster is an avid philadelphia historian, amateur. The philadelphia state hospital at byberry, or known simply as byberry, was the poster image for patient maltreatment. Because brookline was no ordinary mental hospital, and there are some secrets that refuse to stay buried. Construction for a large asylum complex was in progress from 1910 to the mid1920s, which included several dormitories, an infirmary, kitchens, laundry. From 1907 to 2006 the byberry mental hospital also known as the philadelphia state hospital at byberry stood here. Places that induce heavy breathing and paranoia, before anything has even happened. Ver mas ideas sobre lugares abandonados, casas abandonadas y hospital abandonado. Byberrys long goodbye philadelphia state hospital byberry. The book is entitled the philadelphia state hospital at byberry. The pennsylvania center for the book byberry insane asylum.
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