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Description
Asylum for the Insane

Here is the link to the brand new video!!

youtu.be/iIw30-K55Gc

Today we will take a look at some exterior photos of this building, if you want to see what the inside looks like you will have to watch the video for now.

Established in 1869 as a hospital farm to allow patients to grow produce, encourage communal play and give them more freedom than they would normally have. The building was designed by architect Thomas H. Tracy and was modeled after a Pennsylvania Asylum designed by Thomas Kirkbride. It was opened in 1902 with a two lane tree lined road leading up to the building. An example of Victorian style using symmetry and balance, there are also two huge skylights on the third-storey above the surgical suite to provide additional light. Also of note are the gabled projections and cupola of the two matching side pavillions, a plain pediment over the front entrance as well as a semi circular window on the second storey over the front entrance. All of these elements come together to provide historical significance to both the property as well as the building itself.

A bit of a short write up about the history of this location but unfortunately I am out of time and will hopefully try to update it at a later date.

An absolutely incredible building and nothing else comes close to this one in terms of history, aesthetic appeal and age in the exploring scene of this area. I was very happy to be able to visit this one on two separate occasions but also couldn’t believe how far downhill it went in the span of only six months. One of the solariums was beginning to collapse during my first visit, six months later the roof had completely collapsed and today all three walls are now just a pile of rubble on the ground. Hopefully this building can be saved before it is too late because there are no others like it!

©James Hackland

Description
Asylum for the Insane

Here is the link to the brand new video!!

youtu.be/iIw30-K55Gc

Today we will take a look at some exterior photos of this building, if you want to see what the inside looks like you will have to watch the video for now.

Established in 1869 as a hospital farm to allow patients to grow produce, encourage communal play and give them more freedom than they would normally have. The building was designed by architect Thomas H. Tracy and was modeled after a Pennsylvania Asylum designed by Thomas Kirkbride. It was opened in 1902 with a two lane tree lined road leading up to the building. An example of Victorian style using symmetry and balance, there are also two huge skylights on the third-storey above the surgical suite to provide additional light. Also of note are the gabled projections and cupola of the two matching side pavillions, a plain pediment over the front entrance as well as a semi circular window on the second storey over the front entrance. All of these elements come together to provide historical significance to both the property as well as the building itself.

A bit of a short write up about the history of this location but unfortunately I am out of time and will hopefully try to update it at a later date.

An absolutely incredible building and nothing else comes close to this one in terms of history, aesthetic appeal and age in the exploring scene of this area. I was very happy to be able to visit this one on two separate occasions but also couldn’t believe how far downhill it went in the span of only six months. One of the solariums was beginning to collapse during my first visit, six months later the roof had completely collapsed and today all three walls are now just a pile of rubble on the ground. Hopefully this building can be saved before it is too late because there are no others like it!

©James Hackland