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. After it closed, in rooms off the tunnels were found vials containing bits of brains from the lobotomies, and the study of the brain. 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. He also has an amazing website about byberry called the story of byberry and is easily found at the top of any websearch. From abandoned tunnels sitting under central station to gladesville mental hospital housing hundreds of mentally insane, these are some of.
The danvers state hospital, also known as the state lunatic hospital at danvers, the danvers. Severalls asylum in colchester was built from 1910 and opened in 19 as a psychiatric hospital. The former traverse city state hospital is immersed in over 100 years of history. The kirkbride plan was a distinctive design for mental hospitals developed in the mid1800s by the psychiatrist thomas kirkbride. A subterranean world of tunnels links several buildings of this rare 19thcentury asylum. The hospital closed because it simply wasnt needed with the advancement in understanding mental health conditions and the care in the community scheme. Tunnels of traverse city state hospital traverse city, michigan. A revealing history of the florida state hospital at. As volunteers at the colorado mental health institute at pueblo museum. Why visiting the abandoned anoka state hospital, minnesotas most. Narratives of severalls hospital, 191997, gittins, summarised her research, noting that often women were admitted by their own family, sometimes as the result of bearing illegitimate children or because they had been raped. Seaview hospital was once the largest tuberculosis sanatorium in the country, now listed on the u. The rise and fall of americas premier mental hospital.
The book the american siberia, written in 1891, portrayed the chattahoochee prison as a place of relentless barbarity. Narratives of severalls hospital, 191997 1998 by diana gittins has been the most comprehensive study of this institution to date. Large fans would force air through underground tunnels, into the basement and up flues in the various parts of the building. Inside the abandoned childrens hospital and tunnels at. The project was initiated in the mid1990s, by the north east essex mental health trust, which wanted a social history of the hospital to be written prior to its closure. National register of historic places and is also a u. Tunnels of traverse city state hospital atlas obscura.
The simple but elegant buildings contain some amazing corridors and doors. The tunnels are simply service tunnels supplying hot water to the wards. Discover tunnels of traverse city state hospital in traverse city, michigan. Severalls hospital lunatic asylum, colchester urbex.
Severalls asylum opened as a mental hospital in 19. Most of the buildings on campus were connected by a labyrinth of tunnels. The book is entitled the philadelphia state hospital at byberry. Step back into the abundant history of the former traverse city state hospital. Several paranormal groups have asked to explore the tunnels at the colorado. It was the largest asylum in the country, the first to perform lobotomies. A revealing history of the florida state hospital at chattahoochee and. Patients of severalls asylum were from a varied background and history. Inside the abandoned childrens hospital and tunnels at seaview hospital, staten island. An impressive overhead shot of severalls hospital shows the impressive echelon site the patients of severalls hospital a shelled shocked patient from ww1. Some displayed characteristics of mental illnesses such a depression, psychosis and mania still misdiagnosed at the time.