Buoyed by the courthouse documents, which included testimony from a family member, buchanan contacted the state archives in harrisburg, hoping to drive there and scour old hospital records for more details about her grandmothers life. Dixmont state hospital by mark benton overdrive rakuten. Pictures and history of century insane asylums built according to a plan conceived by dr. The 1862 hospital was haunted by many entities, notably a male spirit who was said to guard the morgue area and frighten away intruders. Dixmont state hospital pittsburgh, pennsylvania 14. The hospital building was closed in 1984 and was demolished in 2006. It also was named western pennsylvania hospital for the insane. Dixmont state hospital, previously called the western pennsylvania hospital for the insane at dixmont, one of pennsylvanias first insane asylums, was. Pittsburgh natives have recognized dixmont state hospital by its towering boiler house smokestack that stood prominently along busy route 65. Dixmont state hospital was built in 1862, long enough for a few ghoulish spirits to make their home until it was shut down in 1984. 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. In 1914 it became a psychiatric hospital, and it was closed in 1975. She also reexamined the 1900 census and found her grandmother listed as a patient at dixmont. Thats when the state acquired it and renamed it dixmont state hospital.
With the added funding from the state bailout, dixmont began to morph into a modern psychiatric institution and began a. The dixmont state hospital, kilbuck the old psychiatric hospital was torn down over a decade ago but while it was standing 18592005 it was the subject of many ghost stories. Dixmont state hospital published in 2006 in arcadia publishings images of america series, this book by mark berton uses historic photographs to open up the world of the 1859 complex named for famed mental health care reformer dorothea dix, who was instrumental in choosing the hospitals site. This website was created as a source of information for those curious about dixmont state hospital, a former psychiatric hospital in kilbuck township, pa a few miles outside of pittsburgh. The western state hospital, in hopkinsville, kentucky which was established in 1854 as the western kentucky lunatic asylum, is an inpatient center for the treatment of mental illness. Despite the attempts at selfsufficiency, by 1946 the institution was in deep financial trouble. Despite receiving state appropriations, it nonetheless continued to operate as a private corporation until 1945 when it was taken over by the department of public welfare. Thomas story kirkbride, a physician who believed good architecture could help cure mental illness. It was typical of other kirkbride facilities with the exception that the outermost wings swept forward instead of to the rear in the typical vshape. A reader from moon township was inquiring about the history of dixmont state hospital, the former mental health hospital on ohio river boulevard in kilbuck township. History and photos of the abandoned dixmont state hospital. It has been a topic of curiosity, urban exploration, ghost hunts, and historical research. The state hospital for the insane at warren, now warren state hospital. Mar 21, 2015 dixmont state hospital was built in 1862, long enough for a few ghoulish spirits to make their home until it was shut down in 1984.
Most of the patients were buried in wicker coffins and pine boxes. A bill authorizing the erection of a state lunatic hospital was prepared and passed both houses, but did. Laboratory photo of the abandoned dixmont state hospital haunted. Built in 1862, dixmont was once a stateoftheart institution known for its highly selfsufficient and parklike campus, but a decline in funding for state hospitals and changing philosophies in psychiatric care caused the hospital to be closed in 1984. The danvers state hospital had been a mysterious place for many years, even after its demolition in 2006. Penberthy, this book is the definitive source on the remarkable domestic architecture of the sewickley valley. Foxborough hospitals secret grave miami ghost chronicles. The story of dixmont began in pittsburgh in 1848 as part of the western pennsylvania hospital, now known as west penn hospital in bloomfield. Pennsylvanias real haunts are home to ghosts and spirits yearround theyre not your average halloween haunt.
The original patient population of the hospital was a meager 1 patients who were transferred from the western pennsylvania hospital in pittsburgh. The hospital was a mental health facility built in the year 1874 that consisted of seventeen buildings used to house male and female patients, some of whom were suffering from extreme mental health conditions. The origins of the department began with the 1869 creation of the board of public charities, charged with inspection of all charitable, penal, and correctional institutions in the commonwealth. Photos of abandoned mental hospitals from modern psychiatric units to ancient decaying asylums.
In the 1940s and 1950s, mental hospitals around the country began using electroshock therapy to dull the intellects of the patients and quiet the wards of mental hospitals. Dixmont state hospital arcadia publishing history books. The pittsburgh suntelegraph ran a photo in 1952 showing the mens ward dormitory so full that men had to go to bed in shifts so that staff could squeeze beds together once their occupants settled in for the night. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. On march 18, 1848, the pennsylvania legislature enacted an act of incorporation for a hospital that was named western pennsylvania hospital. The establishment of a hospital for the relief of the insane poor of the state claimed the attention of the philanthropic at an early date.
Dixmont state hospital images of america and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Dixmont state hospital aka western pennsylvania hospital for the insane is located 20 minutes from downtown pittsburgh on route 65 in killbuck township. Dixmont state hospital pa indigent patient cards, 18931916. Dixmont state hospital opens up a world that was offlimits to the general public but alive with festivals, celebrations, and the successful treatment of patients. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading dixmont state hospital images of america.
A brief history of dixmont state hospital in the middle 1840s residents in western pennsylvania recognized the need for a public hospital to care for the indigent and the insane. Jun 14, 2017 towering on a hilltop near pittsburgh sat dixmont asylum for the insane, later renamed dixmont state hospital. Novels that are set, or partially set, in a mental hospital or a psychiatric ward in a regular hospital. This hospital was the first chartered public hospital in pittsburgh and the first institution in western pennsylvania to offer treatment for the insane. The purchasers of the dixmont property own the log book that identifies the markers with each patient and their number and. Dixmont state hospital wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. As kids wed always hear tales of people who were sent to dixmont because they went crazy. In 1880, dixmont patients who hailed from the tricountry area began being transported to the new asylum in warren county.
Active from 1862 through 1984, dixmont state hospital was demolished in 2005, leaving a grassy field and a forgotten graveyard in its wake. I never got the chance to see this amazing building up close and personal and now its long gone. Dixmont state hospital by mark berton arcadia publishing books. Dixmont state hospital, previously called the western pennsylvania hospital for the insane at dixmont, one of pennsylvanias first insane asylums, was located in kilbuck township in allegheny county. The life and death of dixmont state hospital the tartan.
Due to its large file size, this book may take longer to download. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Those interested in urban exploration or abandoned photography will enjoy the large library of photos detailing all of the buildings on the former campus. Patient records for dixmont are located at the pennsylvania state archives in harrisburg, pennsylvania within record group 23department of public welfare records, office of mental health. Dimensions 45 number of stories 46 total square feet of floor area, all floors, based on outside dimensions 47 total land area in square feet note. Dixmont state hospital, pittsburgh, pa reed hall was the main building at dixmont and was named after the first superintendent of dixmont, dr. The situation became bad enough that the pennsylvania department of welfare took ownership of the hospital in 1946, renaming it dixmont state hospital. In march 1973, the department of public welfare made plans to move patients judged to be criminally insane from fairview state hospital to mayview. Mark berton covered dixmont state hospital for several. Western pennsylvania hospital and dixmont hospital records.
Dixmont state hospital cemetery worldwide cemeteries on. The standard number of wings for a kirkbride plan hospital was eight, with an accommodation of 250 patients. Jul 09, 2014 in the middle of the 20th century, woodville state hospital faced a problem. Elizabeth and her daughter, emma, were admitted to the dixmont state hospital together on 3 september 1890. Dixmont hospital was a mental institution named after dorothea dix, a famous mental health rights activist. The pennsylvania state archives is located at 350 north street, harrisburg, pa 17120. The buildings grounds were abandoned for years, which led to lots of paranormal activity. This is the second edition of edgeworth preservations 1996 awardwinning volume, long out of print.
In 1982, an adolescent center was transferred from woodville state hospital to mayview. During the closing of dixmont state hospital in 1984, the deaf unit was transferred to mayview. In kilbuck township, pa, this cemetery, still owned by the state, contains about 0 graves with nothing but a number on a simple stone marking each sight. Built in 1862, dixmont was once a state oftheart institution. This cemetery, still owned by the state, contains about 0 graves with nothing but a number on a simple stone marking each sight.
The hospital opened in 1859 and was named after the social reformer dorothea dix. Dixmont books, book price comparison at bookstores. Construction started in 1856 and its doors opened in 1862. Aug 17, 2009 this is a slide show highlighting photos both of recent times and eary 20th century of dixmont state hospital or better known as dixmont insane asylum. Dec 25, 2017 foxborough state hospital, historically known as the massachusetts hospital for dipsomaniacs and inebriates was established in the 1890s. Dixmont state hospital records 17851998 book, 1785. It is a tribute to the patients and caring staff that this book on dixmont, named for the visionary and. These haunted places in pittsburgh, pa may be scattered across western pennsylvania, but have one thing in common. Dixmont state hospital pittsburgh, pa the 1862 hospital was haunted by many. Published in 2006 in arcadia publishings images of america series, this book by mark berton uses historic photographs to open up the world of the 1859 complex named for famed mental health care reformer dorothea dix, who was instrumental in choosing the hospital s site. Each of these has its own ghost story, some involving zombies, ghouls or spirits. History and photos of the abandoned dixmont state hospital, in pittsburgh, pa. The backside of reed hall abandoned dixmont state hospital, pittsburgh. Philadelphia state hospital byberry haverford state hospital.
The kirkbride plan asylums tended to be large, imposing institutional buildings, with the defining feature being their narrow, stepped, linear building footprint featuring staggered wings extending outward from the center, resembling the wingspan of a bat. The first movement was made by the citizens of philadelphia, who adopted a memorial which they presented to the legislature at the session of 183839. Pittsburgh, pa the purchasers of the dixmont property own the log book that. Dixmont state hospital pittsburgh natives have recognized dixmont state hospital by its towering boiler house smokestack that stood prominently along busy route 65. In addition, pennsylvania law prohibits the state from selling grave sites, so the hospital s own cemetery, in which many of the patients were buried with simple stones marked only with index numbers, remains state owned. Through historic photographs, dixmont state hospital opens up this world that was off limits to the general public but was alive with festivals, celebrations, and the successful treatment of patients.
Dixmont state hospital was a hospital located northwest of pittsburgh, pennsylvania. Well, technically moonlight but a with stars nonetheless. A mental hospitals breakdown pittsburgh postgazette. Dixmont state hospital, shown lit by strobe light, stands in cavernous ruins. Containing text by stephen neal dennis and 150 full color house portraits by photographer william j. Dixmont state hospital for the insane was built to be a self sustaining sanctuary for mentally ill with revolutionary and humane treatment for all. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Jan 22, 2007 this is a video of dixmont state hospital and there are 3 ghost hunt trips but on the other videos. Dixmont state hospital pittsburgh, pennsylvania 49. The most commonly reported ghost was a man who would guard the hospital s morgue. Pittsburgh natives have recognized dixmont state hospital by its. All other light is from the full moon that evening.
Similar books to dixmont state hospital images of america. Built in 1862, dixmont was once a state oftheart institution known for its highly selfsufficient and parklike campus, but a decline in funding for state hospitals. Dixmont state hospital, founded in 1848 by dorothea dix, began as the insane dept. Find out all about pennsylvanias haunted history, and learn all about haunted places across the state that are plagued with real ghosts, ghouls, apparitions, and things that go bump in the night. Dixmont state hospital by mark berton, hardcover barnes. In 1907, the facility became independent of the western pennsylvania hospital and became known as dixmont hospital for the insane.
Throughout those years employees passed down a story of a patient who had been buried alone because they had some type of communicable disease. Dixmont state hospital pa indigent patient cards, 1893. The old dixmont hospital once went by the lengthy title of the department of the insane in the western pennsylvania hospital of pittsburgh when it was opened in 1862 with an initial population of 1 patients. With the changing responsibilities of the state government following the depression and the demand for better financial management of mental health institutions, the commonwealth of pennsylvania took over ownership. The orange glow from the left and in the rear of the building are exterior lights on associatedformer state hospitalbuildings. Haunted places, spooky places, the graveyard book, paranormal experience. Dixmont state hospital, pennsylvania images of america. Western pennsylvania asylum for the insane at dixmont was. Find out all about pennsylvanias haunted history, and learn all about haunted places across the state that are plagued with real ghosts, ghouls, apparitions, and things that go. This group is for the great dixmont state hospital please share stories, pictures and videos. Dixmont state hospital originally the department of the insane in the western pennsylvania hospital of pittsburgh was a hospital located northwest of pittsburgh, pennsylvania.
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