51 Comments Posted by Kevin

some1 said they wuld hang there and start a fire, dude u wuldnt its rite next to the police station i got kicked out from there b4

o that exit sign i heard kids stole it from the high school accross the road and put it there

lol that door on the right i broke that window not too long ago

My grandfather, uncle and my father used to work at Studebaker. It brought back long forgotten memories. I would not be able to stand in the old press. I remember dad came home early on day. He would not tell us much as to why. I later found out someone he was working with was seriously injured (killed?). Most of these presses were 2 man operations. A lot of the other workers really liked working with dad. Many new press operators were put with him since he had an excellent safety record, pre-OSHA. I could tell it got to him when someone was injured. You can not believe how dangerous these machines could be.

It's a shame that this building isn't being used.

John,
Great list of bands and songs...brings back lots of memories riding on the Musik Express!

Thanks

I am putting together a list of Music Express songs for my IPod playlist. Does anyone have any ideas?
Any former DJs out there?

Under Reagan it became policy and a goal to close these hospitals. It was a fiscally driven not medically driven policy. They were seen as wasteful.

Certainly there are some patients who do very well on their own, but some who can't transition as well.

The policy can be traced as far back as the Community Mental Health Act of 1963. But at Kings Park the bulk of the patients were moved out duing the Reagan era.

yo thats place is sweet.....we recorded shit the other night and heard some crazy shit....i dont think its haunted.....does neone know if it is???

im getting ready to go their in an hour hope the place doesent fall apart while we are inside its a beutiful place
I heard 13 girls hung them selves their back in the day

And I thought going to my dentist was bad...

Forced to leave by the NAACP???

The patients were released over a period of years mostly because of changes in federal policy. In an attempt to save money and in reponse to complaints of mistreatment, the Government (started under Reagan) began releasing patients who they felt could be maintaned with meds as opposed to custodial management (hospitals).

Many of these patients ended up on the streets as homeless when they (for one reason or another) stopped taking their meds.

Back again.

Re: Tour

It was posted on the Nissequogue River State Park web site but I don't see anything concerning upcoming events now. I'd call the park office by phone and ask.

The tour was given by a historian who is also a professor at Stonybook. There was a park employee who tagged along (to make sure no one stepped out of line I suppose).

The tour was fantasic. I suggest you try to go on one. You may have to call the park office and beg them to set up another tour. Ask to speak to the Supervisor/Manager. I've met him before (when I went kayaking at the NRSP) and he's a really nice guy.

He joked "We get more visitors to this park at night when it's closed than we do during the day when it's open."

Some other factoids from the tour. At it's peak there were about 150 biuldings in the hospital. About 75 remain.

There is a small section of the grounds that houses about 300 patients who still remain. At it's peak there were about 10,000 patients.

There is a "potter's field" on the grounds where deceased patients who had no relatives to claim the bodies (or wouldn't/couldn't claim them) them were burried. At it's peak an average of one patient died a day. All were autopsied. The morgue building is still standing.

There are several miles (7?) of undergound tunnels that zig-zag the grounds. They contain steam pipes and power lines from the power plant. All the buildings were heated from one central steam plant.

The initial patients build the first buildings themselves. They came from Brooklyn who had bought the property to build the hospital (hence "Kings" Park...ie. Kings Country). They lived in tents until the construction was finished.

The origional name was "King's Park Lunatic Farm, the patients worked on the farm growing vegetables. It was therapy.

yo that place is no joke def the scariest place ive ever been to i would have gotten inside if it werent for the cops.. there is like a station right there so be careful if you decide to go in.

Ive been here before. This is the first building i went into. I reccomend comming here. Only problem is dodging the military because there is a base right neer here. Ive been in all of the buildings and in every room. I know this place by heart. Great photo