3,698 Comments Posted by Motts

If they do and no one is around to hear it, do they even make a sound?

@Mike - It would make sense to remove these items when the building is closed, however in addition to not really being in the state's interest, it would certainly devalue the structure and make it less appealing to be re-purposed. The removal of some valuable elements can also reduce the building's integrity rather quickly (copper trim, slate shingles, etc).

@nvsoon - Yeah many buildings I've seen of this age had ornamental cast iron grilles over the vents, and they would certainly be installed here for safety reasons. I imagine they were stolen or salvaged.

Thanks Iceberg, that's so nice to hear!

No, it's just a screen that allows for communication through the door; the other side can be seen in the next photo. Devices like this helped prevent the attendant from getting poked in the eye, spat upon, etc.

As this theater building was constructed in 1932, I imagine those grilles were most likely decorative covers for a speaker system. I don't recall finding any rooms back there.

Most definitely; many state hospitals became strapped for cash and could barely afford to keep enough supplies for their patients by the 1960s, and renovations that focused on utility rather than preservation are common.

Was it on Fort Street? I used to get sandwiches there... it still has that lovely ceiling, though a bit on the rough side.

I believe that would be part of Ward F, the female infirmary. It does seem disproportionately large, though it is original. I imagine the space was used for ventilation machinery.

Iceberg - Thank you, yep I made several trips to Grossinger's. The indoor pool was just stunning. Definitely one of the locations I need to get to in my queue!

Dave - Thanks, will check it out!

This building has been demolished, but other parts of campus have been renovated by Penn State Schuylkill.

Got it, thanks for the heads up TH!

They built these institutions with lots of big windows to create a cheerful and spacious atmosphere, as many of the patients in these early hospitals were confined in dank basement cells. Fresh air was also considered vital to recovering. These theories were based on environmental determinism, where doctors believed that a person's surroundings caused their psychoses.

Yep the chute is an old heating duct, with the grille removed. They're kind of dangerous in a psychiatric hospital... I recall hearing about a young male patient who crawled in one at Danvers State Hospital and died.

Heh no jumping, that's a great way to fall through. I skitched around the edge, using the window frames for holds and stood on what was left of those joists, which were still in the wall pockets. Knowing a bit about structural framing and rock climbing helps a lot in these situations.

I'll try and make one - nah that's likely a cast iron pipe for roof drainage or sewage. The asbestos covered pipes were in here https://opacity.us/image11549_peeking_in.htm