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The funny thing is that they still use this exact same model (cranks and all) in some psychiatric hospitals. Of course, they are obviously in better condition!

There are actually several people I know that worked here before it was closed in '85. The hospital was in fact closed down because of all the abuse that went on there. I have heard some pretty gruesome stories from the former workers so I know for a fact that they are true. Pennhurst was mainly a residential facility for people with Mental Retardation, but there were also people there with psychiatric illnesses. As for the families not being able to see where their children lived, 1.) the parents didn't pay for their kids to be there, it was all court ordered and paid for by the government and insurance companies, and 2.) it was mostly for the safety of the visitors that they weren't allowed to go to where theiir children lived. Even today, if you go to a state hospital that is funcitoning you aren't allowed to go see where the people live, you have to stay on a completely separate part of the ward. This is, however, maily for the privacy of the other patients. I know all this because I used to work at a state hospital in PA.

I keep expecting someone to walk past... creepsy

Creepy gorgeous!

Wow....strange :) but awesome looking I wanna go there so badd.....

Both of my parents were sent to Pennhurst insane asylum. I never knew much about the place and just started researching on it to kind of learn more about what my parents went through... They both had developmental disabilities and during those days they were looked down upon as an abomination the the community and it sadens me to know this. My parents have 4th and 2nd grade educations they dont have many book smarts but are the most compassionate people you would ever meet they get help with day to day life because they cant always do for themselves they are 70 and 62 now. but a lifetime of being looked down on is hard to overcome but they are great people. Its so sad how people were treated back then but in learning more about where they came from im beginning to find myself.

"The South Bend plant ceased production on December 20, 1963, and the last Studebaker car rolled off the Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, plant on March 16, 1966."

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studebaker

uhh....creepy coners...never know what is behind there....prrr

I spent 2 years here the only freedom I got was from being in the exercise yard and looking up at the clouds.

Exercise yard right below gaurd tower.

that window is Section A where you would go befor release.

Main outside door to the exercise yard.

inside the yard facing the skills center.

Entrance to yard on tracks side.

looks like the store.