Comments

I applaud you Motts, for once again opening another collection with a great begining shot!

It is not that unusual for people with no family members to end up having their bodies used after death for teaching purposes, such as you have described. There is no shame in this and no disrespect to the deceased person. I for one am grateful that there are people who do this so that science (including the practice of embalming) can progress and people can have the ability to learn how to work on real bodies, not just models. Actually, there are a lot of people WITH families who donate their bodies after death for similar teaching purposes, including being used at the "Body Farm" in Tennessee. People who are afraid of mental illness and/or death generally seem to have a hard time with this concept, for some reason. Again, there is no shame, dishonor, disrespect, or horror involved unless you make the association personally.

I've been working in this field for many a long year and see these people on a daily basis, but I can't say it's done much to impact my psychiatric health status one way or t'other. Are you saying that just by looking at and living near people with severe psychiatric illnesses that you have somehow become "blighted"? Normally it takes a tad more than meeting people with psychiatric illnesses to get one. It's not catching like "cooties." If I were someone with psychiatric issues I would be more than a little put out at your comment, I have to say.

The town where I grew up in, Brentwood, was on the perimeter of the grounds. This was during the late 50's/early 60's. When I entered SUNY @ Farmingdale which taught mortuary science, I found out the patients who wilted away and died with no family to claim them were used by the mortuary department for "how-to embalm" training. My physics class was above the mortuary labs and only once did I venture down to see an embalming class in action. My fear of death and insanity had gone full circle from my days as an innocent child . . . I live with Pilgim to the west of me and CI to the east. The images haunt me to this day and I am now 54 years of age. I will never forget the horror I grew up with . . .

In the late 50's, early 60's, I lived 1 mile from this insanity. Me and my friends journeyed up a dirt road via bicycle and came upon the living dead masses. It's an image I cannot erase from my memory . . . . and one that has led to my partial insanity . . . . only if you have seen the emptiness in the patients eyes would you know what I am talking about . . . .

i think it leaves a sense of seclusion....your all alone in this pace

motts, another job well done.

I stumbled onto your website a month or so ago and cannot stay away from it. i've forwarded the link to a ton of people. i have never seen such beautiful pix. i too am totally in love with abandoned older buildings and you bring out the best in them with your photos. keep up the good work.

kts262- thanks for the update. since i live in minnesota now the only way i can visit is by this web site and reading the posted comments.

We were there two nights ago 11/23/06 (thanksgiving). I love Pennhurst. I've been inside a couple of times, examining more and more of the facility each time I go. I am obsessed with the story that lies behind Pennhurst. I spend hours researching the story, but can you blame me? This is such a fascinating (but disgusting) story of what happened to these patients. However, when we were there on Thanksgiving we were absolutely scared out of our minds. We went in the administration building (pictured above) and did our thing but on the way out we realized there was a truck outside in the driveway, a truck that hadn't been there when we entered. We heard footsteps and we tried to escape. It seemed like everywhere we went those footsteps were right behind us. We finally made it out and we went to the road and a police car drove down the road. Thankfully we all made it out safely and un caught, but I must warn those that enter.. be careful, be smart, and be safe. Be kind to Pennhurst. Let others experience it without the damage of others. If it keeps getting damaged then they are more likely to tear it down sooner than later and no one that loves Pennhurst and it's history wants that to happen.

Heya CSA,

Motts is on the road for several days, but yes, the phrase "criminally insane" was replaced by "forensic psychiatry" or "forensic psychology."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forensics

Motts,so is that the same as crimianlly insane? And thank you for answering my questions.

I was wondering what this building was used for when i went up to letchworth. I had a pretty freaky encounter here.

These pics were truly amazing, very emotional..You could almost feel what she was feeling and when i saw the last pic, i felt sad and wanted to cry ...Well done to all 3 of you for the magnificent pics !! ...

I live in the suburbs around Buffalo and I took some photos of this building...amazing. no other words to describe it. I think they should tape a"Scariest Places on Earth" episode in there..ha, shove a family in there and see what happens. I wanna go in there so bad....but anyways (now i am done rambling) great photos, i love the way it's lit up..spooky.