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That is definitely pretty damn close to bein my fav. picture. so crisp and i love the shapes. Uber beautiful

Kathie I had a big set of keys too. It was wierd, we'd use the E key to get into the wards. It was such a simple key, but the unfortunate patients didnt' have the skills to duplicate them. Remember the elevators that went from the bottom tunnel, to the 3rd floor? We would deliver the food trucks to the wards. When we got back into the elevator some of the patients would want to come, to escape with us, I was always sorry for them. Remember the 58 and the 96 key? I still have mine someplace, when I quit to start college I just went home, and noticed my keys on my belt. I remember they never allowed cameras but now I wish I smuggled mine in to get pictures of the friends I met, I mean the patients. We were always good to them brought them cigarettes and candy, made them smile.

Janet, remember the lifers who used to carry that ring of keys on a bent state hospital spoon looped over their belt. Of course we don't want to forget the starched white uniforms with the classy black bow tie.

Once the State shut off the heat, the paint started to peel like this. Back in the day, the Painters at the hospital took pride in their work; they were painting all the time, the place looked great from top to bottom. These peeling paint pics disgust me because I know how CLEAN the place was before it was let go into this dump. I'm sure the painters are pissed too, if they are still alive and know what it has turned into.

Mari, the movie was called Home Before Dark. One of the patients told me about how they filmed at Danvers State Hospital 1958. Based on a woman who was from Marblerock (Marblehead MA) and her insanity. There are many outside shots of Danvers State in the movie, you guys should rent it if you can, excellent movie!

Thats kinda sad. Its so old to which is totally cool

Mari I worked there '73 - '75 in the kitchen and housekeeping. Remember the tunnel from the Kirkbride Building to the Bonner Building? We used to push the food trucks thru there every day. I'm sure your book will be HUGE with so much to say. I should write a book and I only worked there 2 years before beginning college. I still can't believe they are tearing this down :(

When I worked there us housekeeping staff would polish that stairway until it shined like gold. The walls were always freshly painted, nothing was let go at all. The staff took pride in the place, mopping floors, cleaning. We used to get help from the patients too! I'm pretty sure that is the stairway that will not get torn down (is in the Kirkbride center building). Hope they restore it with feeling . . .

Bill that woodwork was all done by hand. My GGgrandfather helped build it. No electricity, no modern conveniences. Those support beams are monsterous, big heavy almost no knots in them. They used the best supplies available. When I worked there I had the master key so we used to go up into the peaks and smoke, they had chains where they would restrain patients (way before medications). How many souls will be awakened when they tear this down? Will be like the movie Ghostbusters !

I worked there for two years in the Housekeeping and Kitchen department. I had the master keys I got from a guy in Security, to all the "tunnels" and got into wards that almost no one could go into. Patients records from the 1860's still in boxes, totally creepy. Now some wrecking ball is going to ruin all that Danvers brick (all bricks made right in Danversport and hauled by horses). The watertower was shown a few times in the movie "Session 9" hey rent that movie it shows the kitchen where I used to work.

Its as if the refridgerator is beckoning you to come look at what it contains...."come hither those of curiousity to view what remains"....

Looks to be an early attempt at creating a respirator to take the place of the iron lung? Possibly some research taking place where there were patients available to use as "guina pigs".

Stumbled across the site while doing research on "opacity" in respect to power plant emissions and found it captivating and the photography astounding and able to "put you in the moment"...fantastic job Mr. Motts!!

This set has brought me out of lurking to comment. Verry beautiful work!

Johnny Mac: I know that this is no where close to what you have probably seen at this state hospital, but I used to work at a nursing home before I became a nurse, and I had such a deep connection to all of the residents that I cared for and spent time with. I was devistated at the lose that I endured and the neglect that I saw, it is heart breaking and rewarding all at the sametime, and I love that there is some one else out there that I can relate to and understand. Your comment almost brought tears to my eyes, and a smile to my heart it is wonderful to see that you cared so much for these people who needed you the most. have a great day Renee

The terms used to be interchangeable. "Asylum" means a haven or a sanctuary and "sanitarium" or "sanitorium" is a place where a person is to be restored to health, either mentally or physically. These days most people think of asylum more negatively, as in "lunatic asylum" or "mental asylum," and they are put in mind of physical diseases with the term sanitarium, since there were so many TB sanitariums.