4,224 Comments for Northampton State Hospital

Yes, I believe these are the first two wards closes to administration, which would be the original 1856 structure.

This photo jumped out at me.I love the color.Im so glad I got my chores done early today.

im working my way through these sites , so i hope Mr. Motts can answer this, is this picture of the old building built in 1856?

Speaking of Danvers State Hospital, I worked right next to therea few times and took a look around in there. There are a lot of factors that make a place like that make the hairs on your neck stand up. First, the look of the place, such as the morgue, and the halls. Then there's the odd feeling when you think about the things that went on in there... I know 2 people that were released from there. The stories..... I'll leave it at that. Nothing to take lightly. But a great place to get the crap scared out of you.

I've now had this wallpaper for a few months...and I'm not planning on changing it!

Everytime I go on the computer she is staring at my folders.

For many years, before antipsychotics were invented, lobotomies were "state of the art" procedures. Few people tried to hide what they were doing, just like we don't currently hide it when we do something as drastic as radiation or chemotherapy on people with cancer, because it was the state of the art/best practice at the time. Back then we thought it worked, we were trying to help, not hurt, people, and there were few other options available. I say "we" even though I wasn't around back then. Block glass windows were a way of letting in some light without using bars - much of this was pre-Plexiglas. It was usually an attempt to make the places have some more natural lighting, not a way to hide secret tortures and forbidden procedures.

Back in '96, friends and I stumbled onto the property. We had no idea of its existence. We walked all around it, realizing it clearly was an institution of some kind, but not until we happened past the entry sign, did we realize it was a mental hospital.
What scared me the most were the slightly newer parts which had glass block windows high up. The kind that let light in, but you can't see through. Above the windows were ventilation hoods. I couldn't help but think that these were the operating rooms where lobotomies and worse were performed.

I had no desire, well sane desire, to enter the building. But i was fascinated with the size and scope of the place, along with the magnificent architectural styles. It really impressed me like no other place, especially after we simply stumbled upon it, while walking around the pond at Smith College, and taking a trail up the hill.

It's really sad that they are removing it. I didn't know that was occuring, though, I assumed it would happen eventually. Prime location. Plus, from what I read here, they've had to patrol it constantly.
FWIW, back when we were there, we walked around it for hours, not a soul ;) was in sight. No security, no police, no one. Broad daylight. So, apparently, the visitors to the place expanded exponentially and created the security issue. Too bad.

I don't want it to go either, i try to visit as much as i can before it gets torn down. As far as i know however, it is still standing.

Ventilation grate.

My Uncle spent fifteen plus years there until sometime before it closed. I visited him once with my parents when I was ten. The only thing I remember was the overwhelming smell of urine, and loud yelling/howling inside the building. You feel the "lunatics" still. It truly was an awful place. It still is.

what is that on the left a window?

Fire doors are supposed to stop - or, at least, slow down - the spread of fire past a particular point. With all that glass, this sort of defeats the purpose.

OMG she could be real cause my friends are going to h ospital hill today!

I know how we could find out. :-)

I've heard stories of this place and how haunted it is..People dieing from experiences theyve had here. Is any of this true?