3,287 Comments for Danvers State Hospital

Lynne, lemme handle this one, you've had a rough day...

Edina, there are, in fact, multiple things you can do to help out. First and foremost, research, research, research. Don't just pass on things you've heard, gather proof. You might find it wasn't as bad as you thought.

Second, educate others. After you know the truth and not just the rumors, you'll do so much good by passing the information along to anyone you can get to stay still!

Third, and most important, volunteer! There are plenty of people with "disorders" who need help, and if you were to volunteer some time with them you would be doing the most amount of help possible!

Thank you very much for sharing these intensely thought-provoking images. I saw the film "Session 9" & it brought back the memories of the fear I felt growing up in Beverly (city next to Danvers) as I was always in awe of DSH. It was like an accident you couldn't look away from--right in my own back yard. At the same time, my heart went out to the people within those walls who had no choice. I'm extremely disgusted with Avalon Bay for their heartless & greedy destruction of such a historical landmark. I believe this is a desecration to the people who were so horribly abused there. If anything, DSH should become a memorial/museum for those tortured souls. The unspeakable things that went on in that place should NEVER be forgotten & most certainly, NEVER be repeated. Is there anything, ANYTHING at all we as a community can do to stop this injustice?

If I had to wear pants like that Id hang myself too

I live next to Danvers and we drove by and Avalon Bay has begun demolition....I have a horse barn that i take riding lessons at that is right next to the hospital, so i have to watch them tear it down...its terrible...:-(

What's REALLY weird is remembering the "crazy lady" who use to wave to me out that window!!! (I can still she her now)

Seeing all these pictures bring back all kinds of memories of spending Sunday afternoons in front of this building, scared to death of the patients walking around outside and women yelling out the windows from the women's section, while my mother was in the men's section visiting my grandfather.

Needless to say, I never met my grandfather he died there, buy seeing these pictures sure stirred up memories of the Bonner building, the "Lady of the hill" church, the "gardens", etc.
Hearing about all the tunnels, etc.

These are beautiful pictures, but the real story will probably never be told. Just stories of what WE remember when we were kids.

I am truly speechless :-0

Motts, was the door really that crooked or did you shoot that at an angle to make the photo look like this, either way cool pic!! :-)

these doors are such a interesting shape, would love to keep it for my door collection I have!!!

I never thought that some exam lights could make me feel a sense of fear, but for some reason this particular set of lights do, just has that not so safe feeling!!

yes they filmd session9 here

drBob, I currently work in a Psych Center and I have to agree with you about how neat and clean the wards are. If the walls aren't being painted the floors are being waxed (much like a 'normal' hospital)

Someone's name being posted throughout a facility such as this is not a violation of there privacy (or HIPAA). Any PHI (protected health information) that is to be thrown out must be shredded or otherwise destroyed. The facility that I work at never seems to stop giving us training with HIPAA.

My mother signed herself into Danvers State twice in the late 50's early 60's. I was told she had nervous breakdowns. She told us about being given shock treatments and some horrible things she saw in the tunnels going from one bldg. to the next. I went up there a week or so ago just out of curiosity. I didn't know they were arresting people. Some guys in a truck waved at me as they were leaving. I thought I was going to be sick. I remember my father telling me to look up and wave but I couldn't see her. She must have been in this building. I wished I had brought a camera. Thanks for these pictures

those bastards are going to hell for tearing down the J ward and all the other building including taking off the spire and the Bonner building!