1,927 Comments for Pilgrim State Hospital

My mother was institutionalized in PSH in 1961 when I was 8 years old. My father would take me in the car with him to visit her on the weekends, but leave me in the car. Just the sight of this place have me the chills and I had nightmares about it for the longest time. She was released and came home later that year, with the advances of psychiatric medications got to the point where she never had to be returned to this place, thank God. My mother died in 1983, but was never really a whole person. Only in death was she finally released of the grips of her mental illness. Readers, pray for those who are ill and pray for their families. Those who are sick arte unaware of what is going on really, it is their families who really suffer.

I used to have a repetitive dream. I was isolated in a prison but it had a window with bars, out the window I couls see massive green lawn. And I also knew I could "talk" to inmates down the exterior of the building by shouting.iwas in an altered state commpletly scared for my life.knowingi was one of the last ones. THEN I REALIZED NOT PRISON!! ASSYLUM..The first time I was in the "community" I literally stopped my car. I feel its beautiful.Ghosts that "reside" here are. harmless.once innocent mentally ill...tourtured bt their own minds...then brutally & sadistically by "doctors" I wound up hererecently' it was to pick up my high skool sweetheart>who found me after 9 years of hell. So 27 years later were back 2gether. Can't wait till folage dies.

I thought I recognized one of the students in that picture from my graduating class. I graduated from Pilgrim in 1977. We were the last class to graduate from Pilgrim. It seems like only yesterday. Hard to believe I graduated over 30 yeras ago!

U don't wanna live there and its not dixhills ny its located in Brentwood new York off of crooked hill rd. Iam paranormal sensitive and there's souls stuck there that were badly treated in those time we shouldn't even be knocking these buildings down right now they have been knocking these specific buildings down an want to build apartments that's crazy talk about poltergiest that's just a bad omen I live.down the block from this building I drive thru and can feel the lost souls two of my friends have killed themselves in the woods behind the building stay away our the sports will follow u bless all of u who go there bad karma

Oh how awesome! I'd love to have a machine like that

are the buildings demolished i pass by all the time and see nothing in there

Those appear to be newer transformers.

Was there water in any of them?

The asbestos crews seemed to destroy a lot. If it is sealed inside the walls where no one can get to it, its not a problem. Its only a problem when it will be disturbed or exposed to the elements and the asbestos becomes air born.

i was jus there tnn.. are the morgue still there? and if they are what building because ik they have been takeing some down

Amen, Zorb. Those who enter these places to explore, photograph, document, and preserve are heroes in my opinion. They capture the fascinating journey of natural decomposition of something human made. Left alone, this can be stunningly beautiful. Plus, given the subject matter, it sets the imagination free wondering what an average day was like when these buildings were alive. The photography on Opacity does both of these perfectly.

I detest those who enter and destroy for no other reason but juvenile immaturity and stupidity. To find something interesting, then deface or destroy it so no one else can experience it, is extremely arrogant and self centered.

I agree 100% with Zorb. Behaviour like dropping cement block off the rtoof purely for the sake of destruction is reprehensible.

It's a shame that these beautiful building are left to decay, vandals, and destruction. I suppose people who lived on campus have as many wonderful memories as patients committed there had horrible memories. Some ghastly things were done there, like lobotomies and electroshock therapy.

All-in-all, it's a really cool place rich in history and mystery. I wish I went there when I was growing up on Long Island (Smithtown - only 10 miles away, and clsoe to Kings Park, which I drove through on a regular basis).

The mansions have been leveled since these photo's were taken. There is nothing left of them except rubble. You can see it on Google Earth.

I was just there taking pictures last week and it is completely overgrown with low brush and vines growing up the building now. I posted my pictures on flickr and will add then to the flickr Opacity group.