1,382 Comments for Dixmont State Hospital

Aha I think you may be right Rich.

Imagine the crud IN it too! Lynne hon who knows what may have been taking place on this old matress all these years later though? Eeewww!

Looks to me like two or three broke.

Why would just that one board break? I picture someone standing on it, or jumping off of it. If it was just from sitting, the middles would've all broke.

benihana, sorry to inform you, but I think that is a window with a line that slightly curves upwards under it. No hard feelings...Cyclopses dont smile, they only have one eye and that makes them all emo about everything, and their one eyeness.

Anyone else see the cyclopse smiley face on the door?

Dixmont State Hospital is a prime example of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's lack of attention to its taxpayers and residents as a whole. Closed down since 1984, the facility and its grounds was left to decay and rot until the 1990's. I was saddened today to learn that the old hospital was under demolition and that a fire had broken out in part of the buildings (source Channel 4 news WTAE).

The Commonwealth has abandoned many other building like Dixmont. Would it not be in the peoples best interest if Dixmont, as well as some other notable buildings, been donated to non-profit historical societies with the sole responsibility of keeping these old instructions alive so that future generations may learn from it?

Oh well perhaps this is just one young history buff who is asking the Commonwealth for too much?

I agree with you Judeq...so damn sad.

What does that make you, Tony, 80? ;-)

My guess would be arson too. Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to everyone. Been a long hard day. Spent most of it at Children's Hospital.

Thanks, Truckie. Maybe someone was trying to give her a Viking funeral (more fitting than bulldozers and wrecking balls?) : )

If I had to take a guess I would have to arson. Because like I have said I have been through the building many times in the last 3 weeks, and I have not seen any sings of anybody livening there. No garbage or small fires like someone was or would be cooking or anything. When I looked in the crawl space's where the utilities ran and part of the fire was, I did not see any garbage or sings of someone livening there either.
If I here anything else I will let you all know.

I thought so! Are you thinking arson, AM? Or just dry old wood. Probably no one really cares as we do, because they're going to tear the old lady down soon. so sad : (

Truckie is absolutely correct in everything he has reported. There were no further updates since they got the fire out rather quickly. When I first told you about the fire it had only just been reported. There wasn't much information available about the fire. And, like Truckie said, the skies were clear over Pittsburgh today. I would like to know where that "lightning strike" came from.

The fire damage was not all that bad. It was a section of roof that was about the size of 10ft by 30ft. It was contained pretty quick, and under control in about 30 minutes. I did get some grate pictures of the fire area. I wonder if Motts would post them?
This saddens me.

Well, as you all know.It is with sadness I write this. Early this morning around 5:45 am a fire broke out at Dixmont, At 6:10 am the fire department was called and on the scene within 4 minutes. The fire started on the 4th floor in the male ward. It was a section of the roof and eves that burned. It was a small hallway that connected different parts of the 4th floor together, and where some small rooms were for utilities. The work crew that got there at 5:30 am said the roof was strike by lightening. Well, if that's not a big lie I don't know what is, because the sky's were clear here in Pittsburgh this am.
I went over after work to get some pictures.