458 Comments for Belchertown State School

cool! :-)

I love Belchertown,
too bad that all the times I've been their that backdrop was a. destroyed b. stolen

hey everyone! i live in Belchertwon and i ve been in the state schools..there so sketchy! i have heard things even in mid day. but you cant be in them for too long cuz theres risk of getting cancer!

In 1956 I was a college student who took an Abnormal Psychology class at a nearby college. We had a field trip to Belchertown to observe the "feebleminded" which included a visit to the theater where some students entertained us with a musical review. I remember every detail of the trip and experienced a shock of recognition looking at this picture.

I am familiar with most of the asylums in Massachusetts, and can tell you that even speaking their names invoked terror back in the 40's and 50's. My family came from Springfield ,and in the late 19th and early 20th centuries Alzheimer's patients were sent to the state hospitals. I had many relatives that ended up in Northampton. My mother was terrified of "being sent to Northampton" and I admit that the pictures of the old asylums strikes fear into my heart.

Your pictures are stunningly beautiful and I am enjoying your web site very much.

Back in the early 80's we played music there with a local dance band. It was amazing to see how music instantly affected the "clients". Within seconds everyone was dancing and whirling and having the greatest time! I remember one young fellow screaming in my face "PLAY JINGLE BELL ROCK, NOW!" So we did. I think it was July. We did a few gigs at the school before it completely closed down. I'd do it again in a second.

Thank you for posting your memories; there was indeed a carousel inside one of the buildings, but I was unable to see it at the time. I believe it has been relocated since...

I volunteered to work with the retarded at the Belchertown State School while I was a college senior in 1981/2. The school even then was in the process of closing down. I think It was down to three filled dorms at the time with the promise of being closed all together soon. We would take our clients on walks or just visit with them, many were profoundly retarded, almost all were lonely. The campus was huge, sad, place filled with forgotten people, many had been dumped there by their family. The management tried to make the best of things though. There was rumored to be a carousel on the property as a joyous space for the clients but that was abandonned as being age-inappropriate. Thanks for your shots, they were very evocative and brought a lot of memories back.

I was just there today-it is really a site to see in the fall...i really suggest it to anyone who is interested in this place!

They used even older ones at the middle school I went to . They dated to the 1930s and still were completely functional.

They let it sit there remaining as it is because there some chemical in the walls i forget what but its cancer causing thats also why they closed it

some1 said they wuld hang there and start a fire, dude u wuldnt its rite next to the police station i got kicked out from there b4

o that exit sign i heard kids stole it from the high school accross the road and put it there

lol that door on the right i broke that window not too long ago

I found one of these as well and appears to be in great condition. Is there any maket (collectors) for these?

The State School is one of my favorite places to go!! Weird i know...I live the town over and have visited many times...i have just recently seen the theater and fell in love with it!! i have been in most of the other buildings...but ur shots of the theater are amazing...you captured it just as it is.