Welcome to the hudson river state hospital located in the united states in poughkeepsie, new york. Most but not all of the existing buildings on the 156acre parcel will be razed. If you enjoy abandoned america, supporters on patreon get better image quality and exclusive galleries. George washington had once envisioned a canal across new york state, connecting the waters of lake erie to the hudson. Updated july 25, 2019 by matthew christopher construction on hudson river state hospital in poughkeepsie, ny began in 1868, and the first patients were admitted in 1871. Originally named hudson river state hospital for the insane, hudson river psychiatric center has been treating and caring for mentally ill men and women since october 21, 1871. Have you had any luck in getting information from hudson river state hospital. Hudson river state hospital is an abandoned mental institution in poughkeepsie, new york, and was the first state hospital for the insane located on land received, by gift, from the citizens of the county. Jun 25, 2014 a photographic exploration of the abandoned hudson river state hospital in poughkeepsie, ny.
Aug 23, 2015 aging tunnels under hudson river threaten to disrupt transport, commerce its been 105 years since the rail tunnels between manhattan and new jersey were built. The school education was planned as a diversion to the patients and to act as a palliative for the monotony of asylum life. The campus is notable for its main building, known as a kirkbride, which has been designated a national historic landmark due to its exemplary high victorian gothic architecture, the first use of that. In 1866, or 11 years after the strong memorial presented to the legislature by county superintendents of the poor setting forth the neglected condition of the insane and recommending the establishment of two additional state hospitals for their care and treatment, governor fenton. Those who could not afford such accommodations were left in the poorhouse, a prison surrogate that served needs of restraint and housing rather than practical therapy.
Hudson river state hospital fire abandoned hudson valley. The campus of the hudson river state hospital in poughkeepsie, new york, has been earmarked for redevelopment since it was bought by the hudson heritage company in 2005. By that time, most of the beautiful high victorian gothic buildings had fallen into disrepair and many were left vacant due to safety concerns. The hudson river state hospital, located outside of poughkeepsie in the hudson valley, is a national landmark but has been abandoned since the early 2000s. The facility, overlooking the hudson river, was closed down in 2001 and since then has fallen. I filled out the form and sent in payment and had my death certificate in about 2 weeks. Hudson river state hospital, located in poughkeepsie, ny, was built in 1868, and closed in 2003. The hudson river state hospital, is a former new york state psychiatric hospital which operated from 1873 until its closure in the early 2000s. Designed in 1867 by frederick clarke withers and expanded considerably over time, hudson river state hospital boasted over 150 acres of manicured lawns with landscape design by calvert vaux and frederick law olmsted of central park fame, farms, a power.
This was a common layout for asylums built during the second half of the 19th century. Jan 27, 2016 hudson river state hospital for the insane, circa 1895. T he hudson river state hospital kirkbride sits on a hill overlooking the hudson river in poughkeepsie, new york. Read more about hudson river state hospital in the forum hudson river psychiatric closing today although the hudson river kirkbride was abandoned many years ago, the hospital opened in 1871 continued operations until today when it will figuratively shut its doors for. Photo book unveils life, history of hudson river state. Anyone looking for information regarding former patients has to request information from the state. Construction, however, was far from over and would continue for another 25 years. Actually, the hillcrest school was set in the very back of the property, well away from the main entrance on route 9 and we had to take a car back and. Completed in 1871, it was built on land once owned by the roosevelts. Hudson river state hospital the inmates of willard 1870 to. Joined a team of extreme explorers yesterday for the craziest exploration of my life to hudson river state hospital. Apr 01, 2016 a very significant demolition and preservation update was recently released for the hudson river state hospital outlining both those buildings that are to be preserved and those to be demolished. For the sake of an impending book, there wont be much on the history.
A few weeks ago, james, helena, bennett, and myself headed out north of poughkeepsie to visit the abandoned hudson river state hospital, a former psychiatric hospital designed by frederick clarke withers in 1867. The campus is notable for its main building, known as a kirkbride, which has been designated a national historic landmark due to its exemplary high victorian gothic architecture, the first use of that style for an american institutional building. Hudson river tunnel project gets boost from congress wsj. The first structure i saw on the hospitals grounds rose out of the crunchy grass as i climbed a broad knoll.
The only longterm solution is the construction of a new tunnel complex, as proposed by amtrak in its gateway program. The original complex of buildings, presently known as the main building, north wing and. A view of hudson river state hospitals administration section as it appeared in 2008. Mar 25, 2012 a few weeks ago, james, helena, bennett, and myself headed out north of poughkeepsie to visit the abandoned hudson river state hospital, a former psychiatric hospital designed by frederick clarke withers in 1867. Hudson river state hospital abandoned modern ruins look at that stained glass.
Inside the abandoned hudson river state hospital in. Fires have plagued the hrsh throughout its history. Hudson river state hospital hrsh was known for its adventurous, erratic, and sometimes unruly employees and patients. Heres the info they sent me with the form to fill out. Jan 19, 2015 joined a team of extreme explorers yesterday for the craziest exploration of my life to hudson river state hospital. Poughkeepsies abandoned hudson river state hospital. Without a new tunnel and new rail tracks, a massive storm or some other. I snuck into the hudson river state hospital many times when i was a teenager 10 years ago. May 24, 20 hudson river state hospital served the counties of albany, columbia, dutchess, greene, putnam, richmond, rensselaer, washington, and westchester.
It was intended to be completed quickly, but went far over its original schedule and budget. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our. The hudson river state hospital for the insane the other. The commission is pleased to report an unusually small number of untoward occurrences at the state hospitals during the year. Both rightmyer and galante are history curators with the hudson river state hospital nurses alumni association hrshnaa, from which many of the archival images in this book appear. A photographic exploration of the abandoned hudson river state hospital in poughkeepsie, ny. At the utica state hospital a somewhat unusual case was that of a woman patient who, escaping from the institution, found means to reach albany where she obtained employment as a clerk in a department store. Pioneers in mental health since 1871 the beginning originally named hudson river state hospital for the insane, hudson river psychiatric center has been treating and caring for mentally ill men and women since october 21, 1871. In 1866, eleven years after the strong memorial presented to the legislature by county superintendents of the poor setting forth the neglected condition of the insane and recommending the establishment of two additional state hospitals for their care and treatment, governor fenton appointed five commissioners to secure a suitable site on or near the hudson river below the city of albany, upon. Between 1976 and 2010, the number of nj transit weekday trains crossing the hudson using the north river tunnels increased from 147 to 438. Take a tour of abandoned bannerman castle on the hudson river with us. New yorks historic hudson river state hospital abandoned. Next, check out 10 abandoned hospitals and asylums in.
As appropriate, fra and nj transit will coordinate. This is a list of bridges and other crossings of the hudson river, from its mouth at the upper new york bay upstream to its cartographic beginning at henderson lake in newcomb, new york. Governor dewitt clinton picked up the dream, and finally saw it completed in 1825. This mouldering abandoned mental hospital was once a center for progressive healing. The beautiful buildings sit stopped in time between a busy river road and marist college. They dont have actual hospital records, however they have death records if you believe your relative died at the hospital. During the early work on the north tube of the uptown tunnels, a point was reached where the rock was sixteen feet above the bottom of the tunnel, and the overlying silt was in a semifluid state. From this point the road will be entirely in tunnel under bergen hill, the north river, the island of manhattan, and the east river, reaching the surface about a mile east of the latter in long island city. Ground broken for development at former hudson river psychiatric center.
Aging tunnels under hudson river threaten to disrupt. Hudson river state hospital poughkeepsie, new york. Hudson river state hospital is something of an urban exploring legend. Build a new hudson river tunnel the new york times. The eis is being prepared pursuant to the national environmental policy act of 1969 nepa. Aging tunnels under hudson river threaten to disrupt transport, commerce its been 105 years since the rail tunnels between manhattan and new jersey were built. What this book does really well is bring to life the lives of the patients, providers, and community members of the hudson river area and the hudson river state hospital. The river s importance has grown in step with the nation. Built between 1904 and 1908 by the pennsylvania railroad prr to allow its trains to reach manhattan, they opened for passenger service in late 1910. A century later, it was slowly closed down as psychiatric treatment had changed enough that large hospitals were no longer needed. Moldy psych books, hudson river state hospital 960x898oc. The project is intended to preserve the current functionality of the northeast corridors nec hudson river rail crossing between new jersey and new york and strengthen the resilience of the nec. Didnt quite know what i was getting into but it was such an amazing experience.
While there are instances of employees and patients of hrsh doing good things such as in september of 1919 when a hrsh patient saved a poughkeepsie citizen from drowning in the hudson river, on most occasions there was mischief. In july of 1921 a hrsh pumping station caught fire, which later spread to the. Hudson river state hospital flyover abandoned hudson valley. One of the two places i was assigned to teach at was the hillcrest school for children at the hudson river state hospital, located only about a halfmile down the road from the jesuit facility. Jan 0116 aerial footage of hudson river state hospital in poughkeepsie, ny. Frederick clarke withers designed the building, while frederick law olmstead and calvert vaux designed the grounds. Hudson river state hospital poughkeepsie new york kirkbride abandoned asylums, abandoned buildings, abandoned places. Inside the abandoned hudson river state hospital in poughkeepsie. The hudson river state hospital for the insane was designed in 1867 by frederick clarke withers, following the kirkbride plan. Hudson river state hospital the inmates of willard 1870. The hospital opened on october 18, 1871 as the hudson river state hospital for the insane and admitted its first 40 patients.
The site is being redeveloped into a mixeduse commercial, medical, and residential development. River state hospital images of america 9781467129695. Jul 28, 2016 an aerial view that shows the hudson river state hospital and a portion of the former hudson river psychiatric center. The resulting congestion would lead to degradation of air quality throughout the region. Jul 25, 2019 a view of hudson river state hospital s administration section as it appeared in 2008. Five barges of clay had been dumped in the met with in tunneling under a river has been solidified by means of fire. Hudson river state hospital storied conduct blog home. Aug 30, 2014 the first structure i saw on the hospital s grounds rose out of the crunchy grass as i climbed a broad knoll. The hospital, located in poughkeepsie, ny, is a former new york state psychiatric hospital that operated from 1871 until its closure in 2003. Ground broken for development at former hudson river.
The story of the tunnels under the hudson river the building of the hudson river tunnels was probably one of the most daring engineering feats ever accomplished. Hudson river state hospital is a new book coming out in august 2018. Transportation secretary and new jersey officials meet to. It follows the format of the series, making history accessible with interesting imagery and succinct captions.
For 141 years, hudson river state hospital was home to tens of thousands of individuals suffering from mental illness. This is a great addition to the images of america series. Calls to jumpstart a new hudson river tunnel project are heating up as nj transit commutertrain riders continue to face delays getting into new yorks penn station because of amtraks. Hudson river state hospital adventure bible school. Galante, joseph, rightmyer, lynn, hudson river state hospital nurses alumni association.
In 1866, eleven years after the strong memorial presented to the legislature by county superintendents of the poor setting forth the neglected condition of the insane and recommending the establishment of two additional state hospitals for their care and treatment, governor fenton appointed five commissioners to secure a suitable site on or near the. The facility, overlooking the hudson river, was closed down in 2001 and since then has fallen into a state of disrepair. Hudson river state hospital image gallery asylum projects. Hudson river state hospital poughkeepsie, new york atlas. See more ideas about abandoned, hudson river and abandoned hospital. Thank you so much for your offer to send me a form to obtain a death certificate. The rivers importance has grown in step with the nation. Jul 02, 2015 the hospital, located in poughkeepsie, ny, is a former new york state psychiatric hospital that operated from 1871 until its closure in 2003. Through photographs, history of hudson river state hospital unveiled. In october of 1891 a defective flue was the cause for a fire in the attic of the administration building. When it first opened, it was called the hudson river state hospital for the insane and admitted only 40 patients despite ongoing construction that would take another 25 years to complete. Since 2003, the tunnels have operated near capacity during peak hours. Designed in 1867 by frederick clarke withers and expanded considerably over time, hudson river state hospital boasted over 150 acres of manicured lawns with landscape design by calvert vaux and frederick law olmsted of central. An aerial view that shows the hudson river state hospital and a portion of the former hudson river psychiatric center.
The following are various images of hudson river state hospital. Until the new york state lunatic asylum at utica opened in 1843, treatment of the insane in new york was limited to those with the means to pay private institutions for care. A centuryold train tunnel beneath the hudson river. This gigantic hospital has overlooked the hudson river for 6 years since its initial construction in 1871. Hudson river state hospital served the counties of albany, columbia, dutchess, greene, putnam, richmond, rensselaer, washington, and westchester. It called for a central administration block with two adjoining wings to house patients. The federal railroad administration fra and new jersey transit corporation nj transit as joint lead agencies are preparing a draft environmental impact statement deis to evaluate the hudson tunnel project in accordance with the national environmental policy act nepa of 1969. Hudson river state hospital data sometimes interesting. The hudson river state hospital was featured in the october 1886 issue of halls journal of health for its day school program. The current north river tunnels allow a maximum of 24 oneway crossings per hour. Kirkbride buildings the buildings hudson river state hospital photo. The road will be doubletracked across the meadows, and will pass under the north river in two parallel, singletrack tunnels.
The hudson tunnel project includes the design and construction of a new hudson river rail tunnel serving penn station, new york, and the rehabilitation and modernization of the existing north river tunnel which incurred serious and ongoing damage during super storm sandy. In may of 1898 a fire broke out in the drying room of the laundry facilities. The administration building, which included male and female wards, wasis a kirkbride, a style of architecture designed specifically for asylums in the 1800s, and is one of the few remaining kirkbrides today, but possibly not for long. A closure of just one tube of the north river tunnel could reduce capacity by as much as 75% and force tens of thousands of commuters and travelers onto already congested bridges, tunnels and highways in both new york city and new jersey. Joseph galante, lynn rightmyer and hudson river state hospital nurses alumni association take a look at hudson river state. It was an impressively large building, especially for one located in a deserted field of crunchy grass, and i wondered if it would just keep rising until it lost its structural integrity and collapsed on me. A very significant demolition and preservation update was recently released for the hudson river state hospital outlining both those buildings that are to be preserved and those to be demolished. Please find the form with instruction and prices attached please mail back to.
Out of rightmyers 43year tenure as a nurse, 19 years were spent on the wards at hudson river. As is well known, the hudson river, for the length of manhattan island, is approximately a mile wide, reducing in width at the palisades north of hoboken. Discover hudson river state hospital in poughkeepsie, new york. Those who could not afford such accommodations were left in the poorhouse, a prison surrogate that served needs of restraint. This blaze is yet another major setback to plans to redevelop the site once known as hudson river state hospital. A plan to renovate and expand rail lines into new york was the focus of meetings between federal and new jersey officials on tuesday.
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