There will be a special video added in the future from this investigation I will not say what it is but its pretty phenomenal so keep checking back in the videos section. |
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The Utica Lunatic Asylum opened in 1843 designed by Captain William Clarke and was one of the first and oldest asylums in the country as well as one of the largest Greek revival buildings in the country. It also was one of the earliest structures to incorporate progressive theories on the treatment of mental illness and one of the first such institutions in the United States. The asylum focused mainly on farming and the growing of crops. This was because it was said to calm the soul or provide some sense of peace to the insane according to the first director, Dr. Amariah Brigham. Later they would call this the pleasure gardens. This asylum contained everything you could think of a theatre, clothing shops, parlors, library, slaughter house, and at least 2 other wings which were connected to the main building which housed the patients. One thing comes to mind when you hear about the Utica Asylum and that is the invention of the Crib and use of the straight jacket which both were used to contain patients. The reason for this occurring is that over time their were less mental patients being sent here and more criminals that were often put here so containing them so they would not escape or cause harm to themselves would be the main focus of this asylum. The crib was like a coffin where the patients would be put in and locked in their for days some patients said it calmed them. One thing I loved about this place is the front entrance the giant stone columns made me want to enter as soon as we arrived. Now the asylum sits their in despair floors collapsing, water leaking inside, rotting wood, chemicals leaking Ect. Some electricity still runs inside this place and in my opinion it is one of the most dangerous buildings we ever been in. Certain areas are sealed off because they are overwhelmed with chemicals/asbestos and other areas the floors are like sponges where you will walk and start t sink or the floors will start to crack. So we really did not spend no more then about 45 minutes waking around so honestly I cannot say what is inside the other wings that are connected to the main building. Their is a few other buildings in the area which are also part of the asylum. Some are covered by ivy some look like mansions probably staff houses which would provide a place for the caretakers, nurses, and directors to stay while maintaining the entire asylum. The asylum could hold 600 patients but eventually when it became crowded they were sent to the very harsh Mattawan asylum. In my opinion this place is very haunted although we did not spend much time inside we were able to capture ectoplasm, orbs, hear voices, movement and much more all within a short time. It seems that even though the physical no longer roam its halls the ghost of the insane still do. Below I have enclosed a detailed article about the asylum I am sure you will find it quite interesting. Copyright By Some more prologue photos from our visit coming in the future!! Utica Asylum ArticleThe following text, provided by
Mark Harf, a native of Utica, New York, is courtesy of the Greater Utica
Landmarks Society, June 11, 1981 and an exhibit which was held in the
Fountain Elms building of the Munson Williams Proctor Museum of Art in
Utica in the mid-eighties:
The main building of the Utica Psychiatric Center
(originally called the New York State Lunatic Asylum at Utica) was
completed in 1843 and is internationally recognized as a monumental
example of the Greek Revival architecture tradition. The building was the
first New York State owned and operated institution to care for the
mentally ill, and it also was one of the earliest structures to
incorporate progressive theories on the treatment of mental illness. It
was also one of the first such institutions in the United States.
The huge size of the stone structure is perhaps
its most significant feature; being 550 feet long and The prevailing medical theory of the 1830's
advocated that patients be segregated by sex and type and degree of
illness, with each group housed in a self contained unit. As far as
possible, the interior layout of the building was arranged to provide
optimum conditions for the patients.
In 1850, a listing of Dr. Amariah Brigham, the first director, made a
significant contribution to the treatment of mental illness. He believed
insanity was a disease that could be treated by putting the patients to
work on the hospital's farm, grounds, and other useful occupational
projects. He established a printing shop where in 1844, he published the
American Journal of Insanity, the first publication of its kind in the
world (and forerunner of the American Psychiatric Journal).
In 1836, a New York State commission was
appointed to purchase a site and erect a charitable institution for mental
patients. In 1837, 130 acres of land were purchased for $16,000. New York
State contributed $10,000 and the remainder was raised by Utica's citizens
(total cost at the time exceeded $285,000, which made it one of the most
expensive and largest institutions of its time). Captain William Clarke
appointed a commissioner in 1837, was the architect of the powerful Greek
revival design. His plans called for three additional buildings, similar
in design to the existing building to be built in a quadrangle. The four
buildings were to be connected by glass verandas and the total space
enclosed was approximately thirteen acres. The grand design proved too
costly, so the other buildings were never completed.
The Utica building's Greek Revival, Yet, from its earliest days, Utica was
overcrowded and Sources: Greater Utica Landmarks Society "Old Main" Guided Tour Leaflet 1981, and 1985 Exhibit, "Silent Voices", at Munson Williams Proctor Institute Museum of Art (Utica) with Leaflet text by Brad Edmonson.
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