[skankhunt]

In May 1876, under Public Law 121, the Pennsylvania Legislature called for the establishment of a state mental hospital to serve the Southeastern District of Pennsylvania.

Ground was broken on March 12, 1878 after John Rice was appropriated a contract of $600,000 from the Legislature to construct seven wards, the administration building and to their supply the buildings to accommodate the overcrowding which was taking place in the insane wards of the Philadelphia Almshouse. The construction was completed on February 17, 1879.

Situated on two hundred and sixty-five acres, the original design of the hospital was similar to the Kirkbride plan with echelons on both sides of the central administration building with two-story ward-buildings with two wards on each floor connected by covered passage ways. The kitchen, laundry and boiler house et al. sat directly behind administration. This model allowed for the separation of patients into areas based on their level of functioning.

From the main gate, a gradual rise in terrain brings the visitor to the entrance of the administration building as he is greeted with a tiled floor, ornamental brick wainscot, growing plants bringing verdure into winter and an electrically arranged clock – all showing a modern taste in architecture.
Roads and sewers were built and a large portion of the grounds were enclosed by an iron fence eight feet high. Barns and a root-house were also constructed.

The sewage was emptied into Stony creek until it was found to be injurious.
Under the supervision of Dr. Robert H. Chase and Dr. Alice Bennett, the hospital received its first patient, a female, on July 12, 1880 along with groups of individuals who were admitted from other state hospitals and county almshouses.

also this place is right down the street from my house and i have snuck into there and these pictures do not do justice to how scary it is inside there

[durt]

Nice nut house

[Faline]

Thanks

[skankhunt]

When it warms up a bit I will go inside and take some pics but right now pa is 10 degrees short from being fucking alaska

[Photoplay]

Cant wait to see the spring/summer update pictures.

[skankhunt]

Its actually not going to be long from now I'm just going to wait like two weeks for it to get alittle warmer

[kellyhound]

great building

[Evil Twin]

Originally Posted by johndoe1112 ↗

Its actually not going to be long from now I'm just going to wait like two weeks for it to get alittle warmer

That would be a fun place to take someone after dark. Someone who buys into the whole haunted house idea. I could see me having a good time messing with someone like that.

[Kelseecat65]

This is so cool...can't wait to see more!!!

[skankhunt]

im moving to somewhere else in norristown in a few weeks so i had to postpone that but after like a month or two i will take some more pics