Finding out the location	hard
Access	hard
Safety	safe
Risk of being seen	high
General condition of the place	good
Traces of vandalism	none or very few
Good place for taking pictures?	good
Did you see other people?	few

Visit date   July 11 2020 at 4 hr
Visit duration   2 hours

This prison hospital served many purposes and people in its 100+ years standing. It had humble beginnings in the early 1900s, opening its doors to the staggering amount of tuberculosis patients in the area. It was the first public tuberculosis center in the entire state, making cafe accessible and affordable to those who couldn’t afford private services. As the tuberculosis crisis began to die down, this hospital was beginning to lose purpose. It was then turned into a sanatorium in the mid 1900s and made major expansions to accommodate mentally troubled men, women and children. It was the first sanatorium of its kind in the state. After more mental health resources became available and tuberculosis was almost an obsolete issue, they switched into a correctional hospital in the late 1900s. What started as a 32 capacity tuberculosis ward and nursery expanded into a massive facility for male inmates needing treatment. There are multiple buildings, 3 floors, and courtyards all wrapped up in razor wire fence and electric gates. It closed in 2008 after 100+ years of service. One building seems to be the “powerhouse” of the massive area and has a “mill like” appearance. There’s an “office” like building for higher ups in the hierarchy of employment there. Next, there is a three or four story building that seems to be a rehab and recreational building for low security inmates and rehabilitation services. Walking in, you’re welcome by a crumbling sign that reads “Things to do in rehab” and the fun things this area has to offer. Walking around allows you a good glance into the “fun” portion of the inmates time. There was workout equipment, pool tables, a gardening collage, movies, painting supplies, and even a drum set and musical instruments. Perhaps this building used to be the highlight of someone’s day, but it was definitely somewhere to keep busy and have fun. I imagine many good times took place in those large rooms. The main building (hospital itself), has a massive outpouring of heavy and darker energy on the other hand. Dark rooms with peeling paint, and hospital beds and wheel chairs scattered everywhere gives you a look into the darker side of correctional centers. On every wall, there is a sign indicating the strict nature of center. Beyond medical equipment and beds everywhere, this building also features a canteen and commissary window, laundry room with uniforms still spread out, a chapel and a library. With such a daunting past here, it is definitely easy to feel like you are not alone when touring. There was multiple times I heard crunching footsteps behind me when leaving a room. It was not a heavy or malicious energy, but seemed more like a curious and confused child. While this was home and recovery for some, I have no doubt in my mind this was torture or the end of the road for others. There is still so much intact here uou almost feel like you locked the door the day they closed doors. Almost all the paperwork remains, even signs for an employee appreciation party or uniform ordering sheets. In one room, there are still filing cabinets filled with patient files, records and medical scans. While there is a lot of natural decay, this place is an untouched gem truly. Hopefully it’s resilience and strong roots will someday mean it can live on in the form of another facility.

  Text and photos are by Vyvansetrance. Click here to see Vyvansetrance's profile and other reports.

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