Perhaps the wooden planks were placed over the tops of the heaters so that the kids wouldn't stick their fingers in them and accidentally get burned. They may have also functioned as makeshift shelves for holding personal belongings.

Awesome shot. I love this one.

This building, or the way it's depicted in the photo, looks very collegiate. Maybe something from Harvard or another Ivy League institution. It almost looks like it could still be in use.

What a waste of perfectly good books! Granted that they are somewhat dated, but they could've been extricated from the buildings when they were abandoned and donated to some schools that don't have a lot of money. There's no sense in leaving them there to rot in a forgotten heap. How sad.

The building and its surroundings really do look dead. The sky looks so vibrant and blue, and the building and the growth surrounding it looks so tired and wasted.

I can't imagine trying to get a restful night's sleep in this painful looking bed. It couldn' t have been even the slightest bit comfortable.

The scalloped design on the top of the buildings remind me a lot of the design theme of Noho.

I dig that copper dome on top of the administration building.

That story sounds like something that happened at a lot of state schools while they were in operation. I know, at least at the Fernald State School in Waltham, MA, the same thing happened. No one was ever allowed on the back wards because the conditions were so horrendous.

Why do so many people insist on setting these beautiful abandoned places on fire? It's such a waste of energy.

I think Pennhurst is so fascinating. I have some family that lives in Royersford, and I'd love to go visit them and see Pennhurst.

As far MARMAR's comment is concerned, there could be patient records hidden behind those bolted doors. I'm sure that the institution never fully emptied itself of all its records. Instead of spending the effort to actually remove the records, they probably just put them all in one room and locked the door so that when explorers inevitably came 'round, they didn't stumble upon the records and tell someone in an authority position.

Ten bucks says that the alleged "sound proof seal" didn't work too well.

Something about this photo and about the hallway/ward it depicts reminds me of something, but I can't quite put my finger on it. Even though the thought of being in a seclusion ward is horrifying, this touches me somewhere and I can't explain it. I feel like I've been there before, many times.

Cue ominous, horror movie suspense music.

Those wooden supports, I think, just add to the drama of the building in all of its abandonment. I'm glad they put for the effort to try and salvage it, but at the same time, how much effort could hoisting some beams and putting up a chainlink fence take?

Beautiful staircase. It doesn't look like it belongs with the rest of the building.

I love the contrast between the lights of the bustling city and the abandoned, forgotten hospital . It adds a nice touch to the photo.

The graffiti on the walls seems so out-of-place in such a barren, neglected environment.

Interesting that these doors have held on, when so much has been obliterated by time and the elements. (Just for clarification, I'm not the Amy from the above comment.)

It looks like a battleground. Actually, for many, I'm sure it was.

I have a bizarre fascination with Renwick, even though I've never seen it in person (I've never even been to NYC). This photo is great; I love the contrast of the wildness and overgrowth surrounding by the crumbling walls of the hospital's shell. Very nice.

At least they tried to decorate the place and make it a little more liveable for the patients...

I love this. It looks like a castle.

It seems like a very peaceful, serene setting.

What fantastic doors! The design on them looks Turkish.