I grew up a block away from the hospital and i went to elementary school across the street from the hospital at school number 10. There were always crazy rumors about what that hospital was. there were smoke stack buildings in the backs. i heard rumors that back in the day it was a quarantine hospital for people with TB and when they died they dragged their bodies through the underground tunnels and burned them in the smoke stack buildings.

kinda looks like it belongs in the movie SILENT HILL

I don't think I'd like an SSE...

Looks like the cover of the last Twine record, "Violets."

Why is D.M.H. Records still scattered in the main asylum building.

OK, but all I'm wearing under it is what God gave me!

wow. real discussions on a message board. who would've thunk it?

I was the Director of Activities and MC in the nite club from '84-86. Hank Leeds, the legendary previous director disappeared Labor Day '84 and I took over. Anyway, I was given two attached rooms on the main floor in the Ritz. Each pair of rooms shared a bathroom in between (that's the way it was in the old days) ... so I had a 'suite' of sorts. One time I was taking a shower. I'm totally lathered up and someone starts banging on my tub from below with a pipe or something and I hear screaming from the basement. Scared the crap out of me. Turns out the hotel's handyman was fixing a leak and had undone the pipes coming out of my shower. The water was going all over the place. Just another day at The Pines And don't get me going on when the old guy backed his car thru the walkway leading to the Carlton...

LIKE ALL THINGS IN LIFE WHAT COMES FROM RETURNS TO.

LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE GETTING READY TO HAVE SOME FUN WITH THESE TOOLS.

AM I WIERD THAT THIS WAS A TURN ON.......?

It -is- rather depressing that this historical place is going to be torn down and turned into an amusement park. At the same time, it's disappointing, that some people care more about raking in cash from poor sods paying ten dollars for a can of soday instead of preserving pieces of our history that, once gone, cannot be restored.

And to whoever has the argument that Norwich needs some entertainment. I point you across the Thames River, there's a friggin' casino over there. Oh, and don't forget about the -other- casino that's close to Norwich. So there, 2 casinos and you want more entertainment? What, pray tell, is wrong with you?

heyy, almost like you could enter the asylums past by walking tru. creepy

My grandfather bathed in that! I visited him all the time.

You are so right Susie! this photo really spoke to me! That photo really was a great marriage in architecture and abstract art. When i saw this photo, my life nearly changed, i know it sounds corny, but it really did. motts you really know how to take superlative photos.

I drive by those buildings every day. The cops sit out front every day. Nothing changes. I keep hearing of imminent demolition, but it never comes. As with Byberry and other places, I think there are three major holdups:
Asbestos, asbestos, and asbestos. The mesiothelioma ambulance chasers wait with baited breath!

The school shut down the year before I moved to the area. Local papers published Belchertown school horror stories thoughout the 1990s. It was pretty nasty. It did not garner as much attention as Northampton State Hospital, but it was pretty notorious.

Gurneys are always spooky!!!

can we get a wallpaper of this one, please?

I have to chime in on this one -- This is an amazing photo. Motts, you've done us all a wonderful service with your work, and I thank you.

"No autopsy, no foul" - or so they say

Motts,
May I offer some constructive criticism? I like your photography much better without cheesy goth chicks with birdy-wings and lip rings. Thanks.
BTW, I hope she wasn't a local gal. The Noho cops are always looking to bust chops, and they never forget a face!

They just had some big meeting the other night about the hospital campus. I didn't go, so I don't know what it was all about. I assume it is local concerns over the imminent demolition.
If you cross Route 66 and walk down the little trail past the buildings that are still in use there are tons more abandoned buildings that belonged to the hospital. Not that anybody should trespass or anthing...

Thanks again, Motts.
It is funny how vandals seem to have tagged a couple of places, and yet the buildings aren't totally trashed by partiers, as is wont to happen when jerks discover an abandoned building. Interesting.

One word...plastics!
Polymers don't rot away. Not in a million years...literally!