Off the Beaten Path

another great shot--very "Fall of the House of Usher"-esque!

Ok... now I'm officially jealous. This is EXTREMELY cool framing... great composition! Very creepy... it would be creepy w/out the branches.. but the addition just fits the images so amazingly well, that it makes it that more creepy ... I'm just going to go kill myself now. :-)

thats the last Picture??? :( :(

aw...well, that means I'M going to have to go down!

i love this place, im goin to go pack up all my stuff and go in and live there

Visitors of this site may or may not be familiar with the book "THE STATE BOYS REBELLION" by Michael D'Antonio, if you haven't read this book you really must (prepare to have your heart literally torn loose). It describes the plight of a group of boys at the Fernald School in Massachusetts, a near carbon copy of Pennhurst. Specifically it details the lives of a number of boys who were not necessarily retarded to begin with, but merely had a speech problem, or didn't "test" well; the tests used in those days to determine that a child was "defective" are now known to be faulty and not at all a good indicator of there true intelligence or potential. This practice of placing essentially normal children (they are referred to as "almosts") in an institution as a method of disposing of them was widespread. Here is a segment from "Suffer the Children" that I have transcribed:

TV10: This boy, was he mentally retarded when he came to Pennhurst?

Dr. JF: He was mentally retarded in the sense that he did not receive proper education, he came from parents that were delinquent themselves

TV10: In other words this boy was normal as far as his mind and being retarded was concerned?

Dr. JF: He can progress to a normal level

TV10: But he never will as long as he is here at Pennhurst is that right?

Dr. JF: I can not say that but chances are poorer here than they would be where they had a program set up for this type of case

TV10: There are too many Johnnies here at Pennhurst this Friday evening.

It just makes me sick with shame that this could have happened

What is ''Suffer The Children" about

Sadly the condition of the documentry isn't in much better shape than Pennhurst itself, the Audio is impossible to follow at times. I see there is a Pennhurst Documentry in the works, perhaps some restoration will be done.

there is a NPR interview online at :
http://www.theconnection.org/shows/2004/07/20040708_b_main.asp
Michael D'Antonio and Fred Boyce one the former "State boys" at Fernald are featured, this would be very interesting to anyone who wants to understand better what went on in places like Pennhurst.

Sadly the condition of the documentry isn't in much better shape than Pennhurst itself, the Audio is impossible to follow at times. I see there is a Pennhurst Documentry in the works, perhaps some restoration will be done.

there is a NPR interview online at :
http://www.theconnection.org/shows/2004/07/20040708_b_main.asp
Michael D'Antonio and Fred Boyce one the former "State boys" at Fernald are featured, this would be very interesting to anyone who wants to understand better what went on in places like Pennhurst.

This is the one you want to watch... NBC 10's Bill Baldini did a multi-part report on Pennhurst in 1968 that I beleive may be parts of, if not all of, "Suffer the Little Children." It is streaming and in excellent shape.

http://www.nbc10.com/videovault/index.html

4th one down on the right side.

Yes. All 5 parts were on the above link.

It is a very heartbreaking story.

I could have ended up in place like Fernald or Pennhurst had I been born earlier in the century.
I was born in 1969. My IQ registers quite high, 137, but I have endured severed depression my entire life. A lot of it is hereditary, some was environmental.
I was depressed, withdrawn, didn't socialize well, and was easily frustrated in childhood. These exhibited behaviors might have classified me as an "almost."

heh i'm positive that back then i'd be an "almost". I have chronic obsessive compulsive disorder.(not gonna explain it, utfse). and I'm lucky enough to also have bipolar. dog i can't imagine how horrible it would be to live in a place like that, especially being a pretty intelligent person anyway. I'd give my life to save those kids.

We are lucky and should prey for those like the patients who lived in Pennhurst. And, thank god we didn't have to endure what they did.

linfield local, go here all the time. its illeagal tho, but thats what makes it fun

Thank you for that much improved video link.

The NBC10 website describes Suffer the Little Children as: "perhaps the most important news report in WCAU history"

*that* is a spooky shot.

Yeah, I echo Zodiac's thanks for the better link to STLC. I guess El Peecho's pirate version must have come from some seriously degraded tape or an early home recording (did they have VCRs in 1968?) It's so much more shocking in colour and being able to understand a lot more of what is being said. Suddenly Pennhurst doesn't actually look all that different in some of Motts' photographs to the way it did in 1968.

And yes, in another place and time, and like more people than I can bear to think about, I could have possibly been an 'almost' too (didn't know the term for it...) since despite having a higher-than-average IQ I was disruptive, an outsider socially and have suffered from lifelong depression. At times I was probably virtually unteachable. My girlfriend, well she's dyslexic, comes from a fragmented background and as someone else put it ' doesn't test well'. She's also incredibly smart. She was actually threatened as a teen by social workers that she'd be taken away and put in a 'home'. Whatever that was meant to imply...

I can sympathise much more with the majority of staff at these institutions (of course there are always a few sadistic sickos) having seen the documentary - the issue seems to overwhelmingly be about lack of money (as always) and overworked people trying to do their best in impossible conditions. I'm amazed some of the staff of these places didn't end up having breakdowns and winding up in an institution themselves...

HA! we and my friend chris spent 3 hours going through those buildings. Its fracking creepy! its five miuntes from my house by bike!!!

I grew up at 115 Pennhurst Road (that;s the last house on the right going up the road toward the hospital from bridge street). I was born shortly before the institute was shut down but my parents say that at night you could hear the screamers and that sometimes the patients wandered off and they'd have to steer them back in the right direction. I'm only now getting interested in the place I grew up only meters from. The history of the place seems long and very sad. Thanks for all the great shots. It looked very diffrent at 14 with a flashlight and 5 of your buddies!

seriously everything i just saw reallly freaked me out i live around the corner from this place

i REALLY love this pic

I am not a religious person, but looking at these Pennhurst photo's make me think of a Biblical passage...
"...and the meek shall inherit the Earth."
As "normal" (whatever the Hell that means) adults caring for societies most venerable souls, it was their duty and moral obligation to protect these residents from harm. It saddens me to my very core that some of those people chose to abuse and mis-treat children and adults who were so helpless and dis-advantaged.
I also believe everything eventually comes full circle. If the God I believe in truly exists, he has reserved a special place in Hell for abused their positions against those at Pennhurst.

This picture is absolutely beautiful. There is a huge sense of lonliness and loss. Most people just look at this place as haunted, I see it as a sad history.

yeah, over this year I did a huge research project on these kinds of schools (primarily the Fernald State School), so lucky for me I got to interview both Fred Boyce and Michael D'Antonio (plus a few more.)
Talking to Fred Boyce is really depressing. Most of the people I talked to that were directly involved with the school wanted to forget what happened and never talk about it. But after he was let go from the school, Mr. Boyce spent his entire life trying to tell the world what happened to stop it from repeating its mistakes. Even when he was in the school, his goal was to shut down the institution forever. When he joined the science club (a group of children that were fed radioactive oatmeal for experimentation purposes. They did not know there was radiation in their food.) he believed that he was going to show the researchers how bad Fernald was so they could save him and all the other children. Not the case.
Two days after we interviewed him, I recieved a phone call saying that he had been moved to the hospital because his cancer was getting much worse. Now, I don't even know that he is still alive.

its a very good pic to end with...great job Motts...planning on going back for more anytime soon?

how beautiful you are Pennhurst:)

iloveyoufgt.

wat kind of rude and ingnorent ppl are you yall have no life wat so ever if yall talkin bout this pic is nice.. It anit nice at all. ya need to go threw wat they people went threw to relize this anit funny at all. yall need to get a real lofe. God bless yal dumd ppl who have nothing to do with there life

Well Shaniqua, I speak only for myself but I think for the most part the "Nice Pics" comments are directed to the pics themselves. No one is making fun of the people who were treated here or any other of the facilities that are show on this site. The "nice pics" references are of the photography itself. Motts' photography is for the most part amazing. His subject matter (old buildings, hospitals,asylums etc) is of course a matter of taste. But I assure you, from what I've gleaned from this site, Motts has always show the utmost respect where former patients are concerned.

It has been a long time since I dropped in on this site.
To those who may not be aware, Fred Boyce passed away May 6, 2006. It was Fred's story that brought a personal face to the horrors of places like Pennhurst or Fernald. While this knowledge is heartbreaking, we should all never forget what Fred Boyce and his fellow "state boys" endured, for that we should honor the memory of Fred Boyce and the bravery of his story.

Rusty,
If you see this I'd be very curious to read your research.
s.w.carmichael@gmail.com

To all of those who worked at Pennhurst and liked their jobs--God Bless You. It was heartbreaking work but also very fullfilling as you left at the end of the day feeling like you were needed and had helped someone. Yes we were understaffed sometimes forced to work double shifts but we still did our best. As for the abusers some did get their day in court and jail time. I know I had to appear in front of the Grand Jury to testify against some. They in the end will get what thay deserve. but for all who go to this site and want to comdemn the rest of us for caring open up your minds and hearts. We did the best we could with what was given and I'm sure most exploring these sites have not lived in the time these institutions were in use. These were beautiful buildings in their day and I can say I was proud to be working there and I miss my times with the residents. I can say when I see one out in the neighboring towns that was someone I worked with they still come up to me and give me a hug.
Times change, things get older,places fall apart and rumors and tales go around. Just remember yse some things were bad but there was also good there and the same will be said to the next generation.As time goes on the old seems terrifing as new things take their place but you to will do the best you can with what is given you---keep your minds and hearts open . Do not destroy what is left of that place it too was once beautiful!!

Icequeen - I can tell you have been there and done that as they say. So have I and people who haven''t walked the walk aren't qualified to judge. I miss our clients and often wondered how they did get along in the world. I wish there was a way to contact some of those that I worked with. I really enjoyed working with the different individuals
and cared about them.

Many kudos to those of you who work helping the mentally disabled and who get up and care every day! I know I sure couldn't deal with it; I have trouble dealing socially with "normal" people as it is, heh.

I've been here... Great pic, love the way it was taken through the branches...
Was truely an experience to explore this place!

What a great set, Motts. I know I'm a newbie on the scene, but what a place this must have been when running.

I lived here from 1972-1975

george, i miss you.

Some video about Pennhurst, A 5-part news special entitled

I don't know if this site is still active or not but i am a student doing an internship at a mental health facility. I was just informed that many of our clients lived through Penhurst so i decided to do some research and came accross this site. My heart is breaking for all of the Penhurst clients who had negative experiences however i am so thankful for those who worked hard in keeping the clients happy and alive. Many of clients are doing very well and are now Happy. I of course am only speaking for the clients that i have worked with but they seem Happy!!

The pictures are chilling and extremely sad.

all i can say is wow my mother was in a mental hospital for year's and now she is soooo freaked about even going to the doctor's for any thing she had been shocked in there aswell as meny other thing i don't wish to air out here but it is bad and it was in ont canada

yo how did you get these pics send it to me at ridindrty95@aim.com plz i need them

After seeing a show about Pennhurst hospital- the fellas were trying to reach the spirits of the people that resided there-- or were kept prisioners- tormented-negelected and more. The patients that have passed on should be left alone to find peace and be able to move on. It saddens me to think that humans were treated that way. I pray anyone that is still alive is doing well and is well taken care of.

Thanks for the great set of photos Motts. I still have to look through the first set of Pennhurst pics. It takes sometime to go through all the sections on your site but I will get through them. I really have enjoyed reading everyone's posts in these threads. Esp those that worked at Pennhurst. I also saw the GA show & a couple other tv shows that had Pennhurst in it. Than I remembered that Motts had taken pics so it was great to be able to see more pics and stuff that wasn't talked about in these shows. Its very sad the way the patients were treated here and other places. I'm sure not everyone was treated horribly but those that were it is sad. Again thanks for everyones comments. It makes it much more interesting reading thats for sure!! And may all the souls from Pennhurst rest in peace.......

looks like Disney's Haunted Mansion! EXACTLY! very elegant and evil at the same time! It just makes you want to move right in? Doesn't it? LOL if that was me, I would put up a sign that says
" I WOULD TURN BACK IF I WERE YOU"!

It is great photography.! and its amazing! The Place has great history.... and we are just capturing the moments

These are great pictures
And very depressing
I am Ironicly watching a show about PennHurst right now
Ghost Adventures
And i live in Pensilvenya which gives me chills

I can't figure out which one, but there is someone staring back at me from one of those windows - and I can't help them.......=(