Endgame: A Tribute To Essex Mountain Sanatorium & Danvers State Hospital Oct 22 '03    Write an essay on this topic. Tweet The Bottom Line Seven go in .. how many come out? For those that are unaware of my deep love of the macabre, this will be a suiting primer. For more years than I care to divulge I’ve “studied” hauntings, paranormal reports, local folklore, urban legends and things that go bump in the night. Over the years I’ve met some interesting people, had the chance to visit places that were deemed haunted and – over the course of time – cultivated a respect for abandoned facilities with an extreme magnetism to sanatoriums, asylums and mental health facilities. No, this isn’t a joke or a sick attempt at humor but rather a vehicle to shed some light on past events, pay homage to those that died within the ghastly confines and give some free publicity to those in the Urban Exploration endgame. As a foreword I must state that visiting such places, in most cases, is considered trespassing. Almost all of the abandoned properties are owned by local municipalities which means they have a lower tolerance for trespassing – think about it – you aren’t just breaking the law, you are disrupting their [the local law enforcement officers] environment … and making them work. 90% of the places that I have been lucky to visit have been postered with the “No Trespassing” sign stating that you could be arrested or fined if you enter the property. I won’t tell anyone to break the law in order to check things out or get a few photos – but I will tell you this – a little green [money that is] in the palms of local law enforcement could mean the difference between spending the night in jail and walking away from a potentially bad situation with your camera or film confiscated and $50.00 lighter in the pocket. You Say Sanitarium, I Say Sanatorium… Before I delve into the heart of Essex and Danvers there are a few warnings that must be given. Some of the medical procedures that will be mentioned might be too harsh for some readers. If you have a weak stomach or are easily offended, chances are you might want to skip this. Most of the building, facilities and structures mentioned in this body of work are condemned and are guarded closely by local police departments. As previously mentioned, trespassing isn’t something that they take lightly and I an in no way condoning trespassing on private property, even if it is for research purposes. Several of the facilities I’ll be mentioning were rather quickly abandoned leaving behind medical equipment, records, patient’s belongings, beds, supplies and other paraphernalia. This made the sites targets for thrill seekers, eBay resellers and those that were looking to find ghosts and haunted ruins. Sadly, this put a tremendous amount of pressure on local officials to destroy buildings and facilities, a true loss of historical importance. A few people that I’ve spoken with say that they truly regret taking things from these sites, that some of them experiences what they called “bad karma” and felt an incredible urge to return the items, belongings and medical equipment. While this might all sound like I am leading up to a huge ghost story the truth of the matter is this – when one hears the term “lunatic asylum” images of straightjackets, electroshock treatments and urban legends seem to come to mind. While it is true that a few of the now abandoned sanitariums were known for their rather unique approach to curing the mentally ill, a vast majority of the facilities that were built clung to therapeutic and non-invasive methods of curing those with “issues”. One could be hospitalized for a variety of reasons – the most bizarre being those with ‘impure thoughts’ who were diagnosed as having an unhealthy appetite for sexual contact. Not all the hospitals dealt with just the insane, unstable and deranged. Some also had wings for orphans that displayed emotional troubles, those with tuberculosis and patients that couldn’t receive proper care at other locations. For whatever reason; men, women and children were shipped off to these places with the hope that they would be cured. Sadly, only about half of those admitted were ever released back into society and when these places started to close in the later 80’s and early 90’s, many of the long time residents were left homeless – their ‘problems’ to be address with social workers or local agencies. The Basics sanatorium - san·a·to·ri·um sanitarium - san·i·tar·i·um 1: an establishment that provides therapy combined with a regimen (as of diet and exercise) for treatment or rehabilitation 2 a: an institution for rest and recuperation (as of convalescents) b: an establishment for the treatment of the chronically ill [above definition taken from Merriam-Webster online dictionary] Regardless of how you define it, be it sanatorium or sanitarium, the premise of both were almost identical when they were established. Their main goal was to provide care for those that were deemed too ill, mentally or physically, to care for themselves, those that were judged to be a danger to themselves or others and those with undiagnosed illnesses. When the facilities were first created they were bright, cheery and tried to cure people of illness with positive influences over medicine. That doesn’t mean that medical treatments were tossed out the window but rather that they were not always the first option that doctors chose to treat those that were committed or came of their own free will. In most cases the earlier establishments were built so that residents could have freedom to move about the grounds and live in as stress-free an environment as possible. Orbital Lobotomy Why Doesn’t Mary Smile Anymore? What do Francis Farmer and Rosemary Kennedy have in common? They were both recipients of lobotomies. Kennedy received a prefrontal [severing the junction between the frontal lobe and brain] lobotomy while Farmer underwent a trans orbital lobotomy. The reasons behind the medical procedures were as different as the results; Kennedy was classified as mildly or slightly retarded as a child and after a doctors suggestion, the Kennedy matriarch opted to have her receive a prefrontal procedure to try and reduce her seizures and mild outbursts. Chances are she suffered from seizures due to a chemical imbalance, something that could also be to blame for her other ailments such as long periods of staring at inanimate objects, involuntary muscle twitches and drooling. While Rosemary’s true medical condition will never be fully known, after her lobotomy she regressed instead of progressed. Farmer’s situation was different, she was labeled a trouble marker for speaking her mind and in an effort to conform her to the cookie-cutter standards of the mid 40’s, she was given a trans orbital lobotomy by Walter Freeman, the so called pioneer of the lobotomy procedure. The main purpose of a lobotomy was to try to calm those who were erratic, stamp out certain traits or actions and to attempt at giving those with undiagnosed medical conditions [seizure, Tourette Syndrome, neurological disorders etc] the chance at a normal or “morally acceptable” life. While a majority of the early lobotomies were performed to try to aid those with medical conditions, ones performed in the late 40’s and early 50’s were done on less than will patients who were committed to asylums for unacceptable behavior. If all this sounds like it is science fiction, I assure you that while it would make for a few good stories, it is true. The Procedure The lobotomy was not a new procedure when Freeman started doing them en mass in the late 30’s. Before the orbital lobotomy was “perfected” on cadavers then later on humans, trepanning [the drilling of holes in the skull to relieve pressure or for pleasure] was a common practice. The art of trepanning goes back thousands of years – a fact that is backed up by anthropologists and those that study ancient civilizations. While it was done by some to allow evil spirits to escape or to show their level of courage, it is unclear if any of the recipients had their brain matter altered. The topic of the lobotomy is one that is argued; one side feels that it is an archaic procedure and the other find that it has merit. In the middle are the curious, those are usually the ones that indulge in self-trepanning, a fetish of sorts that is underground for the most part. Trepanning is not something that you can just sit down and do, you have to have a good grasp of human anatomy, a strong stomach and the diligence to keep up with after care due to the high possibility of infection. In ancient times death rarely occurred when trepanning was taking place, most of the deaths were blamed on poor operating situations, too much force used or infection. The basics of a lobotomy are rather simple with the goal being to sever or destroy certain areas of the brain or pathways to the brain. Freeman and Watts took their cues from Egas Moniz research on chimpanzees and brain activity. It was Moniz that opened the door for Freeman, had it not been for his animal research which included at least 17 sedated procedures on chimpanzees, the pairing of Freeman and Watts would have never happened. Freeman had utilized electroshock therapy then insulin shock therapy for years before he came upon Moniz’s findings, once he showed that patients that were lobotomized were calmer and less violent after the procedure, hospitals around the country started requesting that he visit them. At first it was to perform the procedure on selected patients that fit the set criteria and later to lecture and show the various techniques he perfected. Hospitals saw the results of calmer patients and welcomed the “miracle worker”, giving him operating privileges and laying out the red carpet for him. It wasn’t until years later that people deemed the procedure as non-effective as a real treatment for mental illness; it was nothing more than a way to make a loud and boisterous patient a quiet little sheep. To perform a lobotomy you need only a few tools, items that can be found at most medical supply stores or, shockingly, on the internet. All one needs is a sharp long object preferably a standard sized leucotome, a metal tipped hammer and some type of suction to pull away blood or water that is used to irrigate the area. There are several different methods of performing a lobotomy but most involve inserting the leucotome into the eye socket, preferably through the tear duct since this can be used as a good reference and starting point. Once the instrument has been inserted the hammer is used to crack the bone, once this occurs the leucotome is then moved up and down or left and right to sever the surrounding tissue. It wasn’t until the early 40’s that Freeman started using different techniques [depth of the leucotome, motion used etc], these were based on patient history and their previous forms of treatment. The after effects of a lobotomy were varied; some patients were completely coherent and claimed that it was the best thing that ever happened to them while others regressed to a vegetative state. This is one of the true mysteries of the lobotomy; one never knows exactly how things will turn out. The brain is a complex organ that governs each person’s existence, doctors who became staunch advocated of the lobotomy often pushed conventional medicine aside and were brainwashed by the non-typical results of some patients. For every one person that recovered from the procedure and claimed that they were “cured” or felt significantly better there were at least twenty that were left in a emotionless state, essentially a zombie that had no capability to show emotion or experience pleasure. Most patients were evaluated three days after the procedure to see if their conditions improved, this is what led to a lot of the misleading reports that doctors carried back to their hospitals and practices. Patients received no pain medication after the procedure so they were either feeling nothing or in excruciating pain. If the latter was the case, they were usually given electroshock treatments to calm them or finish off the mind numbing process. Mental Illness. Causes, Cures & Curses Until Dr. Kirkbride pioneered the radical yet costly treatment plan [often referred to as the Kirkbride Plan] of the mentally ill, patients were often misdiagnosed and treated as if they were less than human. His idea was to erect facilities that were promoted a healthier lifestyle, addressed the various levels of mental illness and treating the patients with respect, regardless of their level of comprehension or cognitive skills. Floor plans for buildings show how male and female patients were separated from each other, often housed in different wings. This was drawn from the older style of facility planning that was done to keep the “infected from breeding” before forced sterilization came into play. Kirkbride felt it necessary to separate the sexes to allow them to have privacy and feel at ease in their quarters. Rooms were painted with bright colors, large windows allowed residents picture perfect views and the surrounding grounds of the hospital were lush with plants, tress and foliage. Tuberculosis and the treatment of it become one of the main uses of most mental health facilities with most having separate buildings for housing the sick that were “turfed” or transferred from other hospitals or treatment facilities. More often than not they were either extremely young children or the elderly, this created a real problem for several of the smaller facilities since it forced them to either erect new buildings or consolidate patients to make room. Needless to say, when TB was no longer a substantial health risk, a majority of the hospitals saw a swift drop in patient loads and were forced to downsize their staff. To make matters worse, when people who had genuine mental illnesses were admitted to facilities were usually understaffed and unable to provide the highest level of care. The black cloud loomed over most facilities when former President Regan passed the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act which, in part, reversed funding previously designated for mental health organizations, grants for research and government support for state run or state sanctioned facilities. Danvers State Insane Asylum www.danversstateinsaneasylum.com Danvers State Hospital 450 Maple Street Danvers, MA 01923 [978] 774-5000 [978] 365-7352 – to arrange a tour Danvers was erected in 1872 and the almost 200 acre facility has seen thousands of patients come and go since its inception. Over time the asylum grounds expanded to allow space for more buildings and areas for patients to have activities. The asylum was officially closed in the early 90’s and while some of the buildings were still used for educational purposes and administration, parts of the property were put up for sale with hopes that all the buildings would be demolished [a few restored and turned into condominiums] and the land converted to strip malls, golf courses and upscale housing. Thanks to several groups, people are starting to learn about Danvers and what the community stands to lose if it is wiped off the map. So why are people to up in arms about saving Danvers? For one it was formerly known as Salem Village, the site of some of the witch trials that took place in the area. Others want the historical architecture preserved since a lot of time, money and craftsmanship went into planning, designing and building the facility. Danvers has long since been revered as one of the most impressive asylums in the northeast part of the country. Featured in the thriller Session 9, the buildings are tattered and worn around the edges but structurally no worse for wear. For most people, Session 9 was their first glimpse at the asylum and I am sure that it didn’t exactly give off the best first impression. Even though the focus of the film is centered on the characters, one can’t help but notice the magnificent detail of the windows, arched doorways and gothic feel of the structures. Even though there is a tremendous amount of beauty, there is an equal amount of internal damage, most caused by broken windows, rain and water damage, vandalism and sheer neglect. I am hoping to visit all of the still-standing building on my trip to Danvers in early November. With any luck, the UE [urban exploration] team that I am going with will be able to get in and out without causing too much disruption to the buildings and avoiding the dreaded unarmed security guards that have nabbed other curious parties. As I mentioned in the opening, I am not condoning trespassing so this is a “do as I say, not as I do” type of lecture. Essex Mountain Sanatorium Formerly located in Verona, New Jersey, Essex Sanatorium never really stood a fighting chance against the bulldozers and wrecking crews that arrive after the building was closed in 1982. But it seemed that the history of the facility may have dictated its fate; originally built with intentions of housing wayward children, the original structures were in place in 1871 and served as a place for troubled children, orphans and those removed from violent situations to be housed until other arrangements could be made. Over the years the various building have caught fire, were demolished to make room for newer buildings and revamped to adapt to an ever-changing style of mental health treatments and applications. Essex was closed in early 1977 but several of the buildings were still used for drug addiction rehabilitation, family counseling and other community projects. While Essex Mountain Sanatorium no longer exists, the facility still has a large following. While doing some research I came across one of the most phenomenal sites about Essex - www.mountainsanatorium.net. From this site you can learn about the history of the property, how the different buildings were erected and subsequently destroyed, a plethora of photos and great feedback from people who have visited the grounds. This site has been a great source of information for me and I have made a lot of great friends because of it. It seems a real shame that building that were crafted with such care were thrown by the wayside in pursuit of the almighty dollar. To most the buildings represented nothing more than a black mark of their history, who wants to say “Drive three miles part the old abandoned lunatic asylum and make a right” when giving directions? While those who loved Essex fought to keep it from being torn down, those in power refused to entertain the thoughts of alterative uses for the building and grounds. The Screams In The Darkness With Halloween fast approaching, the ghost stories are starting to surface. People who would never normally tell tales of haunted houses, axe wielding murders and unexplained phenomena’s break out of their shell and spin a few yarns for the youngsters. What most people are unaware of is that there are placed like Danvers and Essex everywhere, all it takes is a little exploring to find them. Be it an abandoned hospital, graveyard or even a lone building – each has a history and deserves a fair chance at restoration. Who ever coined the phrase “they don’t make them like that anymore” certainly knew what he or she was talking about. Most modern buildings are cold, sterile and lack any ‘personality’, not that a building can have an actual personality so I suppose flair, visual appeal and impact would be better-suited terms but still, I prefer to use personality. Over the years I have been fortunate enough to visit a lot of interesting places including graveyards, castles, asylums and churches. Each of them had their own personality; some seemed cold and barren while others had a subtle charm and grace about them. When you enter one of these places you are experiencing history first hand, something that no book or website can possibly be able to capture regardless of the quality of photos or video streams. To smell the musty air, see the peeling paint and stand in the corner of a room and try to image the events that took place there – these are things that I will never forget – and some, unfortunately, I’ll never be able to forget. There are skeptics in every group and I have never been one to force my views on others but I will say this, if you ever doubted the fact that there is life after death – even on some heaven / hell plateau - I can say that I experienced things that I couldn’t rationally explain when inside some of these buildings. St. Mary’s – A Sanctuary For Lost Souls People who never entertained the thought that ghosts or entities exist were left shaken from their mortal coil after several treks to an old church in an otherwise desolate area dotted with abandoned buildings and a dwindling population. The heavy pews were still perfectly aligned, the wall murals, although peeling and in need of restoration, were still visible in the darkness; it was for all intents and purposes the place that horror movie producers dream of. Rats and mice scurried underfoot, spiderwebs drooped from almost every corner and an occasional winter breeze would send pages of hymn books rustling in corners. There were the typical signs of the “after life” hot and cold spots, areas that had a distinct smell and noises that couldn’t be explained. Those that entered joking and giggling at our warnings that ghosts, for the most part, don’t like trespassers quickly clammed up and grew paranoid. The cincher was the ominous church bell that rang out a few minutes before midnight. We never found out how the bell sounded off the three loud clangs that temporarily deafened us but we took it as a sign that it was time to leave. We made several trips back to St. Mary’s, during the day and in the evening but none of us wanted to go back in the dead of night. I found a tremendous amount of peace within the walls of the church, not that I am an overly religious person but do believe in a higher power. It wasn’t until months later that we learned a little of the history of the church and adjoining convent and orphanage, both of which were demolishing several years before we discovered the main building. Were the laughs that people claimed to hear those of children who died at the orphanage? Were the church bells simply a residual haunting of the man who climbed the steps several times a day to toll the bells? No one can say for sure what we felt, experienced or heard but we all agreed that this was one place better off left alone. What ever was there didn’t take kindly to our presence and made that fact extremely clear to us. The Endgame With my trip to Danvers I am hoping to capture a piece of history, to try and grasp some sliver of what life must have been like for the residents, staff and groundskeepers when the asylum was in its heyday. I am also hoping to get into the tunnels to videotape some of the estimated seven miles that lay under the buildings, connecting them and holding a few mysteries about the underbelly of the Danvers. It seems a true waste to knock down a facility that can easily be restored and converted into something beneficial for the community. I applaud the volunteers that are working to identify the unmarked graves, save the main building from destruction and raise public awareness about the history of the facility and dispelling the myth that it housed crazy people, the criminally insane and dangerous convicts. I’ll have 72 hours to learn as much as I can about this historic facility, all the while dodging bad weather, security guards and weak spots in floors. I have to thank Jason from Dorchester for sending me copies of the floor plans with “hot spots” to avoid, Kelly from Orchard for the lay out of the paths leading to the main building and members of various Danvers online message boards for updates. There will be seven people including myself entering the halls of Danvers, some looking to dispel myths others seeking a bit of resolution. Everyone has their own reason, some more guarded than others, but I am sure we will all come away from this a slightly different person … and in some ways a little sad that others will never get to experience the magnificence of Danvers. ~^V^~ Freak ~^V^~ © 2003 Freak369

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