Sex Assault Suspected At Embreeville
February 20, 1986
Interesting article I found today that questions the connection between a satanic cult at the Pennhurst Center with a brutal sexual assault that occurred at the Embreeville Center.
State police denied that they were looking into a possible connection between the incident and Satanic cult activities that a Pennhurst official said took place among a few employees at nearby Pennhurst Center, also a state institution for the mentally retarded.
Dr. James C. Hirst, former chief of psychology and human-rights advocate at Pennhurst Center, said in an interview yesterday that police confirmed that ritualistic cult activities had taken place at Pennhurst several years ago, but he said no charges were ever brought in connection with them.
Fire Kills 38 in Russian Psychiatric Hospital
Psychiatric Hospital No. 14 was a locked facility that housed people with schizophrenia, mental retardation and drug and alcohol addiction. Around half of them took powerful antipsychotic medications at bedtime to help them sleep, officials said. Irina Gumennaya, a spokeswoman for the Russian Investigative Committee, said investigators believed the fire started on a sofa, perhaps by a recovering addict who smoked cigarettes surreptitiously. A nurse woke and tried to evacuate the patients, but was able to lead only one woman, who had a diagnosis of schizophrenia, to safety. Another patient left on his own. The remaining 38 died of burns or carbon monoxide poisoning, many still in their beds. Among them, 11 had no known relatives, making DNA identification difficult, said Veronika Skvortsova, Russia’s health minister.
Norristown State Hospital May Auction Two Houses
1712 Sterigere Street and 1732 Sterigere Street are owned by the Department of Public Welfare.
The Public Welfare agency determined that the buildings are “no longer necessary to conduct business at the State Hospital.” These two are among 13 properties proposed in the Commonwealth’s 2013 Real Estate Disposition Plan. If approved by the governor, attorney general and Legislature, the properties would be sold in competitive sealed bids or at public auction. Since 2011, the state has sold 36 properties, saving $5 million in operating expenses and bringing in about $30 million in revenue, according to the state Department of General Services.
New Jersey Man Sues Pennhurst Asylum
Steven Chrzanowski from Gloucester City, New Jersey filed a federal complaint at the US District Court in Philadelphia on May 21st against the operators of Pennhurst Asylum for a leg injury he sustained on October 9th 2011. He claims two employees working “jumped onto or otherwise abruptly caused a hospital bed to strike the plaintiff in his left knee.”
Chrzanowski suffered a posterior horn medial meniscus tear, patellofemoral chondrosis, and infrapateller neuroma, which caused the plaintiff to have to undergo surgery.
Chrzanowski seeks compensatory damages in excess of $75,000.
Southwestern State Hospital Closing
Southwestern State Hospital in Thomasville, Georgia is closing by the end of the year.
The United States Department of Justice along with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and the Georgia Department of Community Health entered into a settlement that required the state to transition individuals from state hospitals into community-based settings of their choice. Officials say they will work with contract providers to give the almost 600 employees priority when selecting new jobs.
Volunteers Clean Frankfort State Hospital and School Cemetery
On Thursday, forty volunteers cleaned up the cemetery at the Frankfort State Hospital and School or formerly known as the Kentucky Institution for Feeble Minded Children.
Jeff Edwards, federal program coordinator with Kentucky Protection and Advocacy, said the event was about remembrance more than anything. That’s because most people don’t know about those who are buried in the cemetery, which had been mostly abandoned. The volunteers were members of several groups, including the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities.
“This is a piece of Kentucky history that no one remembers,” he said. “We know very little about the people who lived here.”
Edwards said 371 of the 411 graves are marked as “unknown” at the cemetery, which is at the intersection of Glenns Creek Road and Cold Harbor Drive.
The hospital and school, formally known as the Kentucky Institute for the Feeble-Minded, opened in 1860 as a place for the disabled. Edwards said the Legislative Research Commission had heard reports of horrible conditions and initiated reforms. Thousands of Kentuckians had stayed there before it closed in 1972.
Mark Newton, of Campbellsville, lived in the institution when he was about 12 years old. He does not have fond memories of the facility. Newton said living there was “not fun at all.” He was in one of the first groups taken out of the home when it was closed.
Heather Bava, who helps Newton with budgeting and grocery shopping, became involved with the cleanup through Newton, but said the cleanup was important because it honored the dead. Bava said it could have easily been Newton who ended up in one of the graves.
“They had a horrible, horrible life,” she said. “It’s really sad to think people were treated this way.”
Christina Bowman, of McKee, also became involved with the event through a woman she helps daily.
“I know if it was me personally, I’d want someone to come out here and clean my grave for me and try to remember me,” she said.
Childhood Memories of Medfield State Hospital
Harry Gardiner wrote about his experience visiting Medfield State Hospital where his father was a psychiatrist.
I first lived at the hospital when I was 2-3 years old (1940-1941), when my father, Dr. Harry M. Gardiner, left to enter the service in World War II and we lived in Ayer, MA. He moved our family back to the MSH in 1946, when I was 8, and we lived there until he passed away in 1951.
My best friends at the hospital were David and Darel Nowers (known to those who couldn’t tell them apart as “the twins”), whose father was the head farmer. They both grew up to become head farmers at two other state hospitals in MA. At this time there were over 2,000 patients and about 500 staff at the hospital. We were never afraid of the patients and didn’t question their often very unusual behavior. That’s just the way it was.
Click the link below to read the rest of Harry Gardiner’s story.
Gardiner would very much like to touch base with anyone who might know him from his time at the State Hospital, people like Peter Stagg, Janet Mezzanotte, Tom Sweeney, and others.
Fergus Falls Demolition Deadline Extended
The Regional Treatment Center’s demolition deadline extension was granted Monday night. It was part of a bonding bill that passed at the state capitol on the Legislature’s final day.
“It passed with overwhelming support,” said Rep. Bud Nornes (R-Fergus Falls).
The deadline to request reimbursement for up to $5 million in demolition funds is now December 2016, instead of December 2014. Grant funds will not be increased in the proposed legislative action.
“I think it’s a win-win,” Nornes said. “It kind of takes demolition off the table. That’s the ultimate hope, I guess. No guarantees there either, but it sounds like the city has made some really good progress.”
Extensive work on the 107-year-old state Capitol is getting the go-ahead from Minnesota lawmakers in a late financial rescue package.
A borrowing proposal that came together on the Legislature’s final day includes $109 million for the next phase of a renovation to the deteriorating building. The money was needed this year to keep underway construction from halting. A new parking ramp will be authorized, but paid for with fees from users.
The package is the result of high-level negotiations involving majority Democrats and minority Republicans, testament to the supermajority it requires for passage. It cleared both chambers with votes to spare and is on to Gov. Mark Dayton.
Aside from the Capitol project is an $18.9 million award for a new Minneapolis Veterans Home building that will garner a big federal match. There is also $20 million for flood mitigation projects.
Napa State Hospital Book Proposed
The author, archivist Patricia Prestinary, is asking the community to share photos, particularly from the 1970s and ’80s, that capture hospital life before the facility was turned into a medium-security psychiatric facility.
Photos and messages can be submitted to Prestinary at https://www.facebook.com/napastatehospital.imola
Fergus Falls Opens Back up for Tours
The historic Regional Treatment Center (RTC) in fergus falls is opening back up for visitors to get a glimpse of this over one hundred year old state hospital
The RTC was the third state hospital in Minnesota finished in 1890, and housed patients up until 2009.
Now the RTC sits vacant, the local group “Friends of the Kirkbride” has been giving tours for the past nine seasons and has worked to keep it from being demolished.
The City of Fergus Falls oversees the RTC now and is waiting for a developer to purchase the land and give it a new use.
Mayor Hal Leland, says he hopes it can be revitalized to help support the local economy again like it once did. “I would hope that it would become the economic engine that it once was, where it would provide jobs and an opportunity for entrepreneurs and other business to get involved up there.”
Leland says they have had interest “from coast to coast” and have two projects being presented to the city council in the coming weeks, one this Monday.
The City of Fergus Falls has is also waiting for HF1622 to pass the Minnesota legislature and extend the state grant that gives them funding for the RTC. That legislation would allow them more time to find a developer and maintain the building while it sits empty.
Leland adds “It’s an enormous sturdy facility, developers have told us it will last for another hundred years if you just take some care of it.”
Tours of the RTC are every Friday at 2:00 PM and are by reservation only by calling, 218-736-5328.
Three Teenagers Attempt 6 A.M. Ascent Of Williamsburg Bridge
Two girls, ages 16 and 17, and a 16-year-old boy were nabbed by police for climbing the Williamsburg Bridge at around 6 a.m. this morning. A rep from the NYPD tells us that the teens were “climbing high up on the beams and hanging over ledges.” In all fairness, it’s probably the coolest place in town to play spin the bottle.
The teenagers were issues summonses for misdemeanor reckless endangerment and criminal trespass, whereas the professional acrobats that performed a stunt on the bridge last month are facing felony charges. Many an “urban explorer” has been lured by the quest for glory atop the Williamsburg Bridge, and this Undercity video of Steve Duncan reaching the top of one of its towers is pretty damn inspiring. Is the city wasting a golden opportunity for al fresco dining in an urban chic location?
Europe – Night Climb Stunts Back in City Centre
Fears were raised today that someone could be injured or killed climbing tall buildings in Preston after evidence emerged the daredevil practice is still going on.
The Evening Post revealed last month how climbers scaled more than 200ft up the huge Centenary Mill chimney and took pictures of themselves at the top.
The Holiday Inn was also scaled by “urban explorers” earlier this year.
And despite condemnation from city leaders, the practice is continuing, with pictures from the top of the derelict Odeon building, in Church Street, the latest to appear on a website dedicated to the activity.
Coun Drew Gale, councillor for the town centre ward on Preston Council, said: “It is only going to stop when someone gets hurt.
“I would implore them to think twice before going up these buildings without the right safety equipment.
“It is illegal frankly and eventually someone is going to get hurt.
“They are literally taking their lives in their hands.
“It is just not worth a picture.”
The explorers generally wait until the dead of night to avoid attracting the attention of the police, building security and CCTV, and appear to have take few safety measures before making their ascent.
However, some of the Odeon shots appear to have been taken during the day.
Talking about the pictures, a forum user, identified only as ‘BB’, said: “Not a massive roof compared to some but it certainly offers some nice views of Preston.
“Visited several times with different people.”
The same user was behind a climb to the top of the Holiday Inn, overlooking Ringway, in March this year.
And a further set of pictures, including one of an explorer standing on the chimney on top of the building, were posted last month by a user called Crippletron.
When the images of the climb at Centenary Mill were brought to the attention of authorities, Insp Eddie Newton, of Preston Police, said: “We are concerned that the people involved in these activities are putting themselves in grave and unnecessary danger.
“We urge them to think about the long term consequences for themselves and their families.”
The now derelict cinema was renamed the Odeon in 1962.
In 1970 the old restaurant was converted to a second screen.
The ballroom became a disco, initially called Clouds ,and later a nightclub Tokyo Jo’s and currently Lava Ignite.
Europe – Keeping Watch on Danger Site
A DERELICT school on a ‘death trap’ site is being monitored ahead of a possible demolition order being slapped on the building.
Wyre Council is considering placing an enforcement notice on the Emmanuel Christian School at the former Fylde Farm site.
The building, which following a blaze was deemed ‘dangerous’ by the fire service, has been glamorised by Urban Explorer website – an underground group who gain access to prominent urban locations.
But a recent inspection carried out by building control officers showed the structure to still be within safety boundaries.
However, Wyre say it is monitoring the situation every day with a view to place an enforcement notice on the building in the future.
A spokesman said: “It is a possibility we will be seeking an order on the school but there has been no enforcement action yet.
“From the outside the building is still within safety boundaries.
“But the council would prefer all the buildings on the site to be demolished and have expressed that information onto the current owners, the North West Young People’s Development Trust.”
The site, off Normoss Road, Poulton is expected to be sold in the next few weeks. J R Demolition have so far knocked down seven buildings on the site including Westmoreland House and the Fylde school cottages, once used as staff housing.
JR Demolition owner Glynn Watkins said: “We have been told to expect an order on the school. We would love to pull the entire site down, it’s a mess and so dangerous.”
‘Urban Explorers’ Quest to Discover Abandoned Haunts That Conjure Hidden Past
Fueled by Internet forums and photo-sharing, so-called “urban explorers” track down decaying houses and boarded-up factories to capture the way things were in an ever more remote past.
For them, it’s like going fishing or catching a movie on a Sunday afternoon. This escape, though, takes them to explore the cities and the countryside in search of abandoned locations to enter: closed-down factories, abandoned hospitals, empty houses.
They snap pictures, which they often post online, and helps explain how the practice has multiplied over the past few years through forums and social networks. They’ve been dubbed “urban explorers,” even though they often run through country fields in search of new boarded-up finds.
To discover new treasures out in the territory, these archeologists-photographers follow the news, search municipal archives, talk with the elderly or just look around closely. Then they exchange tips. They mainly find factories and workshops, but they can also come upon hotels, theaters, zoos, prisons, asylums, museums under construction, sewerage systems — and sometimes entire towns.
“The most moving part is the discovery of a new place,” says Sylvain Margaine, project manager for Brussels public transportation services. “I’d dreamed of visiting the former veterinary school of Brussels for a very long time, but it was impenetrable. Until the day renovation work started.”
Margaine recalls: “I jumped into the building through a basement window and I ended up in a pitch-dark small room. When I turned on my flashlight, I saw the shelves full of animals in formalin jars. I was certainly the first person to come back there since the building had been closed, it was fascinating.”
Gregory Michel, a 30-year-old from Alsace employed in Basel, notes that the weekend explorers are, in fact, rarely the first ones to come. “Almost every time, someone already came before us, copper thieves or squatters.”
Adventure, discovery, history, cultural heritage — the motives of these explorers are numerous. “I like the idea of going where no one goes. Each building has its own soul, it bears marks that can tell you stories. I observe and I let my imagination work,” explains Henk van Rensbergen, a 43-year-old Flemish airline pilot.
Van Rensbergen is considered a pioneer of the discipline, having taken advantage of each of his work stopovers to look for new places, often recommended by other enthusiasts he met on the Internet. “The best places are obviously the rich countries, where they have enough space to leave an old building fallen in ruins, and build other ones next to it.”
The United States, Canada, France, Italy, Germany make up his Top Five. And each region has its peculiarities, memories of bygone days. Mines and steel factories in northeastern Europe, huge lunatic asylums in North America that show the number of inmates and the mistreatment they suffered. In Switzerland, explorations take place in the underground network of Basel, old hotels or Ticinese sanatoriums
Some do extensive research before they go to a new place, others do it afterwards, a few don’t do any outside reading at all. “Thanks to the objects that are still there and the anecdotes we read or heard, we manage to imagine the building when it was inhabited, to perceive the activity that was going on inside at the time,” says Gregory Michel.
Inheritance problems
“Sometimes the paintings are still on the walls and the crockery inside the cupboards, as if the people had left overnight. I think it’s moving, I wonder what happened, and I start doing some research,” says Sylvain Margaine. “It’s often the same story: inheritance problems.”
Julien Michaud, a computer analyst from the French city of Strasbourg, discovered one of these long abandoned houses. “Everything was still there, the piano, the letters, the darkroom where the grandfather, who was a photographer, developed his pictures…The granddaughter left with the inheritance. People say the family owns another house in the South. I’ve been looking for it in vain…”
As usual, Michaud published his photos of the house on the Web, though he did not give the address. But illegal visits started multiplying, objects disappeared, graffiti has covered the walls, and now the piano is being dismantled. “Now I got it, I keep some places for myself,” he says with regret. “I shared a lot in the beginning to enter the circle, to prove my mettle. I don’t do it anymore.” Many urban explorers wait for the building to be destroyed to talk about it publicly.
There is in fact a certain ethical code amongst the veterans: never break in, never leave any trace of your visit, take nothing but pictures. “The places must be protected like fragile pieces of nature,” specifies the website abandoned-place.com. The doors are never broken open, the windows are never smashed – maybe there’s a hole or a basement window, or you’ll need a ladder or rope, but there is always a soft way in.
To enter discreetly and also to limit the risks, the equipment is an important element. Visitors – mainly men – need at least a good pair of shoes, gloves, two electric torches, food and water. Depending on the circumstances, they can also bring waders, a knife, a helmet or even a gas mask.
Taking precautions is even more important as urban exploration is victim of its own success. A documentary on the French Channel France 2 in early July led to a real saturation of the forums. The pleasure of the discovery then becomes more and more rare. “The challenge now resides in the pictures you take, I try to capture the atmosphere of the premises, to take better photos than the ones I saw on the Web,” says Henk van Rensbergen. “I started taking pictures to prove to my friends that I had been there and to show them how it was. Now my approach is more aesthetical.” A mix, it seems, of Indiana Jones and Henri Cartier-Bresson.
Europe – Urban Explorers Warned off Vauxhall Site in Ellesmere Port
Vauxhall have taken to the internet to urge people not to put themselves in danger by exploring their treatment plant in Ellesmere Port.
The car giant signed up to an online forum for urban explorers – people who spend their spare time wandering around industrial sites and taking photographs – after photographs were posted of people on the site.
Vauxhall are now warning them against further trespassing.
Huge pipes at the Vauxhall Effluent Trade Treatment Plant, situated behind the Vauxhall plant in Ellesmere Port, carry storm water from the site and into the Manchester Ship Canal.
All production waste waters are first treated and then discharged to the Municipal Treatment Plant for further treatment prior to ultimate discharge.
The forum member, appearing to speak for Vaxhall, wrote: “Whilst Vauxhall welcomes inquiries from concerned citizens regarding our operations, we do not encourage anyone to put themselves in danger by entering hazardous confined sewer spaces and deep ravines.
“As these are structures designed to handle storm water, they are subject to flash flooding.”
One urban explorer responded to the statment, arguing that the lack of security on the site made it easy pickings for people.
‘Georgie’ wrote: “If you’re that bothered about this place why is it left wide open for anyone to gain access?
“I’m sure we’re not the only ones to have been down there.
“There’s a sign saying ‘warning risk of drowning’ but no effort put in place to stop anyone from going in so from an explorers point of view its quite inviting.”
Europe – Lincoln Cathedral Bosses Warn Against Copying ‘Urban Explorers’
Photos of gargoyles looming out of the darkness, the interior of Lincoln Cathedral at night and panoramic views of the city have been posted online.
They were taken by so-called urban explorers who seemingly scaled a 100ft wall to reach the roof of the cathedral.
The series of 26 images show dawn views of Lincoln, shadowy passageways and close-ups of St Hugh of Avalon, all taken by mysterious invaders calling themselves “Horus”.
One photo captioned on http://www.28dayslater.co.uk – a forum for so-called urban explorers – showing a gargoyle says: “What nightmares are made of.” While another showing a dragon calls it “a personal favourite”.
On the blog it is claimed the pictures were taken in August after an episode of Top Gear featured the historic building.
The exploration was dedicated to a fellow urban explorer and professional climber Jim Smith, 30, known as Soloman. He died in August last year.
The blog speaks with reverence about the cathedral, calling it one of the “finest medieval buildings in Europe”.
It said: “The gothic West Front resembled a fortress – one with scaffolding gracing its exterior. An opportunity to climb Lincoln Cathedral presented itself and Horus was in.
“With a break in traffic, we climbed past the CCTV adorning the hoardings and ventured upwards out of sight.
“Atop of a cathedral almost 1,000 years old, it’s only natural to check the façade for a way in. At the top of the south-west turret with the statue of St Hugh above us, a small door was held shut by a single piece of rope.
“Heading down the turret’s spiral staircase in darkness, we were inside the cathedral and it was eerily quiet. With the door to the nave locked, Horus caught some sleep and three hours later, we headed out to be met with dawn breaking over Lincoln.”
Bosses at the historic building have warned others against attempting the same thing.
Chief executive at the cathedral, Phil Hamlyn Williams, said: “Entry to the cathedral was most likely effected through the intruders climbing the south-west turret scaffolding before it was complete. This was very dangerous and the scaffolding has since been secured.
“We have taken steps to prevent further entry into the building, but no damage was reported.
“Lincoln Cathedral is one of the greatest Gothic buildings in Europe and has held a place in the hearts of the people of Lincolnshire for almost 1,000 years.
“Visitors can enjoy the views shown in the photographs by joining roof tours that are available daily within the normal entry charge.
“We have also placed the panoramic view from St Hugh at the foot of the scaffold, where it too can be enjoyed in safety.”
City MP Karl McCartney said: “While I can understand the excitement and thrill of accessing such private buildings, I am also aware of the damage they might cause both in accessing and climbing on private property, as well as personal damage to themselves.”
Lack of Psych Beds Leave Patients Stuck in the ER
Massachusetts hospitals are not trained to deal with psychiatric emergencies and emergency rooms are not equipped to handle those having a mental health crisis. There is, on top of that, a lack of psychiatric beds in psychiatric hospitals and poor communication between the hospital and the health insurance company.
Compared to the treatment given to those experiencing typical medical emergencies, those with a psychiatric emergency are left waiting for hours, if not days, because [too often] the hospital cannot find a psychiatric facility willing to take them.
Two Buildings Illegally Demolished at Westboro
The State Division of Capital Asset Management and the Department of Mental Health illegally tore down the circa 1890 Piggery and 1918 Barn at Westboro State Hospital without warning because they are an “imminent hazard and needed to be removed for the sake of maintaining public safety”.
The Massachusetts Historical Commission or the Northboro Historical Commission were never notified and both buildings are listed on the state and national registers of historic places.
Fergus Falls Competing in ‘This Place Matters Community Challenge’
You can vote for Fergus Falls Regional Treatment Center, a Minnesota Kirkbride, in the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s ‘This Place Matters Community Challenge’!
You can do that right here on the right-hand side of the website in the blue box. Voting ends June 30th, 2011.
If selected, Fergus Falls Regional Treatment Center will receive a $25,000 national grant for historic preservation.
To learn more about this contest, check it out here and in this article.
Group Wants to Show Respect for Patients Buried at Willard
Colleen Kelly Spellecy runs the Willard Cemetery Memorial Project at Willard State Hospital in which 5,776 patients are buried. They would like to create a burial register, clean the meadow and erect four granite markers in the lot with the names of the dead buried there.
Craig Williams of the New York State Museum, will give a presentation on Willard State Hospital at Hadley Hall, on the grounds of the hospital from 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. on July 23, He will show items from the Willard suitcase exhibit. Colleen Kelly Spellecy is scheduled to talk about her memorial project at noon, Aug. 30, before the Seneca Falls Rotary Club, at Waterloo Holiday Inn.
The Abandoned Newspaper 