Hospital X

Hospital X - (c) Forbidden Places - Sylvain Margaine - 1 - Colored cells



Hospital X - (c) Forbidden Places - Sylvain Margaine - 2 - The ghost



Hospital X - (c) Forbidden Places - Sylvain Margaine - 3 - Seclusion



Hospital X - (c) Forbidden Places - Sylvain Margaine - 4 - Hygiene



Hospital X - (c) Forbidden Places - Sylvain Margaine - 5 - Hangers



Hospital X - (c) Forbidden Places - Sylvain Margaine - 6 - Classic



Hospital X - (c) Forbidden Places - Sylvain Margaine - 7



Hospital X - (c) Forbidden Places - Sylvain Margaine - 8 - Jackpot



Hospital X - (c) Forbidden Places - Sylvain Margaine - 9 - Soap



Hospital X - (c) Forbidden Places - Sylvain Margaine - 10 - Peeling



Hospital X - (c) Forbidden Places - Sylvain Margaine - 11 - Symmetry



Hospital X - (c) Forbidden Places - Sylvain Margaine - 12 - The gate



Hospital X - (c) Forbidden Places - Sylvain Margaine - 13 - Brooms



Hospital X - (c) Forbidden Places - Sylvain Margaine - 14 - The porch, only opening on the outside world.



Hospital X - (c) Forbidden Places - Sylvain Margaine - 15 - Day room



Hospital X - (c) Forbidden Places - Sylvain Margaine - 16



Hospital X - (c) Forbidden Places - Sylvain Margaine - 17 - Notice the lack of handle inside the first cell on the right...



Hospital X - (c) Forbidden Places - Sylvain Margaine - 18 - Rose



Hospital X - (c) Forbidden Places - Sylvain Margaine - 19 - Men



Hospital X - (c) Forbidden Places - Sylvain Margaine - 20



Hospital X - (c) Forbidden Places - Sylvain Margaine - 21 - Locker room



Hospital X - (c) Forbidden Places - Sylvain Margaine - 22 - One military shelter can be found in the underground tunnels.



Hospital X - (c) Forbidden Places - Sylvain Margaine - 23 - Remains.





The map of the building 25 we explored. Click to enlarge! The map of the building 25 we explored. Click to enlarge!

The Scary Building 25

In 1870 the State of New York purchased land from local area farmers. In 1912, after the construction was completed, the hospital was opened boasting 32 patients. The campus began to grow at a rapid pace and soon had a total of 50 buildings. In 1959 the hospital is reported to have housed 7,000 patients.

During the 1960’s the asylum was described as overcrowded, poorly equipped, and understaffed. During this era the deinstitutionalization of psychiatric patients caused the decline of many asylums and mental hospitals. Without patients to sustain them they slowly fell into disrepair.

Today most of the buildings are empty and remain abandoned. Less than 500 patients were still housed in the facility during our visit in 2007. We managed to pass patients and ambulances on the immense half-abandoned and forgotten campus even though it was mainly deserted. Strange visions in this desolate landscape.

We explored building 25 and it contained cells, solitary seclusion rooms, a refectory and day room with strange paintings on the walls. Two sad dilapidated porches with thick steel bars are the only glimpse of the outside world patients could expect. One can only try to imagine and guess what types of mental illnesses were present in such a large facility with overcrowding.



The childlike painting on the walls are part of the therapy at this hospital. Notice the very sharp teeth on the dog?

Try to guess what the child has in his hand? A knife? Or is he merely petting the dog? You decide. The childlike painting on the walls are part of the therapy at this hospital. Notice the very sharp teeth on the dog?Try to guess what the child has in his hand? A knife? Or is he merely petting the dog? You decide.