The hospital first opened its doors in 1904 in Norwich, Connecticut. It was built in an idyllic location chosen for its therapeutic properties overlooking the River Thames.
The Norwich Insane Asylum was built isolated from civilization, which worked to its benefit as it began to grow during its early years sprouting new buildings that accompanied the original construction (see aerial view of the hospital here). These new construction projects included patient wards, staff cottages, laboratories and workshops. All of the structures were interconnected by a large network of underground utility tunnels. These tunnels transported electricity, hot water, and patients to various areas on the grounds. The hospital remained self-sufficient, almost like a small town, with its own power plant, pump house, working farm, kitchen, theater and church.
Over 3,000 patients and 1,000 employees were residents on the asylum grounds in the 1950’s.
Slowly patients began to leave Norwich State Hospital due to deinstitutionalization and it permanently closed its doors in 1996. Since then time has basically stood still on the property with a few exceptions. Currently there is talk about converting the grounds into a theme park, but nothing has been set in stone.
After a long tedious drive we leave the car in a commuter parking lot close to the buildings. Ever the vigilant group of explorers we notice a State Trooper making his rounds and dive into the forest for cover. Luckily we outsmarted the police yet again and after regrouping walk along the Thames River for a few hundred feet. We finally see the abandoned pump house looming in the distance and decide to make this our entryway into the campus.
This site has a reputation for being well guarded, well patrolled, and does not take kindly to trespassers. I am always on edge when exploring across the Atlantic and the numerous “State Property – No Trespassing” signs that litter the grounds did not bode well for my paranoia. Instead of exposing ourselves above ground to security and prying eyes, we decided to take the underground route through the utility tunnels.
Using the tunnels we explored many buildings without ever being forced to go outside. This method of travel was soon confirmed to be the safest. On our first attempt to venture outside we were only a few feet away from a security officer in a black uniform. Fortunately he didn’t look our way and we quickly receded back into the tunnel network. For a while we hid in the abandoned theater so we could look around the campus without being seen.
This encounter with security dampened our spirits and made our visit a whole lot shorter than we would have liked. We made our grande exit through the empty chapel, this allowed us to avoid walking back through the forest. As we were walking back to the commuter lot to pickup our car we noticed the State Trooper had been watching us as we suspiciously walked down the road. I wonder where we went to and were coming back from?!
Archive document introducing a new therapy (click to enlarge):
Special thanks to Dr. Bob for sharing the old postcards.
So, thanks for the apology. I think you know the people who you should really be sorry to. And to Paul, I love you, but you're an ass. I never hung out with him. Only Chris and you knew about that. We had coffee and went to the library. I'm sick of all the shit that's been started on here over the past what, 4 years now? Anyways, it's you I'm with so chill out.
And what exactly are you sorry for? I'm curious...
soooooo it looks like you all have been having fun on here! ive been combing over some old photos of the place. im in the good ol chi town now. about to get out of the military. cant wait! theres an awesome place you guys should check out, its called naval hospital great lakes. it was this old naval hospital they built in 1960, used it till about 3 years ago and decided to tear it down. i remember being in that place and just feeling all the death and longing to get out of there. i remember when i was there the galley used to be a morgue. lol talk about eating with the dead! but i tell you what they had the best food ever!! anyways its met the wrecking ball, ive been watching it and its just amazing to see! besides all that, something i wanted to get off my chest, Sparkles, i just wanted to apologize for all the shit i put you through years ago, im a different person now, a better person. i was not a good person back then. and im sorry for that. i hope you and paul are doing well! things are great here! anyways, i should be out this summer, and then onto freedom!!! question, i hear they are ripping down norwich state hospital, anybody have a timeling on that and whos footing the bill and what they are going to do with her yet?
What's up guys? Am I the only one that hasn't given up on the old girl?
Hey guys just letting you know I just completed two series of video's on YouTube. One is on Kings Park and one is on Hudson in HD. You can find them by searching the username "bikercrze1" or just follow either of these links to the playlists. I have two series of Kings Park but one is older.
Hudson River State Hospital: www.youtube.com
Kings Park Psychiatric Center Series 1 www.youtube.com
Kings Park Psychiatric Center Series 2 www.youtube.com
I knew I smelled something...!
iam back
Check with the state library in Hartford, for info..
The risk/reward ratio for doing the wich these days, just isn't worth it.. some of the best buildings are gone, all the interesting stuff is gone, the tunnels are done and they do a pretty good job at sealing up the ins and outs, now. Basically you have to go outside between buildings, and hope you can find a way in, before someone rolls around. They can hit you with criminal trespass, and might nowadays.
I'm not saying it's impossible, or even all that hard to do... just not really worth it.. If you haven't been...well, it's too late to see what the wich was all about. Not at all the same experience it used to be..
Can anyone tell me how to track down if my Great aunt may have been in this facility in 1934. can't fin much on her after 1930 census. thanks.
Well I am very interested in seeing these buildings as I have been researching about the history since I drove past in a couple months ago and it caught my eye so quickly. I would love to find a way to check it out if anyone on here has done so and knows how to and would like to be a guide for me. I am new to the area and I love historical sites and my understanding is that this hospital has a bunch of history behind it, whether or not it is actually haunted I am very interested in at least checking it out before they take down all the beautiful buildings and the history that goes with it. If there's anyone interested in showing me the ropes please let me know adamscrystal721@gmail.com
so yea the real truth is it is called the norwich state hospital for the insane. the whole warson asylum thing was a lie used to protect this places identity. as of now there are plans of turning the hospital into a park. if that gets approved, then security will most likely be increased, so explore now. i will update as new info comes in as i live just a mile down the road from the hospital!
Has anybody else been to see the theater in it's sad state?
That face in the window is the ghost of Pearl. Y'all don't know bout that though... The real name of this place is warson asylum, I saw it on vh1s celebrity paranormal project.
Hey don't take offense it was meant as a joke mostly blowing off steam about all the demolition going on. I have been exploring 10 plus years and have guided people like the fine folks at Urban Legends or "Urban Lens" whos site is sadly not up anymore.
so i just went last night, we had to jump the fence that surrounds the whole asylum, theres lights everywhere so the whole grounds are lit up, they put up some cameras that watch the grounds. & getting into the buildings can be hard, they boarded up all the windows to be able to get in and but concrete slabs in front of all the doors, we were there for at least 2 hours and did not encounter any law enforcement, it's just hard to find a way in, the place is haunted tho a rock was thrown out of no where at a window and the glass shattered. My advice don't go on the weekend, wear dark clothes and scale the tree line instead of walking through the field. oh and there are plans of demolishing it.
Yes i have noticed that face in the window on the last picture in the photo gallery very very strange .I thought i was the only one that seen it .I guess im not crazy or maybe we are both seeing things.
What pictures? Ya have to share it...
does ANYONE NOTICE the face of a woman in the window or am i just seeing things???
I heard Norwich is super haunted. I'm scared of ghosts! Will someone hold my hand, and walk me through the salmon building? I'll be at the commuter lot Saturday, at 9:30.
You are a genius.. I mean..I never even thought of something like that. Back when we were all thinking about ways to explore the site and everything..I had never thought once about bringing a backpack full of spray-paint and crow bars. I doubt that when someone gets caught like that..they'd even wonder what you were up to! Most of the older buildings are ruined inside and out. If you were to "STOP" they're progress in demo ..you'd be left exploring a building from the 90's.. Open your eyes..there's hundreds of sites in CT to explore. Unless you have a problem understanding how to use your bus pass.
Does anybody know what's going on at Norwich? It's been awhile.
no!
More people should try and be like me! The world would be a better place!
that was so cold not everybody is as perfect as you Paul
Learn to use spell check then we can tell you!
i was just wondering how to gain access to the property leagly without tresspassing i would like to go there for rescearch etc if anyone has any information please email me bringmemymace@aim.com it would be very much apreaciated (sorry im not very good at spelling)
wow jam just going to say it sparkles your right. but the one thing we can do is just sit back an remember the good days we all have had at ash
Well said Paul. It's people like them that make it hard for people like us. No one on here approves of vandalism of any kind. Something like letting air out of tires, sure. That's just being a pain in the ass, but destroying things? What do you mean "Kids"? You're the one acting like a childish douche. We may have our little rifs sometimes but I'm pretty sure that everyone on here agrees with what I'm saying. No one wants to see her torn down, but lets face it, they are going to get it done no matter what. Nothing we can do to change that. I hope something happens on site so it can all be pinned on you. Even if you had nothing to do with it. That would totally make my day. Asshole.
Dude you make retards sound smart. Go be a fucking criminal elsewhere. I hope you get pinched for all vandalism on site. Do you even realize you posting in public? Please kill yourself asap..
Shadow, good deal man hit it up while you still can and get some pics we need pics! Also remember what I said if these kids on here would quit wasting time typing stupid shit and mob up and just ransack the site. Bring a paintball gun and put oatmeal in the gas tanks, spray paint the heavy equipment windows, put small rocks in the tires to let the air out quietly, just plain destroy all the gear so they have no choice but to stop operations. You know what kind of money they would lose being out of the game for a day or two? Seriously shit we did back in the day as kids I mean if your going to go there you might as well have a little fun right?
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