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.
I believe the contrast is sharper with a red filter vs a green. But whatever you like is fine.
I'm not that dumb... I meant the light itself is green. haha
Um, I meant a red filter on the lens. LoL
I have a green flashlight. And I just realized that I could walk around my work and find all sorts of supplies I could use. I don't know why I never thought of that before...
Red flashlights are more difficult to detect from an outside observer. A white light will light up a room like a flare, where a red tends to be much less likely to catch unwanted attention.
The steel toes generally are a part of the jungle boots, and I agree theres little chance of getting your foot crushed. I was more interested in the steel shank in the foot to defeat punctures from sharp stuff.
As for the NVG's..I personally have tried this out. They are completely awkward. Walking with them is nearly impossible. The only thing that I have found them useful for when on an exploration is simply staking out your next move. It's a good tool from a good vantage point to find accessible area's at night. otherwise..stay away from them for traveling.
As for the first aid kit..100% importance in the good old backpack. I don't know how many times I have gotten cut from something that looks pretty shady..Rusty objects aren't the best thing to get cut by. Also..worst case ..I carry some stylish safety glasses,dust masks.rubber gloves and mechanic gloves..stuff falling from most of these places can cause some pretty serious health problems. ..safe than sorry.
I wouldn't be to worried about the whole steel toe boot issue..steel toe is really not to important while on an adventure because the odds of you getting your foot crushed of all things when your using your head..is pretty unlikely. Use common sense..don't go around kicking things or putting your feet in places where..lets say..a 500 lb chunk of the ceiling is gonna come and land directly on your toe?..haha
Also..for bigger jobs..I pack two-way radio's..police scanner..Ton o batteries..snacks..fresh water..lighters..tape of sorts..wire things like that. you never know when the mcgyver marathon you watched..will come in handy.
I have a folding knife. She's not top of the line but she's sharp and she gets the job done. I don't know if it's legal though.... I have the tear gas stuff. Why on earth would I ever want to mace Fido? (I would rather lose an eye than harm an animal) I have yet to add a stun-gun to my collection. Why a red flashlight?
Try some jungle boots from an a/n surplus. They are lightweight nylon with leather covered steel toes, vented, with a steel plate in the shank (base of foot) position. It was to defeat punji sticks at one time, but works well on nails and glass and other debris.
NVG- Night Vision Goggles. or any other enhanced/low-light vision device. Nice, but expensive and delicate, and the batteries always seem to run out at the worst possable time. Best to avoid any thing with too many moving parts, just more stuff to break.
What kind of knife? Folding, straight? Brand? I'm pretty handy with a butterfly, but its not much use beyond HTH. The Kabar can pry, hammer, cut. There are probably better blades out there, I know the more modern combat knives incorporate a wire cutter in the sheath/scabbard as well, but I'd rather dance with the devil I know.
As for mace, its good on 90% of the population, but as its primarily a pain compliance device, if someone is on PCP, it may be ineffective. Also, see if you can get your hands on some security grade stuff called capstun. Its the stuff police and DOC guards use, and its evil. Hospital security has a variety with a foam delivery, as opposed to spray, to minimize contamination toward resperatory patients. Use the pepper variety in any case, as tear gas does not work on dogs, pepper does. Oh, and know one more thing- use of mace in the commision of a crime is a felony.
As for first aid, I would imagine a bottle of high level alchohol and some adhesive bandages, maybe a ace wrap and a triangle bandage, along with a couple rolls of gauze and tape would be all you'd need. basic triage. In the event of a minor cut, you'd treat and continue. in the event of a major injury, you'd treat and retreat to seek further help. Anything beyond that would require seeking outside assistance.
JPT- Steel toes would be good. A little harder to run in though. (My boots are ok, but my steel toed shoes are heavy as hell) I have my mase and my knife with me at all times, even when I'm just out shopping... I started adding stuff to a backpack I have. One thing I have that you didn't mention would be a little first aid kit. (I get hurt a lot so that's also something I always have.) NVG?
In a hypothetical sense, of course, what would be a standard "kit" for exploring NSH? I would think dark , sturdy clothing, steel toed and steel shank boots, particle breathing mask, gloves, red lens flashlight, whistle (just in case you get injured or stuck- better to be busted than dead!) cel or radio. Camera, paper and pencil. I'd carry my Kabar, too. Never know when you'd run into an angry raccoon or something, and the Kabar is a good, sturdy, simple, quality blade. Probably my Gerber leatherman also, might need some rudimentery tools.
I know, NVG would be good, but I'm looking at basic, off the shelf. It would be nice to have a Seal Team also, to handle the security, but thats a bit beyond the general ability of the average U.E. I would imagine.
Any other ideas?
Spkls: But of course!
Archi: Must be nice to be rich. You know, there are supposedly some homeless people living at NSH right now- you could always join them, and be able to "go crazy with it" without paying a cent! Oh! Thats right, according to you, they are spiriting people away for nefarious experiments! Umbrella Corporation? Should we rename the campus Raccoon City? Maybe your next alias could be ChrisRedfield or LeonKennedy? 'Ware the Chainsaw Ganados, unless you have the Chicago Typewriter!
lol so true so true, or maybe i will buy my own abandoned hospital somewhere and just go crazy with it lol
You just had to tempt him, didn't you? haha
Whatever are you going to do when they raze or refurbish NSH? You'll have to move to Waverly, and re-think that place.
i must absolutly agree with you, i saw that movie and it is just increadibly real, also another movie that seems very close is gamer. lol give me a few hours to think and i will post later about how both the movies ideas relate to nsh, lol this one should be good!!! lol
So John, are you going to call me so we can all play nice? I promise we won't push you down during recess.
That would be the same reason why I never check any of my accounts. haha. But I realized that twitter just makes a stalkers "job" easier. Creepy.
Yup, it is. I wouldnt go on facebook, twitter, or any of those other "social" sites, as I am not a social type of person. Got bitched at about it, because "that way, you can keep in touch with friends and family!" Said I dont want to keep in touch, if I want to talk with them I'll call 'em, and they can call me if they want to talk. Just another cyber method of isolating people. Ever see Bruce Willis in "Surragates"? Thats where we are heading, maybe not in my lifetime, but my grandkids will see it. I'd rather blather in person.
Funny, posting that here. Hypocritical? Perhaps. Or just bored at work. Eh.
Haha my fingers do the same sometimes so it's ok. Besides, today is only Tuesday. Three more days until the weekend...
Anyone here tweet?
Or not.
Shoes
(sp?) =spelling may be wrong. I am generally preyy good or at least pretty close, but sometimes my fingers go all dyslexic.
JPT- Haha nice way to put it. I'll have to remember that one. What does (sp?) mean?
D- You ever going to share any of it with me?
Sprk: I was trying to stay away from that old addage, but in part, yes. Archie: more of an evolution, I would say.
The point being, the more you argue for being insane, the more sane you prove yourself to be, and vice versa. Its the old "Catch 22" philosophy. IF you want out of the army, thats a normal thought, so you are sane and have to stay. If you want to stay in, thats not normal, so you are insane, and have to leave.
Ruminating in your own thoughts without sharing is simply mental masturbation- it may make you feel good, but really nothing spawns from it.
Poltergeists? The alleged phenomina (sp?) of paranormal activity , common with developing teens? Again, I'd have to experience it to believe it.
nothing new really, o well i dont really care anymore. ive been doing a ton of research, like a ton, and my findings are very interesting. poltergiests are very interesting
JPT- Kind of like the saying, if a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, did it make a sound?
D-Hmmm. I see. How is work? J been any better lately? And as far as being insane, you got nothing on me! haha
around, i spend most my days now in my head. its more comfortable that way. i live my life, fake as usesual but when i get a chance i reflect on facts and ideas that i come up with. the gatekeeper and dew have moved on and now its time for a far more advanced version of personna. lol things are good, sanity is only for the insane but if the sane are insane what does that make me? insane!! lol i love just rambling, lol nothing better to do
MmmHmm. Son, you have no idea. Thoughts are nothing, until they are expressed in actions. To sit impotently and form thoughts, no matter how majestic or mundane, differs you not from a stone. Its what you choose to DO with your thoughts, how you choose to shift them from your mind to existance, that exhibits your cerebral accumen to the world. And then you will be judged by those that encounter these manifestations. You can sit by yoruself and think, and plan, and congratulate yourself all you wish, but unless it is evidenced by others, what is it really? Does it even exist , if there are none to witness it?
I submit your thoughts are self-important, and bolster only your own ego. But as for the rest of us, as we cannot consider, analyze or experience them, they are less than insignificant.
And what is insanity, really? Its based on the current acceptable social behavior. To say you are insane is simply saying your behaviour does not mirror the majority of what society accepts at this moment. And venturing into Chaos Theory for a bit, as individuals, do we not all have slightly different behavior? We may agree upon many current issues and exhibit similar behavior, but its not exactly the same, and thus is different.
So we are all insane, to a degree.
And therefore, you are not different, you are exacly the same as the rest of society
Which makes you sane, just like the rest of us.
But, thats just JPT's opinion, and you are free to formulate your own. Or are you?
Good. And I totally make the best strawberry banana smoothies ever! haha. Where ya been?
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