Welcome to the Hudson River State Hospital located in the United States in Poughkeepsie, New York. This gigantic hospital has overlooked the Hudson River for 136 years since its initial construction in 1871. The various hospital buildings were constructed and belong to the famous Kirkbride architectural order (read more on this excellent website).
The hospital was divided into two wings, for male and female patients, with an administration section located in the center. The male wing was much larger than the respective female wing. This was caused by the number of patients being unequal between the sexes (see the sky view from the hospital using the link above).
The beauty of the decay was unbelievable in this hospital. Most of the original constructions had been preserved.
Future renovation construction of the hospital were planned long ago. A fire, caused by lightning, burned the male wing in June 2007. As of the date of this article, the fate of Hudson Psyche Center remains unknown.
Hopefully this awesome Kirkbride will be saved. The United States is certainly not Europe and listing historical buildings as monuments might not be enough to protect them…
Archive documents dated between 1891 and 1918 (click on a thumbnail to enlarge):
Special thanks to Dr. Bob for sharing the old postcards.
Reference for the scanned documents: Handbook of the State Hospital Commission and the Hospitals for the Insane, 1918, E.S.Graney.
I re-read 'Turning 15 in the Loony Bin' and, once again, if not Jeanne's Hillcrest, please tell me where this 'secret' location to the 'old Hillcrest' is located. This whole Hillcrest thing makes me wonder about the true authenticity of Kathy's experiences and short novel--which is a bold statement that i've been eluding to since previous comments in regard to hillcrest. It also makes me wonder about Wardy, who people have suggested is a mole. I'm aggravated with this Hillcrest thing. It's on record in your previous comments, I left a whole analysis with follow-up questions and didn't get a response for days from neither Kathy and Wardy, who says he knows where 'real' Hillcrest is. Either Kathy doesn't know what she's talking about or... I don't know, she just doesn't know what she's talking about.
Scroll down to April 16, 2013. In case you don't want to;
Kathy describes a 10-15 minute ride from the kirkbride building, up the hill to Hillcrest, I found a building that is identified as Hillcrest and fits the description in her book but she says that it isn't Hillcrest. This was followed by Wardy describing Hillcerst as being to the North of the Kirkbride. He's a mythical being that knows all things in regards to this abandoned property, so of course he eludes to the evidence he has that supports a building being located in that open field to the north of the kirkbride. Despite the fact that there is no road there and it's quartered off by trees, it's not uphill and is only 2-5 minute drive from the main building. I'm getting aggravated. Jeanne is the only person making sense here. I am not trying to create animosity, but i wanna get to the bottom of this, and idgaf who's at the top. Thank you Jeanne.
Kathy- no disrespect is meant, but you are mistaken, and are not looking at the facts. Even the author on the link you posted (which I had previously posted), says that Hillcrest was "set in the very back of the property, well away from the main entrance...", and they had to take a car back and forth. There is plenty of confirmation of where the Hillcrest building was, and still is today (now it's called Hillcrest House). If you go to my post of Feb. 25, 2013, you can see exacly where it is, and follow the facts, including those from your own book on pages 74-75.
I'm wondering what the best way to get onto the grounds is without being spotted. I've entered by parking in the Home Depot lot and just walking in in broad daylight, and I've also gotten in by the American Legion in the evening. The Home Depot way seems like an awful idea to try again (not that I got caught), and the American Legion is open during the day and I would like to go before the sun goes down. I know people go through the woods and climb through holes in the fences, but I have no idea where those are, or where I could park and start my trek. Can anybody help me out? I'd really love to check out more of this place, both of my trips were quite short. Thanks!!
Just because I haven't been on this site, does not mean that I am wrong about where the Hillcrest school was. Perhaps you may find what you are looking for on this site. web.lemoyne.edu. I am too old and have been through too much to put up with people who are so disrespectful, that's why I stopped coming to this site.
Ray- I emailed the Realtor asking if I could photograph the exterior of the buildings, and I got a terse response that just said "Sorry, no pictures are allowed."
I grew up in Beacon, NY. The castle is called Bannerman's Castle on Pollepol Island. There is really good info about it on Wikipedia although the information isn't complete, since they have started shoring it up, and they are now offering tours of it.
So now that the land is for sale- can you call the realty company or anyone to get on the grounds legally? Dying to a specific fashion photo shoot here. Also what's the daytime creepy factor?
I used to study nearby this hospital but I've never seen it. Anyhow, have you seen a banded castle by the river on the way to Poughkeepsie station from New York?? It looks freaking cool check this out my photo of it from the train fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net
I have been up their many times day and night and have had some paranormal experiences ,so i would say yesss! Thats my opinion.
looking for anyone familiar with the grounds that is willing to show us around. I am serious about exploring this site so any help would be much appreciated.
Is this place haunted at all?
Firstly, Bx1983 how many were in your group? And what types of stories did the cops tell you while you were in their car. Was there yesterday and a white pickup was patrolling. I was on the morgue and they rode right by, I was afraid he saw me because I was standing right in front of the window but layed low for a few and headed over to Cheney and didn't see him again. I'd like to hear from anyone who had run ins with security or police... Has anyone been caught and then let go? Also interested in hearing if anyone has had any paranormal experiences here.
I've been at the location a variety of hours and have only seen patrols three times but I was fortunate enough not to encounter them while outside on the actual grounds. I dunno what the scheduling is like but I'd say you'd want to spend as little time as possible out in the open. For as long as I've been exploring, I've come to the conclusion that patrols won't enter buildings, even if they know you're in there. They do their jobs but they're not stupid. I've been there when people were apprehended, didn't actually see it, but larger groups that are really disruptive are more likely to get picked up by patrols. Although, i imagine a larger group wound be less likely to get taken in for paperwork because that's way too much work. Going at night is dangerous but you probably won't encounter any patrols. It comes at the cost of your own visibility and don't even bother entering the kirkbride, far too perilous. Daytime, try not to be obvious is all i can say and if you're approached, express genuine curiosity and be apologetic... Or just disappear into the woods. Patrols aren't real police, they can keep you there until the men in blue arrive but I wouldn't wait, just run. What're they gonna do, shoot you?
I really want to go here! Anyone have any suggestions? I don't want to get arrested
is there a better time to go regarding security? Mornings? later in the day? REally want to do a photo shoot there but don't want to get caught.
Hey James email me!! Af1king845@yahoo.com. Trying to get a group together soon!
contact me on here if you want a tour
If anyone has questions on getting in or need a tour guide email me. schwingerryan6@gmail.com been here hundreds of time
No we were caught once and haven't been back since. I have no idea what they were thinking...they called for backup and wouldn't allow us to leave. We were respectful and they still wanted to prove a point. 3 cop cars came and none of them wanted anything to do with it. The MHP called their supervisor as backup and he insisted on pressing charges. I made the turn onto the main road by a gas station not sure what street that is and parked the car where there was a chained up gate. Put the flashers on and went under the fence. Didn't try to hide the car because we weren't causing damage or stealing. Yes all the hassle for trespassing. We live in the bronx and had to drive back up numerous times for court and to meet with a public defender/lawyers. The prosecutors did care...from the way they acted we committed 10 felonies. Looking back i guess it pays to be sneaky and run when approached lol sometimes honesty isn't the way to go!
Hey, BX1983, you got caught twice or are you talking about the last time in November? i'm curious to know what it is exactly the MHP? think they're doing when they catch you and force the reluctant police to file charges. you parked at the entrance around route 9? All that hassle for trespassing, what were the prosecutors like? did they even really care?
Sorry haven't been on this website in a while....to answer your questions...all 4 of us were arrested....The local cops did not want to take us in but the mental health security? insisted on pressing charges...not happy!! They caught us because we didn't try to hide and sneak it, we double parked the car at the entrance and left the flashers on lol. The cops told us some pretty creeped out stories on the way to the jail. As for what happened...they took us to the local jail...we sat there about 4 hours while they processed us all. We had to go to court 3 times and ended up paying fines of $300- $400 each. Be careful not to get caught!!
Oja- absolutely no offense taken, just pointing out the correct name. If you go, be very careful since it's not only illegal, but VERY DANGEROUS. Stay safe.
sorry if it appeared if i was calling anyone out. Jeanne, you gave me plenty of reason to believe that the Hillcrest that's up on the hill is the only Hillcrest standing and may be the only Hillcrest that ever stood seeing as how neither Kathy nor Wardy have responded to my evidence or inquiries. I haven't been up there in a few months because i've been so busy. Im gearing up for my last few trips though. I haven't really gotten a chance to explore Ryon Hall and the Kirkbride. Breaks my heart to know the place has fallen into such disrepair and every year that passes it's only getting worse. I want to see all that i can before it's too late. Sigh. Love this location.
Oja- (I think you mean Kathy nor Wardy?) I've been checking back too, and am disappointed also that after all of their postings stating that they were so sure about the Hillcrest location, (and how wrong they think I am) ever since I have given more than ample proof, they have not responded. I wish they would either supply some evidence, or just admit they made a mistake. I drove past the old place on my way to an Alumni meeting recently- seems to get worse and worse.
I'm a little disappointed that i haven't recieved a response from Jeanne nor Wardy in regards to this Hillcrest thing. i just wanna get this debate all sorted out because the longer i wait, the more i start to wonder about certain people and certain things.
Alright, thank you Jeanne, I'm looking at the map right now and the building looks like the one in the picture and I found it right where I suspected it would be. However, now I am confused by Wardy and Kathy's previous comments regarding its 'old' location. I need some clarification from them.
Kathy, you're saying the original Hillcrest was demolished. But in your book you described a 10-15 minute drive up the hill to Hillcrest. I'm looking at the map and you would have to head east along paint shop road to get up the hill and I don't see any other breaks along the road that would have accommodated a building that isn't there anymore.
Wardy, you're in contact with Kathy and you're describing a golf course on the north side of the kirkbride. The short female wing is on the north side and right beyond that are trees and then a big empty space and then more trees and then Albany Post Road. I'll need to skim through Kathy's book some more but it couldn't be on that north side because the road is really short and doesn't equate to a 10-15 min ride, more like a 2-5 minute ride...
I just need clarification, this Hillcrest thing is getting on my damn nerves. Wardy, what did you see that gave you proof and confirmation it was there?
Oja -That photo absolutely is Hillcrest at Hudson River. If you go to bingmaps.com and check out the bird's eye view on Ryan Drive between Ryan and Cheney Drive, you can clearly see the building and all of the details shown in the picture. Hillcrest is the first of the long buildings. This is the "upper campus". Kathy is mistaken that Hillcrest was on the Main Campus. There are also more postings of old photos of Hudson River State Hospital being added to the Alumni Website which is hrshnursesalumni.wordpress.com if anyone is interested.
Is this the Hillcrest school Kathy wrote about? pinterest.com
Thinking about going too. Want to do a photoshoot there, but I am really anxious in regards to the security.
HRSH is at the beginning of the film 'Greystone Park', shots of the kirkbride at the very beginning. This movie is on Netflix. They're supposed to be checking out Greystone but show HRSH.
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