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384:"As I passed through some of Byberry's wards, I was reminded of the pictures of the Nazi concentration camps. I entered a building swarming with naked humans herded like cattle and treated with less concern, pervaded by a fetid odor so heavy, so nauseating, that the stench seemed to have almost a physical existence of its own."
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Westrum
Development purchased the property and hired Geppert Bros. Inc. to demolish the buildings. Delta B.J.D.S. Inc. was hired to remove hazardous materials such as lead paint, and asbestos. Abatement and demolition started with the "C" buildings, followed by the "W" buildings, and ended with the
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By 2003, the
Philadelphia State Hospital at Byberry site was a complete and utter ruin. Graffiti covered every buildings exterior and interior, every window was smashed, and anything flammable remaining when the hospital closed was in ashes. The residents of Somerton were now pressuring the City of
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During the 1960s, the hospital began a continuous downsizing that would end with its closure. During the mid-1980s, the hospital came under scrutiny when it was learned that violent criminals were being kept on the hospital's
Forensic Ward (N8-2A). In 1985, the hospital failed a state inspection,
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The teams most recently performing investigations described the conditions as "atrocious" and "irreversible." Though originally supposed to close in 1988, patient issues delayed the process. Most importantly, two released patients were found dead in the
Delaware River in two successive days after
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The buildings were not demolished at first because of asbestos poisoning concerns. Looters broke in several weeks after the closing and began to steal everything of value, especially copper piping and wiring. After the looters had removed everything of value, vandals trespassed on the grounds,
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The primary buildings were constructed between 1907 and the mid-1920s. Newer buildings were constructed between 1940 and 1953. The facility included over fifty buildings such as male and female dormitories, an infirmary, kitchens, laundry, administration, a chapel, and a morgue. The hospital's
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wandered the halls and the extensive underground network that connected each building though tunnel corridors. By 2000, Byberry saw an explosion of people visiting the abandoned hospital. The internet offered extremely exaggerated stories and legends, as well as tips on gaining access to the
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On June 14, 2006, a ceremony was held to celebrate the complete demolition of the former
Byberry hospital, and the future construction by Westrum Development of "The Arbours at Eagle Pointe" a 332-unit active adult club house community, featuring single homes, town, and carriage homes.
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located on either side of
Roosevelt Boulevard, US Route 1, in Northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was located in the Somerton section of the city on the border with Bucks County. The name of the institution was changed several times during its history, being variously named
401:". Another state inspection team was sent to evaluate the hospital in early 1987. By the summer of 1987, five of the Philadelphia State Hospital's top officials were promptly fired after the Byberry facility once again failed the state inspection.
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that mental illness was a disease and could be cured with proper treatment, but that the mentally diseased should be kept away from normal people until they were actually cured. Many of the original patients were transferred from
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Philadelphia to end the "Byberry
Problem" once and for all. The city responded by sealing the buildings up with plywood and changing security contractors. The boarded windows made it easier for trespassers to conceal themselves.
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The institution began as a small work farm for the mentally ill. Soon, plans were made to turn the farm into a cottage plan asylum. Construction began on the institution in 1906. It was established in 1907 as the
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The 36 black-and-white photos documented issues including dozens of naked men huddling together and human excrement lining facility hallways. The photos were shown to a number of people, including then-
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Several investigations into the conditions at the hospital at various points revealed that raw sewage lined the hallways, patients slept in the halls, and the staff mistreated and exploited patients.
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abandoned buildings while avoiding police and security. Satanists held ceremonies on the grounds, and amid reports of dead animals being found, the police were frequent visitors.
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Philadelphia State
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their release. The hospital officially closed in June 1990, with the remaining patients and staff transferred to
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Charlie Lord took covert photos of the institution and the conditions inside, while serving there as an orderly.
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population grew rapidly, quickly exceeding its capacity. The peak patient population was over 7,000 in 1960.
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were still rampant through the 1980s. One patient had reported that one of his teeth was pulled without "
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Italics indicates facilities no longer in operation as state psychiatric hospitals.
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Wanderer/Wonderer: Pop-Ups by
Colette Fu : October 14, 2016-February 26, 2017
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The hospital was turned over to the state in 1936 and was renamed the
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Abandoned Photography, Philadelphia State Hospital (Byberry)
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Demolished buildings and structures in Pennsylvania
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504:"WWII Pacifists Exposed Mental Ward Horrors"
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117:Learn how and when to remove this message
557:. National Museum of Women in the Arts.
66:"Philadelphia State Hospital at Byberry"
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129:Hospital in Pennsylvania, United States
350:Philadelphia State Hospital at Byberry
305:The hospital has been featured in the
272:Philadelphia State Hospital at Byberry
135:Philadelphia State Hospital at Byberry
859:Psychiatric hospitals in Pennsylvania
529:"To Be Seen | American Craft Council"
372:, creating a national "mass uproar".
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854:Hospital buildings completed in 1907
502:Joseph Shapiro (December 30, 2009).
478:pop-up books series by photographer
426:smashed windows, and started fires.
55:adding citations to reliable sources
889:1907 establishments in Pennsylvania
600:SCARED! Philadelphia State Hospital
553:Fu, Colette; Wasserman, Krystyna.
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879:Defunct hospitals in Pennsylvania
806:South Mountain Restoration Center
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527:Lovelace, Joyce (August 2015).
421:Period of abandonment 1990–2006
42:needs additional citations for
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864:Hospitals established in 1907
338:Philadelphia General Hospital
164:, Pennsylvania, United States
668:Pennsylvania State Hospitals
417:or local community centers.
281:Philadelphia State Hospital
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874:Landmarks in Philadelphia
869:Hospitals in Philadelphia
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405:Closing and abandonment
377:The Shame of the States
326:Byberry Mental Hospital
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590:Photographs of Byberry
533:American Craft Council
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354:conscientious objector
285:Byberry State Hospital
508:National Public Radio
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307:paranormal television
580:The Story of Byberry
476:Haunted Philadelphia
276:psychiatric hospital
222:Construction started
203:Psychiatric hospital
51:improve this article
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107:January 2011
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49:Please help
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766:Norristown
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486:References
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361:First Lady
291:, and the
246:Demolished
199:Speciality
180:Specialist
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