Nutmeg State Hospital
The "Nutmeg State Hospital" was established in its New England town in 1929 and officially opened its doors to patients in 1931. Its initial intent was to help eliminate overcrowding in two already long established state hospitals nearby. The campus was constructed in a cottage style with colonial red brick architecture. The campus consisted of 16 buildings spread across 100 acres of land. Surrounding the 100 acres of buildings were 670 acres of farmland and forest owned by the state hospital.
In its early years, the hospital had a census of about 500 patients and 3 doctors. By the 1960's, the hospital housed an average of 4,000 patients with 20 doctors on staff. It was not until the year 1941 that the hospital began admitting patients from the community. Before then, all patients were transfers from other state hospitals. The hospital operated as normal up until the period of deinstitutionalization. By 1995, the state closed down the "Nutmeg State Hospital" along with another large state hospital nearby. The campus sat abandoned until the town purchased the property from the state in 2004. The underground tunnel network was sealed off in 2009 as the town began to re-develop the campus. Many buildings are now used for official business for the town.
Read MoreIn its early years, the hospital had a census of about 500 patients and 3 doctors. By the 1960's, the hospital housed an average of 4,000 patients with 20 doctors on staff. It was not until the year 1941 that the hospital began admitting patients from the community. Before then, all patients were transfers from other state hospitals. The hospital operated as normal up until the period of deinstitutionalization. By 1995, the state closed down the "Nutmeg State Hospital" along with another large state hospital nearby. The campus sat abandoned until the town purchased the property from the state in 2004. The underground tunnel network was sealed off in 2009 as the town began to re-develop the campus. Many buildings are now used for official business for the town.
