Peaches State Hospital
This large state hospital was opened in December of 1842 and founded as a "lunatic, idiot, and epileptic asylum". The was the largest facility in its state and a contender to be the largest in the world (Pilgrim State Hospital, NY had it beat). The campus would eventually sit on over 2,000 acres of land and house more than 12,000 patients.
Treatment at the hospital was unique in that it was deemed as "institution as family". The superintendent of the hospital abolished restraints and ate with the staff and patients daily. He attempted to maintain the environment of an extended family feel. The hospital saw a similar life cycle of other institutions of its kind. By 2010, the order came to close the hospital due to declining patient numbers since the 1970's and 80's. The hospital would continue on, but more than half of the buildings were abandoned. Buildings in the back of the campus were converted to correctional facilities to see transfers from other local justice departments. What goes on at the hospital center today is relatively unknown. The entire complex is seemingly abandoned but various buildings are used by state agencies.
Read MoreTreatment at the hospital was unique in that it was deemed as "institution as family". The superintendent of the hospital abolished restraints and ate with the staff and patients daily. He attempted to maintain the environment of an extended family feel. The hospital saw a similar life cycle of other institutions of its kind. By 2010, the order came to close the hospital due to declining patient numbers since the 1970's and 80's. The hospital would continue on, but more than half of the buildings were abandoned. Buildings in the back of the campus were converted to correctional facilities to see transfers from other local justice departments. What goes on at the hospital center today is relatively unknown. The entire complex is seemingly abandoned but various buildings are used by state agencies.
