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− | | established = Sept 29, 1938 ( | + | | established = Sept 29, 1938 (As a PA State Hospital) |
− | | construction_began = | + | | construction_began = 1906 |
| construction_ended = 1956 | | construction_ended = 1956 | ||
− | | opened = | + | | opened = 1907 |
− | | closed = June | + | | closed = June 1990 |
− | | demolished = | + | | demolished = 2006 |
| current_status = [[Demolished Institution|Demolished]] | | current_status = [[Demolished Institution|Demolished]] | ||
| building_style = [[Cottage Planned Institutions|Cottage Plan]] | | building_style = [[Cottage Planned Institutions|Cottage Plan]] | ||
| architect(s) = <br> | | architect(s) = <br> | ||
− | * Philip H. Johnson | + | *Philip H. Johnson |
− | * George W. Pepper Jr. (N6 & N7 Senile Wards; N3 Active Therapy) | + | *George W. Pepper Jr. (N6 & N7 Senile Wards; N3 Active Therapy) |
− | * H. J. Kuljian & Co. (N5 Dietary/Kitchen) | + | *H. J. Kuljian & Co. (N5 Dietary/Kitchen) |
− | * Howell Lewis Shay (N9 Maxium Security Male) | + | *Howell Lewis Shay (N9 Maxium Security Male) |
− | * Stopper & Lichty (N8 Maxium Security Female) | + | *Stopper & Lichty (N8 Maxium Security Female) |
− | * Davis and Poole (N10 Tubercular) | + | *Davis and Poole (N10 Tubercular) |
− | * Nolen & Swinburne (Furey Ellis Hall/Auditorium) | + | *Nolen & Swinburne (Furey Ellis Hall/Auditorium) |
− | | location = | + | | location = Philadelphia, PA |
| architecture_style = | | architecture_style = | ||
− | | peak_patient_population = Over | + | | peak_patient_population = Over 7,000 in 1960 |
| alternate_names =<br> | | alternate_names =<br> | ||
*Byberry State Hospital | *Byberry State Hospital | ||
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*Philadelphia Hospital for Mental Diseases | *Philadelphia Hospital for Mental Diseases | ||
}} | }} | ||
− | + | '''Philadelphia State Hospital at Byberry''' was a psychiatric hospital in Northeast Philadelphia, first city and later state-owned. During its tenure as a hospital it was known by several names- ''Philadelphia State Hospital'', ''Byberry State Hospital'', ''Byberry City Farms'', and the ''Philadelphia Hospital for Mental Diseases''. However, most of the local population referred to it simply as "Byberry". Like many state facilities of the period, it was designated to care for individuals with various cognitive and psychiatric conditions, ranging from intellectual disabilities to forensic pathologies. When operational, it was located within the Somerton neighborhood of Northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Byberry stood in operation from 1903 until 1990, when it became nationally infamous for the abuse and neglect exhibited towards patients. At its zenith, it was the largest state hospital in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and held a clinical population of over seven thousand patients. | |
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− | '''Philadelphia State Hospital at Byberry''' | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
− | === Origins as a | + | === Origins as a Private Facility === |
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− | + | In 1903, the City of Philadelphia purchased farmland in the northeast section of the county, in a rural district then known as Byberry, There, as a measure of expanding the public welfare, they established a city-funded farm, known simply as "Byberry Farms". This facility was intended to supply food for other public institutions in the city, such as Eastern State Penitentiary and [[Philadelphia Almshouse]] (then known as Old Blockley). Shortly after the purchase of the land, six inmates from the overcrowded Blockley Almshouse in the city were chosen to work at the agricultural facility. By 1906, Byberry Farms had expanded, and consisted of several small wooden buildings built as temporary dormitories by the growing patient population. The site housed approximately thirty patients, all of whom had been moved from the heavily overcrowded wards of Old Blockley, to the rural atmosphere of Northeast Philadelphia. The city and general public promoted this notion, of sending some of the local "undesirables" out of site into an agrarian atmosphere. State Officials also promoted the placement of these individual's out of the public's peripheral vision. Byberry Farms was selected as the new site of the "Philadelphia Hospital for Mental Diseases" shortly after its founding. Before the hospital's public opening in 1907, the first officially accepted patient was William McClain whom was admitted for alcoholism. | |
− | + | The selection of the site of Byberry as a campus had nothing to do with its association to Dr. [[Benjamin Rush]], the father of American Psychiatry, who was born and resided in Byberry Township. The historic homestead that belonged to his family is still standing, and was adjacent to the hospital proper. | |
− | + | [[image:ByBerry TitleBar2.jpg|300px|left]] | |
− | + | A contract was awarded to architect Philip H. Johnson in 1904, to design the original buildings of the hospital, in a cottage plan layout, with a colonial revival style. Construction became a slow process, as it commenced in 1907, and was not fully complete until the late 1920's. Plans for the east campus (male group) consisted of six dormitory buildings, an infirmary, a laundry building, an administrative building and a combination kitchen/dining hall and power-plant. The utilitarian and banal structure of the power-plant was the centerpiece of the campus and the first officially constructed building. The east campus, which held the "incurable" males, was largely completed in 1912. Following the partial completion of the east campus, construction for the west campus began in 1913. Like its parallel on the east campus, the west campus was designated to the "incurable" females patients of Philadelphia. These buildings were more architecturally ornate and consisted of ten identical dormitory buildings, a dining hall/refectory building, two buildings for the treatment of tuberculous, a laundry building, an administrative building, and a medical infirmary. Unlike the east campus, the west campus had above ground patient hallways with large illuminating windows, connecting all of the buildings on campus. | |
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− | A contract was awarded to architect Philip H. Johnson in 1904, to design the original buildings of the hospital, in a cottage plan layout, | ||
With the start of World War I, construction was halted until the final armistice of the German Empire in 1919. When work resumed on the west campuses power plant, which unlike the east campus, was built at a distance from the campus it served. Construction fully resumed on both east and west campuses in 1922, and was completed by 1928. Heavy criticism of the hospital's condition led to the construction of an additional medical infirmary, exclusively for female patients, as the last of the original buildings on west campus, being completed in 1935. | With the start of World War I, construction was halted until the final armistice of the German Empire in 1919. When work resumed on the west campuses power plant, which unlike the east campus, was built at a distance from the campus it served. Construction fully resumed on both east and west campuses in 1922, and was completed by 1928. Heavy criticism of the hospital's condition led to the construction of an additional medical infirmary, exclusively for female patients, as the last of the original buildings on west campus, being completed in 1935. | ||
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[[File:PSHphoto1.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Civilian Public Service Unit Number 049-01]] | [[File:PSHphoto1.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Civilian Public Service Unit Number 049-01]] | ||
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=== Expansion and Decline === | === Expansion and Decline === | ||
− | + | Still undergoing an enormous expansion, in 1946 the new kitchen/dietary building, N5, was opened. The following year S2 (twin to the S1 building), a building for working patients, was completed. By the 1950s though, its original purpose was almost forgotten and the building was converted into a regular patient dormitory to keep up with overcrowding. In 1948 ground was broken for a new building called N3, the Active Therapy Building, which was the first actual step towards aggressively treating patients who needed it the most. | |
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+ | In 1950 The Active Therapy Building was completed and opened. One half of it consisted of typical patient dormitories and day rooms, while the other half was filled with lab equipment, a staff library, an auditorium, a large and efficient mortuary and autopsy department, and a training center. The same year ground was broken for the new tuberculosis building N10, but the architect George Pepper died in 1949. Even though Pepper had already completed layout, the state contracted out the remaining buildings to various firms which resulted in subtle differences between buildings N8, N9, and N10. The new tuberculosis building, also known as N10, was opened in 1951. This was the largest building, housing its own full sized cafeterias and kitchens, plus a dental office, x-ray rooms and an ER. Ironically, seven years later, medical science found a cure for TB. N10s original purpose was no longer being needed, it became the medical/surgical building. | ||
A change in the 1950's that occurred due to state control was a re-designation of the building titles. The north campus was split into the north and west groups; N3, N5, N6, and N7 were changed to W3, W5, W6 and W7. The female buildings were now classified as the C buildings or "Central Group", as they were located between the south and north groups. The south and east groups were renamed to the first letter of the group, so the east group was now the E buildings and the south group was now called the S buildings. | A change in the 1950's that occurred due to state control was a re-designation of the building titles. The north campus was split into the north and west groups; N3, N5, N6, and N7 were changed to W3, W5, W6 and W7. The female buildings were now classified as the C buildings or "Central Group", as they were located between the south and north groups. The south and east groups were renamed to the first letter of the group, so the east group was now the E buildings and the south group was now called the S buildings. | ||
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The children's unit was demolished and the children were transferred to the C4 and C5 buildings. With the rise of transportation the staff buildings were no longer needed and the south unit buildings were demolished by the 1970s. With a small amount of remaining staff who still chose the option to live on the grounds, W7 was re-designated, bricked off from the connecting tunnels, and turned into staff housing as well as staff offices and make-shift lounges. | The children's unit was demolished and the children were transferred to the C4 and C5 buildings. With the rise of transportation the staff buildings were no longer needed and the south unit buildings were demolished by the 1970s. With a small amount of remaining staff who still chose the option to live on the grounds, W7 was re-designated, bricked off from the connecting tunnels, and turned into staff housing as well as staff offices and make-shift lounges. | ||
− | With the beginning of | + | With the beginning of de-institutionalization, Byberry began its downsizing process in 1962, releasing almost 2,000 patients to mental health centers, other hospitals and the streets between 1962 and 1972. The E buildings began transferring their patients to the north and west groups in 1954, and were completely closed off by 1964. Significantly dropping funds forced the hospital to stop accepting admissions and continue transferring patients to other facilities in the mid 1970s. In the early 1980s the C buildings became mostly vacant, and administration was moved to the W3 building. The last remaining forensic patients were housed in N8 after it received a thorough interior makeover in 1985. |
With the hospital being completely understaffed, many patients were neglected and abused. The lack of help had increasingly allowed many patients to escape, as well as to be raped, murdered and allowed to commit suicide. In 1987 Governor Bob Casey had the hospital thoroughly searched and observed. The conditions that he discovered made headlines around the country. | With the hospital being completely understaffed, many patients were neglected and abused. The lack of help had increasingly allowed many patients to escape, as well as to be raped, murdered and allowed to commit suicide. In 1987 Governor Bob Casey had the hospital thoroughly searched and observed. The conditions that he discovered made headlines around the country. | ||
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[[File:PSHphoto2.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Byberry in 1993]] | [[File:PSHphoto2.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Byberry in 1993]] | ||
− | Casey placed a gubernatorial order that the hospital should be closed immediately | + | Casey placed a gubernatorial order that the hospital should be closed immediately. Closure was done in several phases, building by building, until there were only five patients left. The last building closed at Philadelphia State was N8, which housed the last patients, who were released by June of 1990. Hospital Administrators had transferred 79% of their clinical population to other state facilites, such as [[Norristown State Hospital]] and [[Haverford State Hospital]]; however, over 2,500 patients were let out onto the streets of Philadelphia to fend for their own welfare, where many of them remain. In the wake of the closure of such a large facility, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania also developed a number of community outpatient clinics for the psychiatric care of the poor in the city. Thse clinics are still operational, and remain exclusively county funded. They are: Interac CMHMR (BSU# 6A), Northwestern Human Services (BSU# 6B), WES Health Center (BSU #6C), PATH CMHMR(BSU# 7B), Community Council MHMR (BSU# 4), Northwest CMHMR (BSU# 7A), COHMAR (BSU#), John F. Kennedy CMHMR (BSU#1), [[Hall-Mercer]] CMHMR (BSU# 2A), CATCH CMHMR (BSU# 2B), Consortium CMHMR (BSU# 3), WES Health Center (BSU# 5A), and Northwestern Human Services (BSU# 7C). |
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[[File:PSHphoto3.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Old Philadelphia State Hospital Sign]] | [[File:PSHphoto3.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Old Philadelphia State Hospital Sign]] | ||
− | In the fall of 1991, demolition started with the | + | In the fall of 1991, demolition started with the E buildings, most of their materials had been stripped away prior, and they were shells of former aesthetic glory. One of the earlier 20th century buildings was salvaged and refurbished, Building E6, which still stands today housing an outpatient drug rehabilitation clinic. The calculated removal and cleanup of the former state hospital amounted to somewhere between $13-16 million, not including demolition. For the following decade of demolition the commonwealth decided to leave a number of buildings standing, and hired additional security to watch the grounds from potential vandals. In 1997, the warehouses were demolished, followed by C6 and C12 in 2000, and the laundry building in 2004. |
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+ | In March of 2006, the Westrum Development Corporation purchased the remaining 106-acre Byberry site. They were pressured from Somerton residents, as well as the city, to end the "Byberry problem". Westrum moved quickly. By June 7th, there was a chain link fence surrounding the tattered ruins of the property. A week later, truckloads of trees and other natural growth clinging to the buildings was removed, and discarded. On Wednesday, June 14th 2006, a celebration was held in front of C-7 Building. This was the long overdue ending and renovation of the familiar local "eyesore" that Byberry had become. The ceremony consisted of knocking over the overgrown Philadelphia State Hospital sign, a symbol of the sites former activity. In attendance were: Governor Edward Rendell, Mayor John Street, J. Westrum (CEO), and J. Sweeny, CEO of Brandywine Realty Trust, the developers of the new buildings to be built on site. <ref>http://www.opacity.us/site10_philadelphia_state_hospital_byberry.htm</ref> <ref>http://theduke81.tripod.com/index.html</ref> | ||
== List of Superintendents of Philadelphia State Hospital == | == List of Superintendents of Philadelphia State Hospital == | ||
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== Images of Philadelphia State Hospital == | == Images of Philadelphia State Hospital == | ||
{{image gallery|[[Philadelphia State Hospital Image Gallery|Philadelphia State Hospital]]}} | {{image gallery|[[Philadelphia State Hospital Image Gallery|Philadelphia State Hospital]]}} | ||
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<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
File:PSH HIST 33.jpg | File:PSH HIST 33.jpg | ||
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</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
+ | == Related Facilities == | ||
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+ | '''State-owned Facilities''' | ||
+ | *[[Norristown State Hospital]] | ||
+ | *[[Haverford State Hospital]] | ||
+ | *[[Philadelphia Almshouse]] | ||
+ | *[[Pennhurst State School and Hospital]] | ||
+ | *[[Embreeville State Hospital]] | ||
+ | '''Private Facilities''' | ||
+ | *[[Friends Hospital]] | ||
+ | *[[Pennsylvania Hospital]] | ||
− | == | + | == Publications == |
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− | * | + | *The Byberry I-W unit story: Philadelphia State Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Dorcas Weaver Herr |
+ | *The Shame that was Byberry, by William Ecenbarger | ||
− | + | == Videos and Brief Films == | |
− | + | This is an old bata tape video found in the hospital of the staff discussing various patients. | |
+ | <youtube v="sChEOis7dig" /> | ||
+ | The following is a forty minute video about the closing of Philadelphia State Hospital. | ||
+ | </br>Part 1 | ||
+ | <youtube v="qJ3_hXLp4v0" /> | ||
+ | Part 2 | ||
+ | <youtube v="fi-mCwkbQfw" /> | ||
− | + | This is a documentary and a bit of a walk through of the campus. | |
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− | + | <googlevideo>8563621146994532890</googlevideo> | |
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− | + | == News Articles about Philadelphia State Hospital == | |
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*[http://www.asylumprojects.org/Byberry_By-line.pdf Philadelphia State Hospital in house magazine: April 1950] | *[http://www.asylumprojects.org/Byberry_By-line.pdf Philadelphia State Hospital in house magazine: April 1950] | ||
*An Expose done on the hospital by The Oakland Tribune in the Sunday, November 10, 1968 Edition [http://www.asylumprojects.org/BSH%20Why%20is%20this%20woman%20tied%20up%20page%201.pdf Page 1], [http://www.asylumprojects.org/BSH%20Why%20is%20the%20woman%20tied%20up%20page%202.pdf Page 2], [http://www.asylumprojects.org/BSH%20Why%20is%20the%20woman%20tied%20up%20page%203.pdf Page 3], [http://www.asylumprojects.org/BSH%20Why%20is%20the%20woman%20tied%20up%20page%204.pdf Page 4] | *An Expose done on the hospital by The Oakland Tribune in the Sunday, November 10, 1968 Edition [http://www.asylumprojects.org/BSH%20Why%20is%20this%20woman%20tied%20up%20page%201.pdf Page 1], [http://www.asylumprojects.org/BSH%20Why%20is%20the%20woman%20tied%20up%20page%202.pdf Page 2], [http://www.asylumprojects.org/BSH%20Why%20is%20the%20woman%20tied%20up%20page%203.pdf Page 3], [http://www.asylumprojects.org/BSH%20Why%20is%20the%20woman%20tied%20up%20page%204.pdf Page 4] | ||
− | *[[December 2009 News Archive|WWII Pacifists Exposed Mental Ward Horrors]], December 30, | + | *[http://www.asylumprojects.org/PSH%20closing.jpg An article on the closure of this hospital by the The Daily Intelligencer in their Tuesday, December 08, 1987] |
− | + | *[[December 2009 News Archive|WWII Pacifists Exposed Mental Ward Horrors]], December 30, 2009 | |
+ | == Additional Information & Links == | ||
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*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia_State_Hospital Wikipedia on Byberry Hospital] | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia_State_Hospital Wikipedia on Byberry Hospital] | ||
+ | *[http://www.abandonedbutnotforgotten.com/byberry.htm Dedicated Website to Byberrt] | ||
*[http://www.opacity.us/site10_philadelphia_state_hospital_byberry.htm Opacity Photos of the Hospital] | *[http://www.opacity.us/site10_philadelphia_state_hospital_byberry.htm Opacity Photos of the Hospital] | ||
*[http://www.historicaerials.com/?poi=9065 See Philadelphia State Hospital at HistoricAerials.com] | *[http://www.historicaerials.com/?poi=9065 See Philadelphia State Hospital at HistoricAerials.com] | ||
− | *[http://theduke81.tripod.com/ The Story of Byberry | + | *[http://theduke81.tripod.com/ The Story of Byberry Hosptial] |
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== References == | == References == | ||
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[[Category:Pennsylvania]] | [[Category:Pennsylvania]] | ||
[[Category:Cottage Plan]] | [[Category:Cottage Plan]] | ||
− | [[Category: | + | [[Category:Closed Institution]] |
[[Category:Asylum Books]] | [[Category:Asylum Books]] | ||
[[Category:Articles With Videos]] | [[Category:Articles With Videos]] | ||
[[Category:Past Featured Article Of The Week]] | [[Category:Past Featured Article Of The Week]] | ||
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