Difference between revisions of "Embreeville State Hospital"
(→Images of Embreeville State Hospital: added another image) |
HerbiePocket (talk | contribs) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{infobox institution | {{infobox institution | ||
| name = Embreeville State Hospital | | name = Embreeville State Hospital | ||
| − | | image = | + | | image = embreeville.jpg |
| image_size = 250px | | image_size = 250px | ||
| alt = | | alt = | ||
| caption = | | caption = | ||
| established = Sept 29, 1938 (As a PA State Hospital) | | established = Sept 29, 1938 (As a PA State Hospital) | ||
| − | | construction_began = | + | | construction_began = 1898 |
| construction_ended = | | construction_ended = | ||
| − | | opened = | + | | opened = 1938 |
| closed = 1980 | | closed = 1980 | ||
| demolished = | | demolished = | ||
| Line 14: | Line 14: | ||
| building_style = [[Cottage Planned Institutions|Cottage Plan]] | | building_style = [[Cottage Planned Institutions|Cottage Plan]] | ||
| architect(s) = | | architect(s) = | ||
| − | | location = | + | | location = 1818 Strasburg Road, West Bradford, PA |
| architecture_style = | | architecture_style = | ||
| peak_patient_population = 300 in 1947 | | peak_patient_population = 300 in 1947 | ||
| Line 23: | Line 23: | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | ==History== | + | == History == |
| − | This | + | |
| + | === Original Function === | ||
| + | |||
| + | This facility stated out as the Chester County Almshouse in 1800, and was intended to care for the insane poor and neglected of the county. The commonwealth would later want counties to construct independent facilities that could provide care for the indigent insane and, beginning in 1898, work began on land where the "new" poorhouse would be located. This new site would accommodate the growing need of the destitute in the areas. By 1900, patients from Norristown State Hospital were relocated to the new Embreeville asylum, which was functioning as a semi-autonmous hospital. Over time, additional modern buildings were constructed to house a growing mentally ill population. It was offically acquired by the state from Chester County in 1914. | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | === As a State Hospital === | ||
| + | |||
| + | On September 29, 1938 the commonwealth took total control of the facility as part of their new state-wide legislation, known as the "Full State Care Act". The legislature (Act #53) assumed responsibility for eight of the thirteen existing county public mental hospitals, the other five hospitals were closed. This same piece of legislation would transform sites like Philadelphia City Farms into [[Philadelphia State Hospital]]. It was designated that Embreeville would serve Lancaster and Chester County in Pennsylvania as part of their catchment area. Embreeville was cited by the [[American Psychiatric Association]] as one of three "model hospitals" in the country. Dr. Arthur Hecker, the hospital superintendent, upon hearing this honor stated "We're naturally quite proud to be so honored by our peers... but we're even more pleased about a fact that helped make it possible. We have 100 percent turnover of beds each year." | ||
| + | |||
| + | In 1971, a juvenile detention center was place within a few buildings at the hospital site for six years, before finally moving on to better physical accommodations. By 1979, the total statewide state hospital census was reduced to 10,573 patients, and resulted in the closure of several smaller state hospitals. Embreeville was the second sate facility in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to close its doors, in 1980, following that of [[Hollidaysburg State Hospital]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Fate of the Property == | ||
| + | |||
| + | For the better part of the three decades the site of Embreeville stood abandoned, and the physical site slowly deteriorated because of the commonwealth's neglect. As of December 2012, Hellings Holdings LLC was awarded the 225-acre former hospital property in for an asking price of $950,000. According to the developer, plans for the land include residential development with some commercial zoning. However, because of the property’s location, commercial development plans call for certain necessary amenities. | ||
| Line 41: | Line 55: | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
| + | == Related Links == | ||
| + | *[http://www.dailylocal.com/article/20121220/NEWS01/121229928/developer-wins-bid-for-embreeville-property Developer wins bid for Embreeville property] | ||
| + | * http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pennsylvanias-embreeville-state-school-and-hospital-property-chester-county-now-up-for-public-bid-164479826.html Pennsylvania's Embreeville State School and Hospital Property, Chester County Now Up for Public Bid] | ||
| + | *[http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/blog/natalie-kostelni/2012/08/pennsylvania-selling-former-hospital.html Pennsylvania selling former ‘Hospital for the Insane’ in Chesco] | ||
| + | *http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2202&dat=19680821&id=xTkmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cP4FAAAAIBAJ&pg=839,1053060 EMbreeville Hospital cited as a model hospital for mental health care] | ||
Revision as of 10:18, 25 January 2013
| Embreeville State Hospital | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Established | Sept 29, 1938 (As a PA State Hospital) |
| Construction Began | 1898 |
| Opened | 1938 |
| Closed | 1980 |
| Current Status | Closed |
| Building Style | Cottage Plan |
| Location | 1818 Strasburg Road, West Bradford, PA |
| Peak Patient Population | 300 in 1947 |
| Alternate Names |
|
Contents
History
Original Function
This facility stated out as the Chester County Almshouse in 1800, and was intended to care for the insane poor and neglected of the county. The commonwealth would later want counties to construct independent facilities that could provide care for the indigent insane and, beginning in 1898, work began on land where the "new" poorhouse would be located. This new site would accommodate the growing need of the destitute in the areas. By 1900, patients from Norristown State Hospital were relocated to the new Embreeville asylum, which was functioning as a semi-autonmous hospital. Over time, additional modern buildings were constructed to house a growing mentally ill population. It was offically acquired by the state from Chester County in 1914.
As a State Hospital
On September 29, 1938 the commonwealth took total control of the facility as part of their new state-wide legislation, known as the "Full State Care Act". The legislature (Act #53) assumed responsibility for eight of the thirteen existing county public mental hospitals, the other five hospitals were closed. This same piece of legislation would transform sites like Philadelphia City Farms into Philadelphia State Hospital. It was designated that Embreeville would serve Lancaster and Chester County in Pennsylvania as part of their catchment area. Embreeville was cited by the American Psychiatric Association as one of three "model hospitals" in the country. Dr. Arthur Hecker, the hospital superintendent, upon hearing this honor stated "We're naturally quite proud to be so honored by our peers... but we're even more pleased about a fact that helped make it possible. We have 100 percent turnover of beds each year."
In 1971, a juvenile detention center was place within a few buildings at the hospital site for six years, before finally moving on to better physical accommodations. By 1979, the total statewide state hospital census was reduced to 10,573 patients, and resulted in the closure of several smaller state hospitals. Embreeville was the second sate facility in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to close its doors, in 1980, following that of Hollidaysburg State Hospital.
Fate of the Property
For the better part of the three decades the site of Embreeville stood abandoned, and the physical site slowly deteriorated because of the commonwealth's neglect. As of December 2012, Hellings Holdings LLC was awarded the 225-acre former hospital property in for an asking price of $950,000. According to the developer, plans for the land include residential development with some commercial zoning. However, because of the property’s location, commercial development plans call for certain necessary amenities.
Images of Embreeville State Hospital
Main Image Gallery: Embreeville State Hospital
Related Links
- Developer wins bid for Embreeville property
- http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pennsylvanias-embreeville-state-school-and-hospital-property-chester-county-now-up-for-public-bid-164479826.html Pennsylvania's Embreeville State School and Hospital Property, Chester County Now Up for Public Bid]
- Pennsylvania selling former ‘Hospital for the Insane’ in Chesco
- http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2202&dat=19680821&id=xTkmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cP4FAAAAIBAJ&pg=839,1053060 EMbreeville Hospital cited as a model hospital for mental health care]
