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Pennhurst State School: A True Horror Story
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Pennhurst State School: A True Horror Story

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Sitting on multiple acres of land in Pennsylvania lies the Pennhurst State School and Hospital.

After 79 years of controversy, it finally closed its doors for good on December 9, 1987.

On November 23, 1908, “Patient number 1” was admitted to the hospital. Within four years of operation, Pennhurst was already overcrowded and under pressure to admit immigrants, orphans, and criminals.

In 1981, a Time magazine article described the place as having “a history of being understaffed, dirty and violent.” In 1983, nine employees were indicted on charges ranging from slapping and beating patients (including some in wheelchairs) to arranging for patients to assault each other.

By the end of 2016, demolition had begun on some of the buildings on the upper campus.

In 2017, bookings for daytime history tours, photography tours, and overnight paranormal investigations became available through the haunted attraction’s website. Proceeds from the tours go towards the upkeep of the grounds and restoration of the remaining buildings.

By 2020, Hershey, Rockwell, and Dietary halls were all deemed unsafe for reuse. That March, demolition began and by November, all three buildings had been demolished.

This is just a very brief history of Pennhurst and just barely scratches the surface of the history and problems that the hospital had. I advise you to visit the Wikipedia page where this information came from.

All photos below are taken and copyrighted by Jasonbakerphotography and you can find more photos on IG under the same name.

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    The entrance of the Administration building

    Forgotten X-Rays lay scattered on the ground

    One of the many forgotten X-Rays

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    A Bed frame lays in a decaying ward

    Another ward with bed and stuffed animal

    A children’s room inside a ward

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    Lunch trays stacked and forgotten about

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    Jason Baker

    Jason Baker

    Author, Community member

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    Just a photographer documenting historical and abandoned buildings. Follow me on Instagram under: JasonBakerPhotography

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    Jason Baker

    Jason Baker

    Author, Community member

    Just a photographer documenting historical and abandoned buildings. Follow me on Instagram under: JasonBakerPhotography

    Diana Lopetaitė

    Diana Lopetaitė

    Moderator, BoredPanda staff

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    Hey there, Pandas! My name is Diana (though some prefer to refer to me as Diane, Deanna, and even Liana sometimes), and I am a Community Post Moderator Lead for Bored Panda. As my position title states, I am one of the people (employed Pandas for bamboo) over here who work with the community side of things on this website to ensure all is well, and while at that, I also help various creators and artists get recognition for the incredible work they do by connecting them to a large worldwide audience. Other than that, outside of work, you can find me brewing a nice cup of coffee, making a pizza from scratch, or baking brownies. I also love traveling, concerts, and cats (heavy on that, because I am a cat mom).

    Read less »

    Diana Lopetaitė

    Diana Lopetaitė

    Moderator, BoredPanda staff

    Hey there, Pandas! My name is Diana (though some prefer to refer to me as Diane, Deanna, and even Liana sometimes), and I am a Community Post Moderator Lead for Bored Panda. As my position title states, I am one of the people (employed Pandas for bamboo) over here who work with the community side of things on this website to ensure all is well, and while at that, I also help various creators and artists get recognition for the incredible work they do by connecting them to a large worldwide audience. Other than that, outside of work, you can find me brewing a nice cup of coffee, making a pizza from scratch, or baking brownies. I also love traveling, concerts, and cats (heavy on that, because I am a cat mom).

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    Leo Domitrix
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Pennhurst began as the Eastern Pennsylvania Institution for the Feeble-Minded & Epileptic. it's where people dumped children with medical issues, from Down's to autism (as we define it now) to various other ailments (CF, MD, etc.). Epilepsy was considered a mental illness and sign of inferior intellect. The same princple was followed in most US states.

    Leo Domitrix
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Pennhurst began as the Eastern Pennsylvania Institution for the Feeble-Minded & Epileptic. it's where people dumped children with medical issues, from Down's to autism (as we define it now) to various other ailments (CF, MD, etc.). Epilepsy was considered a mental illness and sign of inferior intellect. The same princple was followed in most US states.

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