Danvers a raging fire reduced four unfinished apartment buildings to rubble at the site of the former danvers state hospital early yesterday. Danvers, mass 4th alarm fire old danvers state hospital. The former state lunatic hospital at danvers better known as danvers state hospital in danvers, massachusetts suffered a major fire last night. Danvers state hospital was a longtime home for the mentally ill, with a history of lobotomies, electric shock treatments and bodies buried in unmarked graves. Orders were to walk or drive the property, report for fires. The fire adds another chapter to the propertys infamous history. Danvers state hospital formerly danvers state lunatic asylum was a kirkbridestyle psychiatric hospital built in 1874 on what was then an isolated site in rural massachusetts. Former staff danvers state hospital photo 5 massive fire at. Brush, cane, driftwood, and forestry debris from other than continued. Fire at danvers state hospital had tremendous head start.
Fire burned 8 townhouse building that were under construction. It was designed to be selfcontained and somewhat selfsufficient in wintertime, thanks to its own steam power plant at the bottom of the hill. Flames shot 400 feet into the air, which could be seen for miles. In 1878, the danvers state hospital opened its doors. At that time it was the second psychiatric internment center in massachusetts, but due to its large plot of land, 154 acres, it soon became the. The hill is a 257feethigh glacial drumlin located in danvers, which was originally known as salem village until its official name change in 1752. Taunton was built in 1854 and was originally named state lunatic hospital at taunton. On january 12, 1833, the old worcester insane asylum opened, and was the first of its kind constructed in the state of massachusetts. The following hour and eighteen minute long video was shot in 1992 during the closing of danvers state hospital. After much demolition, a large fire the cause of which was never.
In 1941, the telegraph newspaper reported that a large fire broke out in one of the. The death of sarah eustace in danvers state hospital. Danvers is a town in essex county, massachusetts, united states. Danvers state insane asylum in massachusetts luxury living. Sep 19, 2012 danvers state hospital was one of many hospitals built in massachusetts during the industrial revolution danvers state hospital was a psychiatric hospital built in 1874 on hathorne hill, where the salem witch trials judge john hathorne once lived. April 7, 2007 danvers, mass 4th alarm fire at the old danvers state hospital property. Fire at danvers state hospital had tremendous head start danvers a raging fire reduced four unfinished apartment buildings to rubble at the site of the former danvers state hospital early. Things changed in the 1920s and that horrible period formed the ghosts we know today. Town of danvers for the most uptodate information on the coronavirus please click here.
The danvers state hospital, also known as the state lunatic hospital at danvers, the danvers lunatic asylum, and the danvers state insane asylum, was a psychiatric hospital located in danvers, massachusetts. Danvers state hospital continued to operate until the entire facility closed in june of 1992. History of danvers state hospital history of massachusetts. A fouralarm fire ravages the old danvers state hospital proverty on route 1 early this morning. At that time it was the second psychiatric internment center in massachusetts, but due to its large plot of land, 154 acres, it soon became the central facility for much of the midwest. In 1941, the telegraph newspaper reported that a large fire broke out in. With a permit, burning of the following materials is allowed. The hospital was used as a filming location for the movie session 9 2001. The complete history and architecture of the danvers state hospital, danvers state insane asylum, the state lunatic hospital at danvers, danvers insane hospital including nathaniel j. Twentyfourth annual report of the trustees of the danvers insane hospital. Danvers is a town and censusdesignated place in essex county, massachusetts, united states, located on the danvers river near the northeastern coast of massachusetts.
The danvers state hospital, also known as the state lunatic hospital at danvers, the danvers lunatic asylum, and the danvers state insane asylum, was a. Built in the 1880s, it served the noble purpose of helping mentally ill children. Taunton state hospital the place where evil is hiding. Danvers archival center a brief guide establishment the danvers archival center is a department of the peabody institute library of danvers, massachusetts. Danvers state hospital wikimili, the free encyclopedia. Danvers is a town in essex county, massachusetts, united states, located on the danvers river near the northeastern coast of massachusetts. Katherine anderson and robert duffy have spent the past decade documenting asylums in both print and media, working to continue the legacy of dr. While it was built with a surprisingly caring and modern attitude. Jul 12, 20 former staff danvers state hospital photo 5 massive fire at former danvers state hospital. Danvers state hospital was one of many hospitals built in massachusetts during the industrial revolution danvers state hospital was a psychiatric hospital built in 1874 on hathorne hill, where the salem witch trials judge john hathorne once lived the hill is a 257feethigh glacial drumlin located in danvers, which was originally known as salem village until its official name change in 1752. The fire remains under investigation by danvers fire lt. Danvers state hospital danvers state insane asylum dsh. Overall the danvers state hospital cemetery felt sad rather than scary, and its good to see that the site is not neglected.
Avalon danvers apartments nee danvers state hospital. We did visit on a sunny summer day, though, so im sure if we had gone on gloomy day in november our experience would have been different. Dec 10, 2019 the danvers state hospital, also known as the state lunatic hospital at danvers, the danvers lunatic asylum, and the danvers state insane asylum, was a psychiatric hospital located in danvers, massachusetts. Danvers state mental hospital was built by prominent architect. Danvers state hospital hauntings ghostly activities. Bradlee, it is a handsome and intact implementation of the nationally recognized kirkbride plan. Bradlee, superintendents, image galleries, time lines, videos historic images maps, floor plans, patient artwork, records, files. The danvers state hospital had been a mysterious place for many years. Bradlee, superintendents, image galleries, time lines, videos historic. Like all kirkbride asylums, it was famous for its gothic architecture and its use of now outdated medical techniques to treat insanity. Chronicles danvers state hospital danvers state insane. Located on the danvers river near the northeastern coast of massachusetts, danvers is most widely known for its association with the 1692 salem witch trials, and for its famous asylum, the danvers state hospital. Summer job 2000, security at the abandoned psychiatric kirkbride hospital in danvers.
Fire destroys danvers state apartments danvers state hospital. During construction, a mysterious fire, seen as far away as boston 17 miles. The area where the fire was set was on a hardwood floor, buckled in many areas by water, snow and ice. The buildings, currently undergoing renovations, were empty. Fire destroys danvers state apartments danvers state. Originally known as salem village, the town is most widely known for its association with the 1692 salem witch trials, and for the danvers state hospital, one of the state s 19th century psychiatric hospitals. Four juveniles face charges for starting danvers house fire. On april 7, 2007, four of the apartment complex buildings and four of avalon bays construction trailers burned down in a large fire visible from boston, nearly 17 mi. Danvers state hospital was one of many hospitals built in. A permit from the danvers fire department is required previous to any open burning.
It was part of the countrywide concept at least in the late 1800s that people with psychological problems needed to be cured inside specially made facilities. Danvers and middleton have among the highest rates of confirmed covid19 cases in the state, but officials in those communities caution that the numbers are skewed by high infection rates in group facilities, including nursing homes and the middleton jail. This is the official page of the danvers fire department. The property underwent renovations in 2007 to turn it into apartments, but a fire broke out and damaged much of the construction. Danvers state hospital was one of the most notorious asylums during its time. Danvers state hospital an abandoned psychiatric hospital.
State police evacuated residents living in new apartments on the property as a precaution and closed nearby route 1. Construction faced delays in 2007 when a mysterious fire broke out and. It was built in 1874, and opened in 1878, under the supervision of prominent boston architect nathaniel jeremiah bradlee, on an isolated site in rural massachusetts. Emergencies occurring in realtime should always be reported to our 911 dispatch center.
The peabody institute library is the towns public library, established in the midnineteenth century through the philanthropy of native son george peabody 17951869. Danvers firefighter extinguish fire in extremely unstable. Chronicles danvers state hospital danvers state insane asylum. Condominiums and apartments at former mental hospital burn to the. Photos are the property of northeast firenews and the respective photographers and may not be used on any other website or publication without expressed consent. Danvers fire department, 64 high street, danvers, ma 2020. Open burning season is from january 15 through may 1 in communities where is it allowed.
Danvers firefighters iaff local 2038 is a 100% fulltime, career department of 51. Danvers state hospital opened in 1878 as a mental health hospital, serving some 600 patients under its imposing gothic spires. Kirkbride style building present, this building was mothballed and reopened in stages several times throughout its lifespan before being completely closed in 1992. The idea of the archival center evolved from a 1970. The state closed it in 1992, and it was abandoned until avalonbay began construction.
Although their violent outbursts may have been curtailed, the generally hellish atmosphere could only be reduced by alleviating the overcrowding. Danvers firefighters iaff local 2038 home facebook. Danvers state hospital danvers, massachusetts atlas obscura. Construction on danvers state hospital started in 1874 and the first. View a fire dept photo, logo, contact info, map, volunteer info, mission statement, fire equipment, firefighters and statistics. The danvers state hospital in danvers, ma, was completed in 1878 during the big sanitarium boom of that century. A fouralarm fire at the former danvers state hospital destroyed seven buildings and shut route 1 down temporarily early this morning. Session 9 a movie was filmed there, as well as home before dark. Jun 08, 2008 the danvers state hospital in danvers, ma, was completed in 1878 during the big sanitarium boom of that century. The facility is being renovated into apartment buildings and condominiums. The hospital was built in 1878 and closed to patients in 1992. It is also known for the danvers state hospital one of the states 19thcentury psychiatric hospitals, which. Danvers state hospital was originally called the state lunatic asylum at danvers a cheerful name, for sure.
Some firefighters suffered minor burns because of the intensity of the flames, the danvers fire department said. It was a multiacre, selfcontained psychiatric hospital designed and built according to the kirkbride plan. The danvers state hospital in danvers, ma, was completed in 1878 during. Originally an agricultural town, danvers farmers developed two breeds of vegetables. The danvers fire department and danvers first responders are volunteer organizations serving the community of danvers, mn. Danvers fire department is a career type of fire department. Kirkbride and the many men and women who lived and worked at danvers state hospital. For more than a century, danvers state hospital served as a mental. Danvers state hospital sits on land that once was inhabited by native americans. Danvers had previously been called salem village and was the site of the famous salem witch trials of 1690, the name having been changed to distance itself from the events of the past.
Historically, danvers state hospital is significant for its leading role in treatment for people with disabilities, including an advanced occupational therapy program, early training facilities for staff, and a longterm concern with community health issues. By june 2006, all of the danvers state hospital buildings that were. Security at danvers state hospital after the doors closed youtube. We desperately needed a place to put them, but the state of georgia was already taken and reality television hadnt been invented yet.
Later, the town of salem would be broken into smaller towns and the city of danvers was established. Danvers state mental hospital was built by prominent architect nathaniel jeremiah bradlee from boston, in an extremely rural, outoftheway location called hathorne hill. Through the years the area was settled by europeans and became known as the town of salem. Danvers state hospital was a psychiatric hospital built in 1874 on. Also once known as the worcester lunatic asylum and the bloomingdale asylum, this psychiatric facilitys history dates back to before the main building was built. Originally known as salem village, the town is most widely known for its association with the 1692 salem witch trials.
Back at danvers state mental hospital, lobotomized patients wandered the hallways like zombies. This is a video done on the danvers state insane asylum laboratory papers. Brush, cane, driftwood, and forestry debris from other than. Developer avalon bay wants to buy the old hospital from the state and convert it to a multimillion dollar housing complex, avalon at hathorne hill. Danvers state hospital, originally known as the state lunatic hospital at danvers, is significant in both architectural and social history. It was built in 1874, and opened in 1878, under the supervision of prominent boston architec. Apr 27, 2018 four juveniles face charges for starting fire danvers, ma the accused range in age from 12 to 15 and also face breaking and entering charges for the april 2 fire on poplar street. Danvers state hospital danvers, massachusetts atlas. The most spectacular fire in essex county in at least a generation early tonight destroyed a.