Do you remember sunny days?
Yeah me neither (either?). That's why I'm time hopping to last Autumn for some sun AND color for this week's Song-ography. Plus, I completely forgot that I never posted any photographs from my day surrounded by lots and lots of brick walls at Norristown State Hospital, previously known as "The State Lunatic Hospital". Yeah, a great place to hang out on October 31st. If it wasn't so sunny, it would have had a major creep factor.
"I don't need no arms around me
And I don't need no drugs to calm me...
"Another Brick in the Wall"
Norristown State Hospital Campus
Norristown, Pennsylvania
"Building 17"
Norristown State Hospital
Norristown, Pennsylvania
Despite all the decaying brick walls surrounding the 265 acre campus, it is still an active psychiatric hospital in the suburbs of Philly...tho greatly downsized. Opened in 1879, it was the first institution in America to recognize female physicians.
I have seen the writing on the wall.
Don't think I need anything at all...
These photos are from Building #17. It is the former Acute Admissions Building on the campus of Norristown State Hospital. But now? Even in neglect and decay, it is intriguing and beautiful. Just a bunch of bricks. Falling down. Engulfed in overgrown branches and weeds. Yet beautiful and quite mesmerizing.
We don't need no thought control...
...All in all,
it was all just bricks in the wall."
-Another Brick in the Wall (Pink Floyd)
During it's early years the hospital placed great emphasis on a human approach towards psychiatric treatment. However, by the 1930's and 1940's electroshock therapy, insulin coma therapy, and lobotomies became increasingly common on the grounds.
it was all just bricks in the wall."
-Another Brick in the Wall (Pink Floyd)
During it's peak years, the hospital housed 4,700 patients on it's grounds. Today, there are about 380.
The stories these bricked walls could tell.
**********
Funny thing happened last week. I had been toying with next week's Song-ography suggestion for quite awhile. I mean, there is a LOT to work with in this song. But I've kept it on the back burner. That is UNTIL I got a message from one of our regular participants (hmmmm...talkin' about MOLLY!), suggesting the same song I'd been pondering. So she pushed me in the direction of throwing this one at ya...
"American Pie"
Don McLean
Maybe the longest song everrrrrrrr! Yet, I know every word. Lots, and lots, and LOTS of possibilities with this song. So let's see whatcha can do with it NEXT Tuesday. In the meantime, thanks for linking up. Take some time and visit a few of the other participants. And one last thing, I hate being a biatch BUT...please only link up to Song-ography if you have a photograph that is influenced by a song or lyric. I mean, that IS the point of this link up. I don't want to discourage participation but I am going to start deleting links that don't abide by the purpose of Song-ography. It's simple:
Song + Photograph = Song-ography
Bend it. Stretch it. Morph it any way you'd like it. But PLEASE don't make my inner biatch come out folks! It ain't pretty.
(click on image for description of Song-ography)
Beautiful building in these colors. Autumn emphasizes its beauty
ReplyDeleteAmazing photography. You can sense the history behind this place!
ReplyDeleteThese are awesome! I would love to wander around there!
ReplyDeleteGreat shots Kathy. I love those thin but strong vines that look like they are holding the door shut to keep people out. Yes, I agree.......without sun it would be creepy.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful building and one that I suspect holds many horror stories as well as revelations. From the (final) acknowledgment of women as physicians to the freedom and release of mental illness for its sufferers. As a mental health social worker I visited the WV State Mental Hospital (now regularly shown on the Ghosts Hunters show) where I witnessed things that will stay with me for the rest of my life. On one hand, an institute where people could drop off their crazy uncle and move on with their life. On the other hand, a place where finally some patient's could find relief and perhaps treatment that allowed them some freedom from their daily battles with mental illness. Personally, as a counselor, it was the last resort level of treatment for my patients.
ReplyDeleteNext week's song was just on the radio Sunday when we took Ryan back to school and boy oh boy did he complain about how LONG that song was. haha!
Great minds think alike. Only those vines...they are poison ivy...and even though I knew that I still got it. :(
ReplyDeleteAfter the fact, when I was looking at my photos...I wondered if that was poison ivy! Guess I got lucky, no itching!
DeleteSoooo creepy! I need to check that place out!! Love the photos!
ReplyDeleteHeather, if you do you'll get pulled over by security unless you have a permit. Don't ask me how I know that! Haha. Good thing is, I went to the administration building and the gentleman was very nice and gave me a permit :)
DeleteOh wow! This song plus and asylum is very cool! I'm glad you are deleting non-song posts!
ReplyDeleteYeah well, had to pull out my "Inner Philly" this morning already and delete a few. Some gorgeous photography, but nothing to do with the link up.
DeleteOh Kathy, these are just stunning....I love how the colors on the brick match the colors of the trees. I just wasn't organized enough to link up this week...I've had 5 doctor visits (one was the dog) in 6 days. Hopefully next week.
ReplyDeleteKim...isn't "I can see for miles, and miles" a song?
DeleteI'm always astonished to see such beautiful old buildings falling to ruin. Beautiful and creepy, beautiful and horrifying, beautiful and sad. Your photos really capture all of that.
ReplyDeletePhotos like these {places like these} always make me wish I was a gajillionaire....I'd buy this place, give my dad a drawing board and get about restoring it. As you know, I LOVE the brick - and it doesn't take much imagination to see how gorgeous this place could be. I'm also glad you're deleting non-song inspired posts....I never comment on them even if I like the photos!
ReplyDeleteP.S. - this song has always bugged me for some reason - so I picked a different one. Tried to stay true to the era/style!
ReplyDeleteWonderful vintage shots of an amazing building with lots of history ~ Colorful ~
ReplyDeleteHappy Week to you,
artmusedog and carol
It's a shame that buildings begin to decay, but I have to say that they are at their most beautiful when they do. The rust, chipped paint, broken windows, are all art forms in their own right. Stunning captures! Popping over from Our World Tuesday x
ReplyDeleteWow Kath, fantastic photos!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome old institution and your colorful images are stunning. I just can't imagine that people actually live here today. Lots of bricks :)
ReplyDeleteGorgeous buildings, they are. And your photos are beautiful. I'm guessing that the patients are kept in buildings that are not as run down as these. When they finally close the hospital, I wonder if someone will come along and turn it into apartments or maybe a grand resort. I'll be polite and not even start tossing out names. :-)
ReplyDeleteThe View from the Top of the Ladder
This is one of the abandoned buildings on the campus. Patients are housed in much nicer facilities :)
DeleteIs this a case of great minds think alike.... *grins
ReplyDeleteI love your images, I might have to check this place out when we come in the summer and talk nicely to the people in the Admin building and see if they will let me and my camera take a wander
Mollyxxx
It is fascinating to look at these shots and remember back to the beauty of fall. Also hard to imagine all that happened behind these walls. also much have been an incredibly huge place.
ReplyDeleteHow do you get to Building 17? I'd love to see this up close. I'm familiar with Norristown Farm Park but can't figure out where it is in relation to the Doctors House, dairy barn, etc. Any help is much appreciated - you take such lovely photos!
ReplyDeleteThe address of Norristown State Hospital is:
Delete1001 Sterigere St
Norristown, Pennsylvania 19401
Once you are on the campus, all t he buildings have signs outside that give their number. I also believe there is a map posted on the grounds too. Hope that helps.
Thank you so much!
Delete