The now-abandoned State Hospital in Westborough, Massachusetts was originally opened in 1848 as the State Reform School for Boys. Visitors are encouraged to take the self-guided walking tour through the preserve, which follows gently-curving dirt trails past 14 carved stone pillars that mark key artifacts from the old quarry. Outside of special events, the property remains abandoned. No purchase necessary. Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge. Take them into the beer garden or on the patio and enjoy a relaxing drink in North Adams. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'urbexunderground_com-leader-3','ezslot_11',143,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-urbexunderground_com-leader-3-0');The towns name was eventually tarnished by accusations of witchcraft. Thus, the old reform school in Westborough seemed an ideal place to open a new mental hospital. The future of this facility is unknown. Slowly the horrific conditions of Belchertown State School were brought to light. He told her he thought he was shot and killed by his own men. So we fixed that. Albert Charles Houghton, President of the Arnold Print Works and first Mayor of North Adams, built the Houghton Mansion in the 1890s. Massachusetts is rich in history and abundant in abandoned sites. See reviews, photos, directions, phone numbers and more for the best Amusement Places & Arcades in North Adams, MA. The abandoned site became popular with urban explorers and pictures of the interior of the buildings surfaced on the internet. After the members of the commune scattered, the property was used as a training site for soldiers during the Civil War. The railroad tunnel nicknamed the "Bloody Pit" for taking the lives of hundreds during its construction. The patient population continuously dwindled until its closure in 2014. Dogtown Square is one of the more unique abandoned places in Massachusetts. Many reports were filed about the physical, sexual, and emotional abuse of the residents. For more about obtaining permission to explore abandoned places in Massachusetts, check out our guide Explore Abandoned Buildings: How To Get Permission. If youre having trouble finding abandoned places, be sure to check out our Ultimate Guide to Finding Abandoned Places, or explore abandoned places near you. The hotel was run by the Walworth Brothers who had other businesses in manufacturing throughout Boston. One spring night in 1901, a funeral pyre was lit for two dead horses. By the time the smoke cleared, only the cellars and stone foundations were left standing. Whittenton Mills Complex is a historic textile mill built in 1805. Upstairs, there is an appartment, that is occupied. While administrators sought to de-institutionalize the facility and empty the school, the legislature struggled to fight overcrowding. The school is still abandoned but owned by the state and patrolled by state police. To keep things historically accurate, the dam was made using locally sourced stone and good old-fashioned manpower. Despite efforts to restore control, the facility was closed in 1972 after 135 years of service. This ended the rail service for that line leaving portions of the tunnel abandoned underground. The quarry produced mostly granite that was used to construct statues, buildings, and ornate art pieces. This property, which spans parts of the towns of Cohasset, Hingham, Norwell and Scituate, was purchased by the U.S. Navy in 1941 to be developed as an annex to the existing Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot. Elton John is said to have been given a tour of the once-famous concert hall but the less-famous urbex may have to settle for photos online. By the 1980s, all remaining patients at the hospital had been moved out of the antique Kirkbride Building leaving it empty and neglected. Expect steep cliffside and high fences that surround the base. Inmates were held at the 600-acre facility, working the farm, going to school, attending religious instruction, or caring for the campus and grounds until they reached 21 years of age or were reformed. The population of inmates soared at the school until 1858 when over 590 boys lived at the school originally designed for 300. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'urbexunderground_com-leader-4','ezslot_12',147,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-urbexunderground_com-leader-4-0');Were not sure why the quarry shut down. The private Country Club of Troy was established in 1925 and is believed to be haunted by the ghost of a waitress who worked there in the 1970s. Subjects were exposed to tracer doses of radioactive isotopes and tested their absorption of iron and calcium. Killer Urbex Note: Westboroughs patient population reached its peak in 1959 with 2,100 patients and 800 staff. The 18th century brought statehood and more growth and development. To access the tunnel, visitors can park near the Wachusett Reservoir dam and walk northeast along Route 62 until a crumbling stone trestle comes into view. Witnesses also describe hearing voices, feeling someone touch them, and nding objects moved during the night. North Adams, nestled in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, is taking its place as tourist hotspot with great food and artsy culture. North Adams Houghton Mansion holds a variety of creepy sights, including an abandoned Freemason meeting room, an old barber chair and dusty Victorian If you are one of the many who seeks adventure, exploring abandoned places and historical landmarks, continue reading to discover our top 15 best abandoned places in Massachusetts. The property was saved from redevelopment by a local nonprofit group, the Becket Land Trust, which has left the site largely untouched since operations ceased a half-century ago. When this is the case, its important to have a good-quality backpack. The original depot was the primary supplier of ammunition to the U.S. Atlantic Fleet during World War II, with more than 2,000 civilian employees as well as more than 700 naval officers and 375 Marine guards working on-site. North Adams, Massachusetts Natural Bridge State Park Naturally formed white marble arch housed in an abandoned marble quarry from the 1800s. It happened when French soldiers and Indians raided the area and hacked Eunice to death just hours after she had given birth. Mr. Houghton, his wife Cordelia, and their 23 year old daughter Mary moved in circa 1900. While there isnt a whole lot left, it provides a unique look at how prisons operated during the turn of the century. Worcester State Hospital. The Victory Theatre was built in 1920 in the Art Deco style by early movie pioneers Samuel and Nathan Goldstein. Iceland in Winter: Natural Wonders & Ancient Legends, Vietnam: A Culinary Adventure from Hanoi to Saigon, Antiques and Their Afterlives: Osteological Specimens, Accidental Discoveries: A Celebration of Historical Mistakes, Monster of the Month w/ Colin Dickey: St. Foy, Mindful Mixology: Making Non-Alcoholic Cocktails During Dry January With Derek Brown, Designing Immersive Gatherings With Zach Morris of Third Rail Projects, Raising the Bar: Chocolate's History, Art, and Taste With Sophia Contreras Rea, Once Upon a Time: Fairy Tale Writing With Anca Szilgyi, How a Groundbreaking Pastry Chef Bakes Outside the Lines. This nightmare did have the consent of inmates parents or legal guardians but many of those insisted the study operators were less than forthcoming about the details of the medical experiment. One unsettling occurrence is a woman's face that hovers as it descends a staircase. Originally built in 1888 the site was called the Experimental School for Teaching and Training Idiotic Children. The standard of education was poor and the boys were stuffed into over-capacity dormitories. Dr. Kirkbride theorized that plenty of fresh air and sunlight helped cure insanity and so, the hospital was built in the design of a bird with wings extended, to make the most of natural sunlight and air circulation. We dont spam, we dont sell your info. A stone tower pokes out of the trees in North Truro making you feel as if youre back in the middle ages. Societys view of the mentally ill and their treatment changed over the years expanding the definition of mental illness and increasing hospitalizations and commitments to the facility. Nearby, Highland Light still warns ships of the treacherous cliffs, as it has since 1870. Bases like this were common on the east coast and throughout the northern Canadian border. Today, the property is on the market and nearly all the windows are boarded shut. Built from 1912 to 1930, this 272-mile-long hiking trail is famous for its disappearances. Despite being a successful farm and prison, the site was built in a low-lying drainage area and after repeated flooding, the prison camp was closed in 1934. Witnesses claim to have seen mutilated apparitions and heard screams of the patients who passed away there long ago. Legends say that the Native Americans believed this place to be cursed and used it as a burial ground. Designed by architect George Dutton Rand of Weston & Rand, the brick and flagstone building stood 4 stories tall with a Gothic clock tower dominating the center. This late-1700s historic manor house was the site of the famed Cherry Hill murder in 1827, in which Elsie Lansing, wife of businessman John Whipple, plotted with her lover drifter Jesse Strang to kill her husband. At the time it was prohibitively costly to keep the site in operation. Lincoln Park Gully is believed to be haunted by the ghosts of Dutch soldiers and Mahican warriors who planned to attach the Mohawks, but were ambushed by the Mohawks instead. Originally designed to showcase pianos manufactured at the site, this ornate hall became the center of musical culture in Boston by 1911. Doctors would do little to determine if a person was mentally disabled, and often label homeless and those with anxiety as mentally defective. Need a strong camera to photograph abandoned places in Massachusetts? And the state would save money by repurposing the facility. Clinton Tunnel. The Cohoes Falls on the Mohawk River were discovered by the Mohawk tribe; its similar name in the native language means "Place of the Falling Canoe." Business at the hotel remained steady into the early 20th century, when an elevated train line opened adjacent to the property, rendering it far less desirable to potential residents. Many of the windows and entrances are sealed most of the time. After At the Capitol building, some say ghosts walk at night. The new school was built on a thousand-acre farm on Powder Hill just across Lake Chauncy. Ownership was transferred to the Massachusetts International Festival of the Arts in 2009. The school was initially founded by Samuel Gridley Howe in 1848 and was located in Boston. Killer Urbex Note: In 2007, three-quarters of the Kirkbride building was demolished to make way for the new residential condominium complex, Avalon Bay Danvers. Employees at the surface level store are generally reticent to discuss the concert auditorium located just below the floor and visitors are not welcome to explore. Many elements of the Kirkbride building were sold or auctioned off, including timber, marble, iron gates, antique plumbing fixtures, and slate roofing tiles. 42.27711, -72.41463if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'urbexunderground_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_2',160,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-urbexunderground_com-medrectangle-3-0');Photo Credit: Jonathan Haeber flickr.com. The situation at the school became even more deplorable when medical experimentation began there in the 1940s and 50s. Of all the abandoned places in Massachusetts, the Belchertown State School has the darkest and most tragic history. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). Boys were encouraged to join the Science Club where they were experimented on in exchange for trips to baseballs games, parties, and iron-rich treats. Construction began in 1863 and was completed three years later. From historic prison sites, to state hospitals, modern day explorers will find a variety of urbex adventures to choose from. Built at a time when Boston was renowned for its piano manufacturing, the German immigrant family Steinert & Sons opened the hall in 1896. This living arrangement was meant to simulate a family for the boys, most of whom were abandoned or orphaned. The one featured at this location has recently been purchased and is now considered private property. Naturally formed white marble arch housed in an abandoned marble quarry from the 1800s. The mansion is rumored to be haunted by the spirits of Albert Charles Houghton, the first mayor of North Adams, and his family, who died in a car accident in Vermont in 1914. Sadly, the theatre was closed in 1979 when the owner failed to pay back taxes. Still an active freight route, this 5 mile tunnel is one of the longest in North America. This abandoned neighborhood is now a park filled with beautiful trees, wildflowers, and hints of its past. Inspiring Herman Melville and Henry David Thoreau, Mount Greylock in western Massachusetts is the highest point in the state at 3,491 feet above sea level. Back in 1860, the Chester-Hudson Quarry played a vital role in developing the town of Becket. Medfield State Hospital was a campus of 58 buildings constructed in the late 1800s. While this might not be your typical idea of an abandoned location, I still thought it was an oddity worth mentioning. Soon discovered by urbex, the Lyman School became one of the most famous abandoned places in Massachusetts. Built in 1950 as a radar listening station to monitor Soviet bombers, the base was home to the Air Forces 762nd Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron. For the most part, the boys were confined to their cottages. We recommend wearing boots or other sturdy shoes that can handle the mucky terrain, and a flashlight is also recommended to help you safely navigate the pitch-black space inside the tunnel itself. Passenger services were halted in 1958, and the railroad was ultimately abandoned.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'urbexunderground_com-leader-2','ezslot_9',166,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-urbexunderground_com-leader-2-0'); if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'urbexunderground_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_8',167,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-urbexunderground_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0');The Clinton Tunnel is a well-known spot by locals, and is a popular place for kids to tag. The large iron pens held domestic bears for visitors to view and enjoy. The sound of singing has accompanied some of these ghostly incidents. Signs will mark the parking area and entrance to the old quarry site. In a random field, metal and plastic ponies form a circle and have been there for quite some years. Tall Gothic spires rose from the eight wings that radiated from the 130-foot tall central tower. There have been several unsolved disappearances on the mountain, and all the trails stop partway up the mountain as if forbidding hikers to go any further. Winner will be selected at random on 02/01/2023. There are rumors you can access the tunnel somewhere close to Emerson College as well. Posted with No Trespassing signs and monitored by police and video cameras, they sadly do not want any future internet fame. Critics bitterly referred to the hospitals as palaces for the insane. Just all urbex all the time. Danvers State Hospital, located about 30 minutes outside of Boston, opened as a psychiatric hospital in 1878. Competition and mounting maintenance costs forced the owners to begin construction on a new hotel to replace the old Eyrie Hotel. Whats left?if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'urbexunderground_com-leader-1','ezslot_6',137,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-urbexunderground_com-leader-1-0'); Much of the campus still stands with only three buildings being demolished. Many explorers were drawn to the site by stories of hauntings at the hospital. Over the years repair efforts were made but all failed. She drove off the nearby bridge in some icy conditions. The State of Massachusetts took over the property in 1966, converting 2,900 acres into what is now Wompatuck State Park. Built at the dawn of the 20th century, this 800-foot tunnel made way for construction of the Wachusett Reservoir. portalId: "5317100", He paid to have the tower disassembled, transported, and reconstructed on his property where it now sits today. These cramped conditions led to sexual and physical abuse amongst the children and their caretakers. Built on a site called Hawthorn Hill, the location was chosen for its beautiful vistas, abundant fresh air, and acres of surrounding farmland to work as part of the treatments thought to cure insanity. Trade Unions protested the use of free child labor and in 1956 the farming ceased and the work animals were sold off. The property was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994 and closed down in 2003. It is also one of the most haunted! If you hunt for abandoned places in Massachuttes, youve undoubtedly heard of North Truro Air Force Station. The last resident Cornelius Black Neil Finson was found freezing to death living in a vacant cellar. Unable to afford the expensive upgrades to the concert hall, the owners simply closed the doors and abandoned the venue. During the 1940s the building suffered damages and was in need of repair. Some notable patients included serial killer Jane Toppan, a nurse who confessed to killing 31 patients with medication overdoses; she was committed to the hospital for life. Though security may have been lax, daily life at the school was strict and heavily-regimented. It was founded back in 1660 and is the final resting place of not one, not two, but three Declaration of Independence signatories Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and Robert Treat Paine. Known as Jolly Jane by the staff, Toppan laid next to her patients while they died. Reconstruction of the facility now included a prison-style dormitory for the older most ill-behaved boys. By 1883 the factory expanded to nearly 400,000 square feet and has powered by five electric engines and multiple water wheels spun by the current of the Mill River. In 1859, a massive fire was set by one of the boys, gutting the building. Soon urbex made this hospital another famous abandoned place in Massachusetts. Determined to be beyond salvageability, a project was undertaken to de-construct the clock tower, brick by brick, and rebuild a new clock tower using original materials. Built in 1869 on a tract of land away from the city, now along Route 9, stands the remains of this once proud hospital. He was a firm believer in eugenics, the practice of selective breeding for the improvement in intelligence in the general population. Finally, after 70 years in operation, the school shut down in 1992. The dam stretches just under 1000 feet in length and towers 30 feet over the woodlands. Sensational newspaper articles of the day proclaimed the outermost wards a human cesspool. For $2.3 million, the project was paid for by Preservation Worcester Historical Society. If youre of the ghost hunting set, youll want to head to the Houghton Mansion in North Adams. It is important when considering abandoned places in Massachusetts to know the basics of Massachusetts trespassing laws. Some say there is a greenish, ghostly light that can be seen some nights in front of a certain gravestone in St. Mary's Cemetery in Troy, NY. WebThey broke ground in 1851. We recommend both theOsprey Packs Daylitefor sling backpacks or theMardingtop Tactical Backpackfor a standard two-strap backpack. The remaining portion of the site returned to military use in 1971, when the U.S. Army Reserve 187th Infantry Brigade was stationed at United States Army Reserve Center Hingham for the next decade. The brownstone is said to be haunted by the ghost of an unknown woman in period clothing. Due to its proximity to the reservoir, the area around the tunnel tends to be muddy, with several inches of standing water at times accumulating inside the tunnel during the summer rainy season. Low wages created staffing shortages, and overcrowding at the facility led to substandard care. The brownstone Ten Broeck Mansion, built in 1859, was first thought to be haunted in the mid-20th century when the children who lived there saw a strange, solemn soldier in 17th-century Dutch attire on the top floor. Several arson attempts were made causing minor damage to the building. Turn Hall is an apartment with a downstairs gym, bar and bowling alley. The only surviving building of historic West Boylston, which was flooded to create the Wachusett Reservoir. It is the biggest park in Boston and the site of the Franklin Park Zoo. Run by a eugenics advocate, this aging institution conducted secret radiation experiments sponsored by Quaker Oats. The institution opened in 1886 as the Westborough Insane Hospital immediately received 200 patients from nearby overcrowded facilities. Like our previous location, parts of the movie Shutter Island were filmed on location in 2008. Hidden deep in the 914 acres of woods that is Rutland State Park, is a hidden gem for exploration, the Rutland Prison Camp Ruins. As legend has it, ghostly Nurse Betsy of the psych ward sometimes plays the piano, as she used to do to calm her patients. Despite the lack of educational or reformative opportunities, the schools population continued to grow. The historic inn was built in 1884, and has been restored and renovated to its former glory by the current inn owners. Just 24 years and $21 million later, the tunnel was complete. Cottage was a misnomer really as the boys were housed in large brick dormitories originally built for 30 students, but ended up holding as many as 100 boys. In 2008, the state decided to build a new psychiatric facility at the site. The former home of Albert Charles Houghton and his family, the Houghton Mansion is now being used as a Masonic temple. The station served five different stations: Boylston, Park Street, Scollay Square, Adams Square, and Haymarket. She visited the hotel in 1865 and has been seen as a quickly vanishing apparition, along with one of her children. For now, though, it sits as yet another example of the incredible abandoned places in Massachusetts. My first stop was the Bellows Pipe Trail on Mount Greylock, known to be haunted by a ghost called the Old Coot. This unfortunate soul went by the name of Staying Out Of Trouble Urbexing in 2023, 2023 Urban Exploration Gear List: What To Bring For Urbexing, How To Find Abandoned Places With Google Maps In 2020, The 10 Most Interesting Abandoned Places In Jacksonville FL, Explore Abandoned Buildings: How To Get Permission In 2020, Dead Malls: A Comprehensive Guide To Abandoned Malls. New wings were added to the original building and a new dining hall and chapel were built. The hospital was closed and abandoned in 1973 and is now senior citizens' condominiums. Due to substantially inadequate state funding, what was begun as an ambitious effort to help the mentally ill with real treatments, evolved into the warehousing of human beings. It was a seven-passenger Pierce-Arrow touring car, and the familys long-time chauffeur John Widders was instructed to learn to drive it. These semi-separated houses displayed a new attitude toward the treatment of the mentally ill. Cohoes Music Hall was where she made her debut--and was booed offstage. At the intersection of Route 20, Route 8 North, and Bonny Rigg Hill Road, take Bonny Rig Hill Road and turn left onto Quarry Road. In the early 20s, silent films and live musical performances took place inside the Victory Theatre. Her footsteps and her patients' screaming Anthony Van Schaick, builder of a 1700s mansion, left in his will part of his property to be used as a cemetery. See. The dam failed to hold the amount of water it was supposed to, and was deemed a failure. The farm raised meat, produce, and dairy for the prisoners kept under lock and key. The hospital focused on psychiatric care and was originally named the Medfield Insane Asylum. Remnants of vehicles, tools, machinery, and buildings are all still left behind and often covered in heavy vegetation. Killer Urbex Note: During World War II many of the students and staff enlisted in the war effort leaving older men and boys to tend the farm, work the kitchen, and stoke the coal-fed boilers. This part of Franklin Park has stood abandoned and neglected ever since. The massive Ventfort Hall mansion is rumored to have a few ghosts under its roof, and witnesses say sometimes the spooks even touch people. Living conditions for the children were poor at best, with many mentally deficient children scoring average on IQ tests. By 1812, many farmers had left Dogtown behind. In the 1700s Massachusetts experienced the American Revolutionary War. Roseville Prison | Ohio's Strange Abandoned Prison, Ultimate Guide to Finding Abandoned Places, 13 Of The Most Haunted Places In Indiana [With Proof], 13 Of The Most Haunted Places In Pennsylvania [With Proof], 13 Of The Most Haunted Places In Ohio [With Proof]. He is believed to have been inadvertently sealed in when the foundation was laid. Activist Helen Casey started a group Save The Victory Theater Inc to try and raise funds to save the old building. In the middle of a New England forest It is known to jump on cars, and is heavy enough to shake it as if a full-sized person were sitting on your trunk. Guests and staff alike have reported paranormal activity in the inn, including lights turning on and off, strange knocking noises and furniture that moves around by itself. 42.02999, -70.0538Photo Credit: David Gallagher flickr.com. People have reported full body apparitions, cold spots, slamming doors and some claim that the ghost has actually appeared and spoken to them. The Lyman School for Boys was established by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1886 replacing the State Reform School built nearby in 1846. Inside was in rough shape. If youre interested in the full history of how these towers defended Massachusetts theres an entire article dedicated to how these towers protected the state. The tunnel was built in the early 1900s as a part of a four The controversial trial led to the hanging of Strang. The mountain is said to Ghost soldiers have been seen along Tunic Road, and some witnesses say phantom orbs have shown up in photographs taken here. Many urbex report police harassment and arrests for trespassing. In 1971 parents sued the school and made headlines in the local paper. Those with trustee-status could tend to the outside landscape or work in snow-removal. Find out all the things you can Even today, people are curious about what Americas Most Haunted Asylum looks like and there is still much internet activity about the site. Steinert Hall was built sometime in the late 1800s as an opulent theatre for Bostons Teather District. This nearly 5-mile-long tunnel was dug out of the mountains of western Massachusetts between 1851 and Parents would comment that the school was barbaric, horrific, and medieval. There are many famous abandoned places in Massachusetts to satisfy your curiosity and taste for adventure. In 1999, the large dome collapsed and the site was left abandoned and in ruins. With the country much safer from conflict, many people took to the waters and other open areas to find fish, minerals, and other natural resources. The Jenny Lind Tower is actually the last remnants of the Fitchburg Railroad depot located in Boston. Several old buildings and bunkers, as well as sections of the railroad tracks, remain visible from the parks hiking trails. Fords Folly was named after none other than Henry Ford who tried to build a town here in 1923. For the better part of a century, the Chester-Hudson Quarry provided the economic foundation for the town of Becket, a bucolic community tucked into the foothills of the picturesque Berkshire Mountains.
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