Unlike Manteno State Hospital, Peoria was praised for its more modern and humane approaches to patient care.īy 1950 patient population would peak at 2,800 patients. By 1925 the population just surpassed 2,500. Peoria State Hospital took on those who were considered “incurable.” Its original name was The Illinois Hospital for the Incurable Insane. In 1902 the new facility was finished, featuring 33 buildings, a power station, and a general store. The new building was left vacant for several years until being rebuilt.Ībandoned collapsing mines below the surface were to blame, but others suspect that the first building too closely resembled a grim medieval castle, and was scrapped for a more modern cottage design. When the building was erected it suffered from numerous structural integrity issues. Peoria State Hospital (AKA Bartonville State Hospital) was constructed during the late 1800s but immediately ran into issues during construction. Of all the abandoned places in Illinois, this hospital harbors one of the darkest histories on our list. If you’re an explorer I’d definitely recommend checking this place out, before it’s gone forever. East of the site is the hospital cemetery where many unknown souls died of suspicious circumstances.ĭespite all this development, you can still see many old boarded-up buildings that were once part of Manteno State Hospital. Some buildings were repurposed as a Veterans’ Administration home, while a gold course now resides where campus buildings once did. While some buildings have been demolished, there is plenty of evidence of the Manteno State Hospital. The hospital would finally close its doors in 1985. In the early 1960s the farm would shutdown and the patient population would decline as federal funding shifted away from large institutions to smaller nursing home facilities. Patients worked various jobs on farms, fire departments, utility services, and even in their own police force. Like many hospitals of its time, Manteno was self-sustaining. By the end of the experiments in 1941, 462 patients would die, and close to 200 would have escaped.īy 1954, the patient population peaked at 8,195 spanning over 200 acres. Rumors even spread that the US military conducted secret medical testing during World War II, injecting several patients with strains of malaria in hope of developing a cure. High school dropouts were even allowed to substitute for nurses during the massive staff shortages. Logistical and staffing challenges would continue to be a problem as the shortage of World War II would push the hospital to its limits. In the hospital’s early years, patient quality of life was low as the hospital struggled during the Great Depression. Over the years the population would rise and other buildings would be constructed on the property. The Manteno State Hospital was first opened in 1930 to serve as a psychiatric hospital. Falling debris is a genuine hazard.Ĥ1.22938, -87.80831 Photo Credit: iPlaid34 While the site is easily accessible that doesn’t make it any less dangerous. You can explore silos as well as the tunnels which are covered in various tags. The blank concrete serves as a canvas for graffiti artists and taggers. Today the silos are crumbling but remain standing. Ever since the explosion the site has been abandoned. In 1977 an explosion ripped through the facility damaging many of the silos and supporting structures. The silo’s close proximity to the water allowed for easy storage for grain shipped via the Chicago Ship Canal. At the time of their construction, they were the tallest structures in the entire city. The Damen silos were built in 1906 to store, well grain. Check It Out Abandoned Places In Illinois 1.
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