Southwestern insane asylum in san antonio the history of. Southwestern insane asylum of san antonio out my kitchen. Im looking for nonfiction, but fiction would be helpful too, so long as its somewhat accurate. Southwestern insane asylum of san antonio insane asylum. On the front of this postcard is a wide angled view of three separate buildings which are three to four stories high and made up of white brick with a reddishbrown roof top. The facility was renamed the austin state hospital ash in 1925.
History books primarily credit two men with the major lateeighteenth century. But according to this page about the institutions history, the asylum was a selfcontained living environment. Southwestern insane asylum of san antonio out my kitchen window. Neat history about san antonio and its many haunted buildings. San antonio state hospital texas health and human services. Oct 18, 2007 the house is in the rigsby area and is unfortunately considered by most to be a higher crimeless desireable neighborhood. From time to time i will look for videos articles on ghost stories in san antonio texas.
Im mostly interested in american and englishbritish insane asylums, but books about mental health treatment facilities in europe would be interesting as well. This utopian view led to the reform and establishment of lunatic asylums throughout the united. The history of asylums has probably been the most controversial topic in the history of psychiatry, arguably in the history of medicine. Just south of san antonio, texas, is the site of texas most famous ghost story.
Not far from the san juan mission is an intersection of the roadway that is crossed by railroad tracks. Not much is known about the abandoned san antonio facility decaying in texas. A short time later, the property became the location for the juvenile home. Dont fall for the claims that its now a creepy haunted ruin. The haunted san antonio state hospital all over the world, former insane asylums have considered to be some of the most paranormally active locations. The 20 creepiest san antonio urban legends san antonio current. It is a great, quick read with lots of local history combined with ghostly lore. Shot in origonal technicolor it has rather a thin plot and shares the same theme mucic as dodge city for all that though it makes good viewing,and has errol flynn as cattleman clay hardin trying to equal the score with renegade cattle men from san antonio that had left him for dead after a. The asylum eventually became the san antonio state hospital, which still operates today at the same location, though the original hospital buildings have been replaced with newer structures. The department of state health services maintains this webpage, but the 84th legislature made structural changes to the health and human services system including transferring some dshs functions to the health and human services commission hhsc. Follow the clues the room allows, or remain trapped there forever with whatever.
Whether theyre trying to hide something or just protect the property. Oct 15, 2005 there is this abandoned insane asylum in my hometown, san antonio. The southwestern insane asylum according to a texas government website was never on southon rd. Take a peek inside the menger hotel, the most haunted hotel in texas, and just a block away, peer into the emily morgan hotel, one of the citys first hospitals and where many men and women lost their lives. Located near knights inn interstate 10 san antonio, tx, fort sam houston is. An illustrated history of the mental asylum check out our photos of an illustrated history of the mental asylum. Theres an abandoned asylum in texas thats still standing. Presa is or was an insane asylum and dates back to the. This is another glimpse of the famed insane asylum of san antonio, tx. The haunted san antonio abandoned asylum ghost city tours. More the san antonio insane asylum opened on april 6, 1892 as the southwestern insane asylum.
Presa is or was an insane asylum and dates back to the late 1800s. The patton state hospital in san bernardino was opened in 1893. Most haunted locations in san antonio haunted san antonio. The southwestern lunatic asylum today known as the san antonio state. This 19thcentury insane asylum was abandoned 20 years ago. From local politics to news stories on the military, energy, water use, the border and immigration that reverberate nationally and internationally, to the recent naming. Sep 23, 20 i bought this book during a recent visit to san antonio. History and archaeology of the hot wells hotel site, 41bx237 sfa. Thanks to help from a member its located under bexar county, hot wells. Jul 19, 2008 in regards to the san antonio haunted asylum, me and some friends are amateur ghost hunters they i think are more thrill seekers though. Following changes in psychiatric treatment and the deregulation and privatization of the mental health industry, many of these structures were. Getting started history of education in san antonio. State hospital for the insane for the southeastern district of pennsylvania philadelphia. The site, on the south side of san antonio, occupied 640 acres and was capable of handling 500 patients.
Oct 17, 2010 this is an on going san antonio ghost blog so if you have any ghost stories to share please post. It goes without saying that insane asylums have its share of spookiness. San antonio insane asylum pt 2 historic tx hospital. Originally named the southern california asylum for the insane and inebriate, it was renamed in 1927 after harry patton who was a member of the first board of directors. Oct 29, 2017 by chris quinn, san antonio expressnews updated 12. Super mexican history facts the alamo 56 ideas archaeologists have excavated stones fixed in a lime cement in a trench on the south side of the alamo compound in san antonio, texas, which may be the foundations of the original main gate.
At san antonio state hospital alone, 1,100 people are buried in its cemetery. A place for thoughts, ideas, discussion, pictures, music and anything else that our imaginations can think up. Insane asy 1 urn located a few mi 1 es south of the city of san anton i o. South west insane asylum in san antonio, texas find a grave. The san antonio state hospital sash is a state mental health facility, part of texas health and human services, health and specialty care system.
Antonio juan, born amanda robert, white, 28 yrs, native of mobile. The last institution for the mentally ill established in texas before the turn of the century represented a conceptual advance in that it separated individuals with uncontrolled seizures from patients with mental illness. Life at the texas state lunatic asylum, 18571997 sarah. He says that he really does think its haunted but has ne. It was opened in april of 1892, twentythree years before the southton rd. San antonio state hospital texas state historical association. The san antonio state hospital is an inpatient psychiatric hospital with complete psychiatric and rehabilitative services. San antonios first center for the mentally ill was the southwestern insane asylum san antonio state hospital and was established on april 6, 1892. The haunted san antonio abandoned asylum where the former patients still haunt those who seek them a decade ago rumors began circulating on the internet of course, about a. San antonio is a film born of the time when the studios were in a state of recovery from world war 11. An illustrated history of the mental asylum seeker. There are safe areas all around the city and nice areas scattered everywhere. San antonio asylum clinic with raices refugee and immigrant.
This was the first spot we checked out, of course under the impression that it was an asylum. The development of professions, institutions, and treatment paradigms for mentally ill citizens in texas is characterized by three overlapping trends still identifiable in the current period. In 1925 the word hospital was substituted for asylum in state asylums, and such adjectives as insane and lunatic were dropped from their. I will sometimes post paranormal articles i find online or related to ghost or the unknown as well as some history. A site was selected just south of san antonio, and the new facility began operation on april 6, 1892. San antonios ghost tracks, an urban legend debunked san. You puff up your chest and enter the asylum, but decide after a while to head back home. San antonio s first center for the mentally ill was the southwestern insane asylum san antonio state hospital and was established on april 6, 1892.
Southwestern insane asylum that side of the family. Not much is known about the abandoned san antonio facility. In 1856, the governor of texas signed a bill providing for the establishment of the texas state lunatic asylum. Formerly known as the southwestern insane asylum, which has a history. The hospital was essentially a selfsufficient village with crops, livestock and. For some of that time he worked under the administration of dr. San antonio gazette healing, hell, and the history of. Dinah williams book abandoned insane asylums references a tale of an accidental poisoning of pediatric psychiatric patients during the 1960s, but thats not a story ive seen confirmed elsewhere. See more ideas about texas, insane asylum and house styles.
This entry was posted in general history, patients, uncategorized and tagged houston post, lax asylum commitment procedures, palestine daily herald, seeking release from an insane asylum, southwestern insane asylum in san antonio, william i. Though images of this property have often been circulated as the old southwestern insane asylum now known as the san antonio state hospital, the facility was actually the old bexar county. It was to be known as the southwestern insane asylum not the southwestern lunatic asylum, as it has sometimes been called. Although off limits it remains an abandoned building and owned by the city of san antonio. San antonio old mental hospital an abandoned mental hospital on south alamo street. The facility was built in 1915, as the home for the aged, also known as a poor farm. Reportedly, this is the site of a fatal accident in which a train.
The nineteenthcentury cult of curability engendered the optimistic belief that mental illness could be cured under ideal conditionsremoval from the stresses of everyday life to asylum, a pleasant, wellregulated environment where healthy meals, daily exercise, and social contact were the norm. San antonio insane asylum pt 2 historic tx hospital boys home history haunted ghost urban legend. Ah, here, texas center for infectious disease, history page it was. Abandoned asylums, insane asylum, picture postcards, science books, interesting history. Construction started in 1857, and the first patients were admitted in 1861. As time passed and the words insane and asylum became taboo, it became the san antonio state hospital. There is this abandoned insane asylum in my hometown, san antonio. South of presa a visit to three of the most scariest places in san antonio,tx. Although it had an official name change, over the years it became known to the public as simply the insane asylum. How the menger hotel came to be san antonios most haunted. In 1925 the word hospital was substituted for asylum in state asylums, and such adjectives as insane and lunatic were dropped from their names.
Nov 26, 2007 the information below is from the san antonio paranormal network. Richardson complexbuffalo state asylum for the insane, buffalo, new york in the u. The hospital was essentially a selfsufficient village with crops, livestock and a lake for fishing. San antonio asylum clinic with raices refugee and immigrant center for education and legal services students will help asylum seekers prepare petitions for asylum. Thank you for visiting the texas state hospital web page. Down town san antonio s most paranormally active ghost tour.
I was able to use the book as a bit of a makeshift travel guide to point me in the direction of as many haunted places as i could fit in for a visit while i was in town. Haunted insane asylums, haunted insane asylum death, illness and tragedy have long permeated the history of american insane asylums. The san antonio insane asylum although very little is known about the san antonio insane asylum, formally called the southwestern insane asylum when it opened on april 6, 1892, it is heavily guarded by the police today. See more ideas about san antonio, texas history and pictures. It would open as the southwestern insane asylum in 1892 and is now known as the san antonio state hospital. For much of history, including during the early 20th century, few people discussed mental. This abandoned asylum was once a state of the art facility before devolving into one of the most deadly mental institutions in american history. Its proper name is san antonio state hospital, its a mental health facility. Mental institutions, insane and lunatic asylums source. The new facility was to occupy at least 640 acres and be capable of housing 500 patients. It has been said that if you go inside there, you can hear people screaming and moaning.
Six abandoned asylums with genuinely chilling backstories. Mental institutions, insane and lunatic asylums records. The haunted san antonio state hospital ghost city tours. This is an on going san antonio ghost blog so if you have any ghost stories to share please post. According to the san antonio gazette, hayden was indicted for the crime, but shortly afterward exhibited signs of insanity and was committed to the southwestern insane asylum in san antonio my last post also mentioned this asylum. Years later they built tb center across the road behind the state hospital on south presa. Ghost children upon san antonios railroad tracks legends. Explore this cemetery for graves, information and tombstones for names in south west insane asylum in san antonio, texas, a find a grave cemetery. How the menger hotel came to be san antonio s most haunted hotel by j. Ghost hunting in san antonio insane asylum 2010 youtube. San antonio state hospital the handbook of texas online.
Incredible photos show brains of former texas asylum patients. Can anyone tell me more info on the abandoned insane asylum. Insane asylum in san antonio texas i had heard of the infamous insane asylum that lurks on the south side of san antonio texas by a coworker of mine. Im looking for books about insane asylums in the 1800s. Please choose an enumeration district in hot wells. Latino migration and asylum politics spring 2017, 2018 mexican american literature and culture two sections. This is a video and slide show i put together to let everyone out there know that what most on youtube are saying about a haunted insane asylum is not true the building is the old bexar. One mans quest for the truth about a forgotten relative ends at. As kids growing up on this side of town we always refered the state hospital as south presa.
Oregon hospital for the insane was a facility constructed in the city of portland, oregon, usa by. Social alienation was one of the main themes in francisco goyas masterpieces, such as the madhouse above. Mar 14, 2016 youll remember from the last post that joe lees resume included a stint as bookkeeper and steward at the southwestern insane asylum in san antonio in the 1890s. Austin state hospital was the first state facility of its kind built west of the mississippi. San antonio is a richly illustrated compilation of more than 150 years of coverage on the history and culture of the city, as told in the pages of the san antonio expressnews. William wallace macgregor, who took the role of superintendent in 1896.
The facility began operation on april 6, 1892 with a. In 1889 the texas legislature passed a bill establishing a state mental institution to serve southwest texas. This old lady was on my certificate committed to the city insane asylum on the 11th of april 1882, a month or two after the son hoping, that he might be. A third asylum, the southwestern lunatic asylum, opened in san antonio in 1892. Beggining in the late 18th century buildings that housed the criminally and. San antonio, for the most part, is a safe and friendly city, but it is a large city and therefore has some areas that are better avoided. Id also like to add that the san antonio state hospital, just a few miles from this abandoned building, is still at its original site and very much functioning as a mental health facility. Asylum is available to immigrants who have fled their home countries because of persecution andor torture due to their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or. The state of texas funded the project for a state of the art at the time mental institution. We all know about londons bedlam, and have a sense of other infamous mental hospitals, ranging from bellevue hospital in new york to danvers state.
These photos and videos below, taken by nitram242, only show what remains of the place, and we can only imagine what those walls would say if they could. Whether this is an urban legend or truly a ghostly tale has long been forgotten in history. The asylum eventually became the san antonio state hospital, which still. Hayden was accused of swindling a large sum of money from the woods bank. Discover old san antonio s most haunted places and uncover the history that lies waiting for those who dare to enter their doorways. And so begins the story of the southwestern insane asylum, which opened its doors in 1892. Because of its remote location amid both countries and its great distance from other cities, san antonio became a crossroads for commerce, industry, and strategic military position on the wild frontier. East mississippi insane asylum admission registers, box 9822, 1885 to. Jun 18, 2008 back around 18901900, t b was very common and people came in droves to san antonio because of the climate and the hot sulphur waters of the hotel. The stateowned oregon state insane asylum in salem built as a result of the 1880. The hospital was built on 640 acres, and had the capacity to hold up to 500 patients.
Jan 11, 2016 spanish colonial missionary settlements established san antonio as a junction between mexico and the developing united states in the early 1700s. District 115 justice precinct 7part of, including southwest insane asylum but, excluding brooks field. Oct 04, 2009 yeah there is a famous abandoned insane asylum here on the south east side of san antonio, tx. Jan 09, 2010 this is another glimpse of the famed insane asylum of san antonio, tx. The rise of the lunatic asylum or mental asylum and its gradual transformation into, and eventual replacement by, the modern psychiatric hospital, explains the rise of organised, institutional psychiatry. For those which are currently abandoned, paranormal investigative groups flock to them to uncover the sometimes tragic events which occurred to them. Southwestern insane asylum, san antonio, texas description. In 1889 the texas government passed a bill to construct a mammoth mental health facility just outside san antonio in southwest texas, which would have room for some 500 patients. The decrepit buildings in those pictures and on youtube, and countless message boards. Sep 24, 20 discover old san antonio s most haunted places and uncover the history that lies waiting for those who dare to enter their doorways. A new book gives a haunting view into a lost collection of almost 100 abnormal brains belonging to former texas mental patients dating back to the 1950s.
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