real time web analytics
Report - - Westborough State Hospital, USA, 2015-2019 | European and International Sites | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - Westborough State Hospital, USA, 2015-2019

Hide this ad by donating or subscribing !

cgrizzy

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Westborough State Hospital was established in 1884 in central Massachusetts, on the grounds of the State Reform School For Boys. While the Reform School buildings were initially renovated to accommodate the hospital, further expansions greatly increased the size of the complex over the next several decades. As is the case with many mental hospitals, the population peaked in the mid-20th century (at around 2,000), and as new methods of treatment were developed over the next several decades, the patient population steadily declined. Wards at Westborough were shut down as early as the 1970's, with the population sitting at around 200 in 2005, and the last remaining patients transferred to a new facility in 2010. Despite being placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994, demolition began early this year, and as of last month, cookie-cutter condos are being built where the main building once stood.

When I began exploring, Westborough was one of the first asylums that caught my interest. On my first visit, the property was still being actively patrolled, and entry was rather sketchy, but it was absolutely worth the effort; my exploring partner and I had the entire place to ourselves and spent hours navigating the wards, basements and common areas. Because the hospital closed in phases, there was a lot of variety to be found; the wards that were closed in the 70's-80's were very decayed and contained much of their original charm, while other areas had been remodeled but were more intact. Furthermore, the occasional bricked-up tunnel or collapsed hallway made finding our way around into a real adventure. In the years since, it has been my go-to spot to wander and practice my photography, or just hang out and goof off with some friends. Even after many visits over the years, it had a certain charm that made me eager to return again and again. I'm a huge sucker for old hospitals, but Westborough always felt particularly special.

There are some parts of the hospital that I never bothered to properly photograph (namely the interior and exterior of Admin and the interior of the theater), but I thought I'd compile some of my favorite shots from my time spent here.

Starting with a few exteriors....


...The rear of the Administration building, viewed from the female ward:
48678214236_40d0572aeb_z.jpg






A connecting corridor to Administration, looking towards the female ward:
47857817632_0f599c0217_z.jpg





Parked in front of Admin:
48690584617_ac508a752d_z.jpg





The Talbot building, with the Childs building in the background:
48677878263_5efbca3b82_z.jpg





The rear of Administration from the male ward:
48690413721_f0b42166e5_z.jpg





The auditorium and Codman building:
48690584932_09b37f0163_z.jpg






Ivy-covored brick exterior of the female ward:
48678198272_d4d709b0d4_z.jpg






The female ward on a snowy afternoon:
25508289068_f6750262c7_z.jpg






One of several doctor's cottages:
37046829433_2c7356386f_z.jpg




...Moving inside, through the system of connecting corridors and tunnels, and into the wards...


These connectors allowed access between the male/female sections and the Admin/dining/recreation areas:
23142770370_429053fd4e_z.jpg





38501574935_9e5d2655c6_z.jpg




A tunnel directly underneath the corridor pictured above (with a cistern bulging out on the left):
37665391506_b75faab0d1_z.jpg




A forgotten gurney:
37681865722_d587f78140_z.jpg





48677875503_9c13ff45a2_z.jpg





37685093332_64e35fbac9_z.jpg





29687202507_d948217133_z.jpg





37685096562_8dcb4d63e8_z.jpg




Ornate suicide guards on a ward stairwell:
43716111845_90639ddfc6_z.jpg





37713263396_b701ea6609_z.jpg





48679116021_de31654b3c_z.jpg





48560124801_a880f39882_z.jpg




A particularly severe collapse:
22811368723_41d8c33406_z.jpg





40943245723_516ec7d63d_z.jpg





23307319573_0493ca483a_z.jpg




One of several pianos left behind in the female wards:
37633744916_8d71c605db_z.jpg





23908743418_0dba84059d_z.jpg





39348871152_45fb5f6509_z.jpg




A patient porch on the end of the male ward:
23305793964_a32cd6e48c_z.jpg





30223838607_8bf67e4b84_z.jpg





37685100042_a567daf78c_z.jpg




Continued.....
 

cgrizzy

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
....A few more shots from the main building:


Male ward utility room:
40943249083_69befb8184_z.jpg





23672948298_707c137b82_z.jpg





47857737802_fe43d3329d_z.jpg





37761770331_a7987fa927_z.jpg





25509254448_2175b2a9bf_z.jpg





37761768941_df35e4a8f5_z.jpg




Some bibles and a frowny chair:
23825807432_de8f4c3942_z.jpg





23825755432_d1c9b41276_z.jpg




Hallway to nowhere:
23934092925_4611b3919b_z.jpg




More peely paint and woodwork in the female ward:
48038980538_0576106778_z.jpg





Now on to some of the outbuildings, starting with the kitchen/cafeteria:
23305900854_21f441af26_z.jpg





23638411960_3eedf8e131_z.jpg





23638407450_3a14255d86_z.jpg





22810149414_50a1779d44_z.jpg




Some laundry facilities:
48690412866_9ee58db892_z.jpg





...And on to the Codman and Childs buildings, which contained some nice architecture and artifacts...


...Including a few wheelchairs:
37640771535_0e372dbf31_z.jpg





43113916445_080ed116fd_z.jpg





29687120237_8700dcbea3_z.jpg





44020144291_671d2ace60_z.jpg





30755499328_362abf4aa5_z.jpg





43077727185_cec8f1c8c7_z.jpg




Same spot as previous photo, one year later:
43301174424_5efc76bc71_z.jpg





44020170581_263e55e331_z.jpg





37714255721_0ab59de890_z.jpg





23672929018_d1c42d39ae_z.jpg





42815555400_5085c43048_z.jpg





36814851894_4d4d9c51b9_z.jpg





43906715984_13261cbe35_z.jpg





44250695345_58a533beb6_z.jpg




...And one last farewell:
48352572902_0855fe89ea_z.jpg




Thanks for looking!
 

Calamity Jane

i see beauty in the unloved, places & things
Regular User
Liking this, strange mix of brickwork & wooden structures. I found this image particularly interesting & slightly daunting, brings alsorts of stuff to the imagination. But really like the whole report .:thumb:thumb

:thumb
1567856058166.png
 

mookster

grumpy sod
Regular User
Really good shots of one of my favourite American explores. So gutted I never got more than one visit here before it was flattened.
 

HughieD

28DL Regular User
Regular User
This place is amazing, as are your pictures. Your eye for composition and the use of colours is second-to-none. Superb report. As for that car, that's just bizarre! Thank you for that.
 
Top