It answers many of the questions we have received via comments. State hospital cemetery, manteno, kankakee, illinois. Information taken from national register of historic places paperwork. Excerpt from a report on a typhoid fever epidemic at manteno state hospital in 1939, printed in 1945 by authority of the state of illinois harold c. The manteno project, information and photographs about the history of the manteno state hospital aka the manteno mental health center, in manteno, illinois. Over the next few years, the hospital expanded in size, including extensive work in the electrical system, a comprehensive tunnel thoroughfare, and a sanitary and sewer system, all run by a central power station. The following are notes taken from an interview with a sociology professor who had once worked at msh as a mental health care professional.
Some stay one week, some twobut the law requires them. They house the 5,500 insane patients and 760 employes of manteno state hospital. Manteno community room photos courtesy phil tkacz, as the scope and funding of manteno state hospital grew, so did the number of patients. The institutions campus, on which the hospital wards and other buildings were built, is located two miles east and a mile south of the village of manteno and totals 389 acres. Manteno state mental hospital ghost hunt pics ghostly. On a flat plain 48 miles south of chicago lie 60 squat redbrick buildings. It was creepy down there though, i remember a childsized chair just sitting in a tiny, dark alcove with no explanation. The patient population reached 8,185 in 1954, the 4th largest in the nation. Since the hospital s closure, many visitors have come back with strange stories.
When it first opened, manteno accommodated 6,620 total residents. History, size facts about hospitals facilities given over 40 years ago, in 1927, the first acres of farmland that would later become the 1200 acre manteno state hospital were purchased by the state of illinois. Get the billiongraves app now and help collect images for this cemetery. These sinister bathtubs come from manteno state hospital. Records of state mental hospitals at the illinois state archives, part. Top 10 creepiest abandoned places in illinois mysterious.
Built in the late 1800s, it was the largest building in the state at the time of its construction, more than a mile in circumference. Gustaf oscar dalstrom 18931971 in 1936, through the federal art project, manteno state hospital secured a number of murals for the lobby of the administration building. These tunnels were similar to nearby manteno state hospitals tunnels. Mar 01, 20 manteno community room photos courtesy phil tkacz, as the scope and funding of manteno state hospital grew, so did the number of patients.
Finished in 1937, this drearyneat plant boasts many a modern improvement, including special wells, tapping a limestone watertable 17 feet underground, which supply the. The state run facility had been abandoned years ago. Because of the nature of the hospital, information on a patient cannot be released except on a signed consent from a relative. Manteno state hospital in manteno,illinois was once one of the largest mental facilities in the us, they had over 8,000 patients by the 1950s. Many other buildings have been renovated for other uses as of july 2009. In the last three years megan bland has made more than a dozen trips from her rogers park apartment to investigate the ruins of manteno state hospital, which closed unceremoniously in 1985. New book highlights manteno history through photos local. Manteno madness on a flat plain 48 miles south of chicago lie 60 squat redbrick buildings. Or she thumbs through books on the subject that intrigues her the most.
Exploring illinois abandoned psychiatric hospitals by hale goetz in news on apr 1, 2016 3. I had an uncle there as a patient for having downs syndrome. History, size facts about hospital s facilities given over 40 years ago, in 1927, the first acres of farmland that would later become the 1200 acre manteno state hospital were purchased by the state of illinois. Manteno historical society museum and society offices. At its peak, manteno was one of the largest facilities of its kind in the world. Manteno state hospital was a psychiatric hospital located in. Manteno state mental hospital ghost hunt, march 9, 20, manteno, illinois. It was almost hard to imagine that it had once been the home of so many mentally ill people. These tunnels were similar to nearby manteno state hospital s tunnels. This does not mean there are no buildings left standing.
Manteno state hospital opened in and its population peaked in 1954 with just over patients. If you are an immediate family member of a deceased patient, or can get. Exploring illinois abandoned psychiatric hospitals. By 1929 the dedication ceremony took place with illinois announcing manteno as the tenth such hospital to be dedicated by the state of illinois to the welfare. Jul 04, 2018 adrian alvarado, an historian gives an insight to manteno state hospital. My research to date shows there are two ways to obtain them, depending if immediate family members survive. The manteno state hospital began construction in 1928 and the first patients were admitted in 1930. While i was there, it was packed to overflowing with unwanted children and societys rejects. Sep 06, 2012 a wheelchair in the abandoned norwich state hospital is pictured clean.
Illinois state mental hospitals and state institutions. The hospital eventually was renamed the manteno mental health center. A followup to this post was published on thursday, july 26, 2012, with the title help in accessing closed records of illinois state mental hospitals. To learn more about accessing mental health records, please read this followup after reading the post below. In 1939 the manteno state hospital befell a tragic epidemic of typhoid fever, involving 453 cases and resulting in 60 deaths. More of a community than a hospital, manteno was a massive undertaking that, on the surface, appeared grandiose in both scope and promise. The nurses did the best they could with what they had, but thats another story. The tunnels photos of the abandoned camp bluefields tweed. Piepenbrink 19261976 manteno state hospital superintendent from march 1, 1967 to august 31, 1970 later mr.
His most notable book, nutrition and mental illness. The 1930s manteno state hospital suffered a typhoid fever epidemic in 1939, and more than 50 patients and staff members died. In the 1950s manteno state hospital was at its height. Manteno state hospital manteno, illinois the 1930s manteno state hospital suffered a typhoid fever epidemic in 1939, and more than 50 patients and staff members died. This has got be the hardest emotional book ive ever read,it starts with her early life wasnt good,ending up in the worst place. Manteno state hospital cemetery eastern state hospital. See more ideas about abandoned asylums, abandoned hospital and abandoned places. State hospital cemetery, created by billiongraves, manteno, kankakee, illinois, united states take billiongraves with you wherever you go. It was a psychiatric hospital, most densely populated in the mid1950s. Letter remembering the now haunted manteno state hospital. Exclusive letter from one who visited the insane asylum click here to read it.
Few noticed or cared as she had been a prisoner of illinois state mental institutions for over 50 years. In the 1960s, the hospital handled approximately 8,000 patients. But after being committed to manteno, gennie would never be the same. It made the trip from cook county psychopathic hospital to elgin, kankakee and manteno. History and photos of the abandoned manteno state hospital, in manteno, il. Located in rural kankakee county, manteno state hospital opened in 1930. The state would take her freedom, and the doctors would take her sanity. The abundance of abandoned asylums and psychiatric hospitals in the new england area create the bulk of the locations here. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. If i didnt have manteno state hospital i think i would go nuts, she says.
State hospital cemetery, manteno, kankakee, illinois, united states. It became the largest mental health facility in the state of illinois and even in. Manteno state hospital formerly manteno state mental hospital was a psychiatric hospital located in rural manteno township in kankakee county, illinois. Manteno state hospital newspapers from 1965 to 1973 are available at the manteno public library. These sinister bathtubs come from manteno state hospital in illinois, an asylum which has now been demolished. The author was a medical student who signed on as a research assistant at manteno state hospital when he witnessed shock treatments and worse. I thank all of you who have commented on my march 2012 article about mental hospital records at the illinois state archives. The facility was authorized in 1927 by the 55th illinois general assembly with its first patients arriving in december 1930. Piepenbrink became president of the association of behavioral healthcare management abhm. You could tell that at one time, in its day, this hospital had been architecturally grand and beautiful in its remote little setting of the manteno countryside.
In 1939, in an incident that time magazine referred to as the manteno madness, 384 patients and staff came down with typhoid fever and more than 50 ultimately died. Manteno state hospital history in the 1920s, a need for an additional illinois mental health facility began to grow as the state hospitals in jacksonville, elgin, and kankakee became overcrowded. Underground service tunnels linked all the buildings. Manteno state hospital was a psychiatric hospital located in rural manteno township in kankakee county, illinois. Haunted places in manteno, illinois haunted places. This is a video tribute to the memories and history of manteno state hospital until its final demolition. Genealogy research at the manteno historical society. Clearly there is a clamoring for access to the closed patient records. Top 10 most haunted hospitals in illinois mysterious heartland.
Finished in 1937, this drearyneat plant boasts many a modern improvement, including special wells, tapping a limestone watertable 17 feet underground, which supply the hospital with water. This is a video tribute to all of the old insane asylums and hospitals that use to be in manteno illinois. Quite the contrary, the campus is comprised of about 65% of the hospital s original structures. Manteno state hospital, spread across 1,220 acres of land, opened in 1930, welcoming 100 male patients from kankakee state hospital. Gennie said she would like to have a job, clothes, some books. Records of state mental hospitals at the illinois state. The tunnels below the buildings are also supposed to be very haunted, and at least one person who went down there felt like he was touched by something unseen.
Manteno state hospital in 2020 scary places, abandoned. The hospital was built as a series of approximately 40 buildings called cottages with nearly a mile of underground tunnels connecting the buildings. Adrian alvarado, an historian gives an insight to manteno state hospital. Copies made from digital format cost 50% of the paper copy charges. Top 10 most haunted hospitals in illinois mysterious. The tunnels stretched quite a long way and i believe some of them even went under active stuff. In 1939, this 1930s hospital suffered a typhoid fever epidemic and more than 50 patients and staff members died. Oct 30, 2003 in the last three years megan bland has made more than a dozen trips from her rogers park apartment to investigate the ruins of manteno state hospital, which closed unceremoniously in 1985. Mar 10, 20 manteno state mental hospital ghost hunt, march 9, 20, manteno, illinois.
Manteno state hospital was later renamed the manteno. Information about visiting the diversatech manteno va home grounds former manteno state hospital grounds there is nothing left of manteno state hospital to explore. The written request goes to the medical records department of the state hospital. I remember getting stooped at a dead end by a locked hatch that, i think, led up to an active building. In 1927 the state of illinois purchased over 1,000 acres of land earmarked for a massive mental health complex to become known as manteno state hospital. There are underground utility tunnels leading from building to building in the facility. Manteno state hospital opened its doors in the early 1930s as construction on the sprawling hospital was still ongoing. These creepy images of an abandoned illinois mental hospital will give you goosebumps.
Haunted manteno state hospital in illinois is fascinating. Manteno state hospital, manteno, illinois lost hospital. The shapiro center was generating and submitting to the state treasury, 65% of its total operational costs. Manteno state hospital manteno illinois real haunted place. As the scope and funding of manteno state hospital grew, so did the number of patients. These buildings are abandoned but left in original condition. State hospital cemetery, manteno, kankakee, illinois, united. Aug 23, 2012 this video starts off with the history of manteno state hospital and when it was first opened in the late 1920s. Apr 24, 20 few noticed or cared as she had been a prisoner of illinois state mental institutions for over 50 years. He felt helpless working in a system he could not change and so kept a diary of everything he saw and experienced. The sanitary conditions that led to this unfortunate event were deplorable. Manteno state hospital in manteno, illinois, opened its doors two days after christmas day in 1930 with the arrival of the first 100 male patients transferred from kankakee state hospital. One of the most disturbing, yet not shocking, discoveries made about manteno state hospital was the sexual activity of patients and staff during the 1960s and 1970s.
A wheelchair in the abandoned norwich state hospital is pictured clean. This video starts off with the history of manteno state hospital and when it was first opened in the late 1920s. Due to a rapid increase in the hospital s population the original water and sewage provisions quickly became overburdened and inadequate. Manteno state hospital, one of two former mental health facilities in kankakee county, illinois, opened its doors in the early 1930s. Help in accessing closed records of illinois state mental.
In 1929, the cornerstone for the newly dedicated manteno state hospital was placed, and the first patients were admitted one year later from nearby kankakee state hospital. Most new patient admissions were now brought in by a state run bus instead of railroad. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. The cemeteries are large and are located on the far. Many disturbing things took place here, as you can imagine would be the case at a mental hospital during this time. I have and written about in four paranormal books, at times individuals write me, send me. Letter remembering the now haunted manteno state hospital insane asylum by edward shanahan. Federal and state census reports from 1820 1850 are located at the abraham lincoln presidential library.
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