Essex County Hospital Center
Encyclopedia
The Essex County Hospital Center is a defunct psychiatric hospital
that is located in the Township of Cedar Grove, New Jersey
. The hospital was used as a normal hospital then converted to house mentally ill patients that were in need of care. Located at the edge of the Hilltop Reservation
and designated a Conservation Easement in 2001 by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the site now is part of the Essex County park system.
; the land was bought to build a new hospital to relive pressure in the overcrowded Newark Hospital.During the late 1800s and early 1900s, many buildings were built that housed patients and other facilities, such as a power house, laundromat, and theater. According to Weird New Jersey, in the winter of 1917, the hospital suffered a major catastrophe with the failure of the hospital's boilers and a number of patients freezing to death in their beds. in the mid 1920's, the tri-state mental correction board bought the land and converted Overbrook into a mental institution. the Overbrook asylum ran on, adding several add-ons and new wards until it's abrupt close in the winter of 1975. It has been claimed that over 10,000 patients have died before it was closed.a large mental institution such as Overbrook would be kept out of public view and knowledge, because official few books, articles and maps have been found. In 2008, the hospital was featured on the paranormal reality TV shows Ghost Adventures
and Ghost Hunters
.
Psychiatric hospital
Psychiatric hospitals, also known as mental hospitals, are hospitals specializing in the treatment of serious mental disorders. Psychiatric hospitals vary widely in their size and grading. Some hospitals may specialise only in short-term or outpatient therapy for low-risk patients...
that is located in the Township of Cedar Grove, New Jersey
Cedar Grove, New Jersey
-Climate:Cedar Grove has a humid subtropical climate, with warm/hot humid summers and cool/cold winters. The climate is slightly colder overall during the summer than in New York City because there is no urban heat island effect....
. The hospital was used as a normal hospital then converted to house mentally ill patients that were in need of care. Located at the edge of the Hilltop Reservation
Hilltop Reservation
The Hilltop Reservation is a nature preserve located in Essex County, New Jersey, in the host communities of Cedar Grove, North Caldwell and Verona. It has over , and is the most recent addition to the Essex County Parks System...
and designated a Conservation Easement in 2001 by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the site now is part of the Essex County park system.
History
In 1896, a large portion of land was purchased by the City of Newark, New JerseyNewark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
; the land was bought to build a new hospital to relive pressure in the overcrowded Newark Hospital.During the late 1800s and early 1900s, many buildings were built that housed patients and other facilities, such as a power house, laundromat, and theater. According to Weird New Jersey, in the winter of 1917, the hospital suffered a major catastrophe with the failure of the hospital's boilers and a number of patients freezing to death in their beds. in the mid 1920's, the tri-state mental correction board bought the land and converted Overbrook into a mental institution. the Overbrook asylum ran on, adding several add-ons and new wards until it's abrupt close in the winter of 1975. It has been claimed that over 10,000 patients have died before it was closed.a large mental institution such as Overbrook would be kept out of public view and knowledge, because official few books, articles and maps have been found. In 2008, the hospital was featured on the paranormal reality TV shows Ghost Adventures
Ghost Adventures
Ghost Adventures is a weekly American paranormal television series that premiered on October 17, 2008 on the Travel Channel. Currently produced by MY-Tupelo Entertainment , the program follows and stars ghost hunters Zak Bagans, Nick Groff, and Aaron Goodwin, as they investigate locations that are...
and Ghost Hunters
Ghost Hunters
Ghost Hunters is an American paranormal reality television series that premiered on October 6, 2004, on Syfy . The program features paranormal investigators Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson who investigate places that are reported to be haunted. The two originally worked as plumbers for Roto-Rooter as...
.
New hospital
In late 2006, the new Essex County Hospital Center 40.8519085°N 74.2342726°W opened just down the road from the site of the original Overbrook Hospital. This hospital center houses chronically ill psychiatric patients in need of longer lengths of stay than are available in community hospitals and medical centers. The new hospital center takes a cutting edge approach to behavioral health care, and its layout and programs stand in stark contrast to the hundred year old facility it replaced. The new hospital is located at 204 Grove Avenue in Cedar Grove.- Weird NJ History, Photos, Legends of Essex County Hospital (AKA Overbrook Asylum for the Insane).
- .designedbreakdown. Short history and photo gallery exhibiting present-day decay on the site.
- Shadows and Rust Recent photographs of the inside and outside of the site prior to demolition.
- North Jersey Exploration Pictures of Overbrook Hospital.
- Vacant New Jersey Photographs of Essex County Hospital Center.
In popular culture
- In 2008, the hospital was featured on the paranormal reality series Ghost AdventuresGhost AdventuresGhost Adventures is a weekly American paranormal television series that premiered on October 17, 2008 on the Travel Channel. Currently produced by MY-Tupelo Entertainment , the program follows and stars ghost hunters Zak Bagans, Nick Groff, and Aaron Goodwin, as they investigate locations that are...
on the Travel ChannelTravel ChannelThe Travel Channel is a satellite and cable television channel that is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, US. It features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world. Programming has included shows in African animal safaris,...
, but due to privacy, the name and location were not revealed. - In 2009, the hospital was featured on paranormal reality show Ghost HuntersGhost HuntersGhost Hunters is an American paranormal reality television series that premiered on October 6, 2004, on Syfy . The program features paranormal investigators Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson who investigate places that are reported to be haunted. The two originally worked as plumbers for Roto-Rooter as...
on SyfySyfySyfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
. - On Halloween 2009, the hospital was featured on Ghost Hunters: Live Halloween Countdown on SyfySyfySyfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
. - In 2009, the hospital was featured on Ghost Hunters AcademyGhost Hunters AcademyGhost Hunters Academy is a paranormal reality television series that premiered on November 11, 2009 on the Syfy channel. The program is the third spin-off series based on Ghost Hunters...
on SyfySyfySyfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
. - Wheeler AntabanezWheeler AntabanezWheeler Antabanez is the alter-ego and pen name for Montclair, New Jersey-based writer Matt Kent . Antabanez is best known as the author of best selling special issue of Weird NJ, Nightshade on the Passaic and gasstationthoughts and The Daily Journal Of Wheeler Antabanez, published by Barricade...
has written extensively about The Essex County Hospital Center. His Overbrook web page contains videos, photos and essays about the abandoned hospital center including documentation of the demolition process.