Taunton State Hospital
Encyclopedia
The Taunton State Hospital (formerly known as the State Lunatic Hospital at Taunton) is a psychiatric hospital
built in 1854 in Taunton, Massachusetts
.
The architecture of most of the facility's buildings is of a unique and rare neo-classical style, designed by the architect Elbridge Boyden
. It is also a Kirkbride Plan
Hospital.
One of the building's most beautiful features was its breezeways, which were added in the 1890s to connect the end of the wards to the hospitals infirmary buildings. Its distinct cupolas, large dome, cast-iron capitals and window bar gave this building its own very unusual personality.
In 1975 the hospital was abandoned, as it was no longer needed. In 1999 the large dome which towered over the hospital's administration collapsed. Then, on the night of March 19, 2006 a massive fire broke out in the center of the building, which included the administration and theater. Sections damaged by fire were then leveled, leaving only the decaying wings of the Kirkbride
.
The history of these buildings has been brought to an end. Being the last Kirkbride left standing in the state, the last days were marked as the end of an era. During late May 2009, workers began a complete abatement and demolition on all of the disused buildings on the property.
Internists at TSH:
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...
built in 1854 in Taunton, Massachusetts
Taunton, Massachusetts
Taunton is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the seat of Bristol County and the hub of the Greater Taunton Area. The city is located south of Boston, east of Providence, north of Fall River and west of Plymouth. The City of Taunton is situated on the Taunton River...
.
The architecture of most of the facility's buildings is of a unique and rare neo-classical style, designed by the architect Elbridge Boyden
Elbridge Boyden
Elbridge Boyden was a prominent 19th century American architect from Worcester, Massachusetts who designed numerous civil and public buildings throughout New England and other parts of the United States. Perhaps his best known work is Mechanics Hall in Worcester.Boyden was born in Vermont on July...
. It is also a Kirkbride Plan
Kirkbride Plan
The Kirkbride Plan refers to a system of mental asylum design advocated by Philadelphia psychiatrist Thomas Story Kirkbride in the mid-19th century.-History:The establishment of state mental hospitals in the U.S...
Hospital.
History
To relieve the pressure of a rising patient population from its only asylum, the state appointed a commission to find a site for a new asylum in 1851. After its completion in 1854, the second State Lunatic Hospital began taking in patients.One of the building's most beautiful features was its breezeways, which were added in the 1890s to connect the end of the wards to the hospitals infirmary buildings. Its distinct cupolas, large dome, cast-iron capitals and window bar gave this building its own very unusual personality.
In 1975 the hospital was abandoned, as it was no longer needed. In 1999 the large dome which towered over the hospital's administration collapsed. Then, on the night of March 19, 2006 a massive fire broke out in the center of the building, which included the administration and theater. Sections damaged by fire were then leveled, leaving only the decaying wings of the Kirkbride
Kirkbride Plan
The Kirkbride Plan refers to a system of mental asylum design advocated by Philadelphia psychiatrist Thomas Story Kirkbride in the mid-19th century.-History:The establishment of state mental hospitals in the U.S...
.
The history of these buildings has been brought to an end. Being the last Kirkbride left standing in the state, the last days were marked as the end of an era. During late May 2009, workers began a complete abatement and demolition on all of the disused buildings on the property.
Staff
Psychiatrists at TSH:- Whitney Wolff, MD (Medical Director)
- David Osser, MD (clinical Director)
- Mudassir Syed Ali, MD
- Nancy Reed, MD
- Anthony Jackson, MD
- Syed Mazhar Moosvi, MD
- Susan Cullen, CNS
- Charu Patel, MD
- Raluca Savu, MD
- Julius Bokor, MD
- Sachin Phansalkar, MD
Internists at TSH:
- William Glass, MD
- Melissa Martin, NP
- Cynthia Knight, NP
Famous patients
- Jane ToppanJane ToppanJane Toppan , born Honora Kelley, was an American female serial killer. She confessed to 11 murders in 1901. She is quoted as saying that her ambition was "to have killed more people — helpless people — than any other man or woman who ever lived...".-Early life:Though scant records...
- Lizzie Borden Often talked about as being held in the asylum. However, she was never admitted and is only known as being held in the jail which was on Hodges Ave near the hospital during the trial.
See also
- List of Registered Historic Places in Taunton, Massachusetts
- Taunton, MassachusettsTaunton, MassachusettsTaunton is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the seat of Bristol County and the hub of the Greater Taunton Area. The city is located south of Boston, east of Providence, north of Fall River and west of Plymouth. The City of Taunton is situated on the Taunton River...
- Kirkbride PlanKirkbride PlanThe Kirkbride Plan refers to a system of mental asylum design advocated by Philadelphia psychiatrist Thomas Story Kirkbride in the mid-19th century.-History:The establishment of state mental hospitals in the U.S...
Further reading
- Taunton State Hospital, Massachusetts Liberman et al. Am J Psychiatry.2003; 160: 2098