The Dawn of an Institution
In the heart of Athens, Ohio, a symbol of historical significance has withstood the test of time: the Athens Lunatic Asylum. Its story began in 1868 when the ground was broken on the Arthur Coates and Eliakim H. Moore farms. This marked the beginning of an institution serving as a beacon of care for the mentally ill for many years.
The original design of the Athens Lunatic Asylum was influenced by Dr. Thomas Story Kirkbride’s philosophy on mental health care. He believed in creating serene and spacious environments for patients, which was reflected in the construction of the asylum.
The architectural plan featured a central administrative hub with separate wings designated for male and female patients on either side. The primary building could accommodate up to 572 patients, nearly twice the capacity suggested by Kirkbride.
The architect Levi T. Scofield of Cleveland and landscape designer Herman Haerlin of Cincinnati worked together to bring Kirkbride’s vision to life. Their collaboration created a staggered “bat-wing” floor plan of the wards, High Victorian Gothic architecture, and sprawling grounds.
A Beacon of Care
On January 9, 1874, the Athens Lunatic Asylum opened its doors. It provided services to various patients, including Civil War veterans, children, and those declared mentally unwell. The hospital underwent several name changes throughout its operational years, reflecting its evolving role in the community.
Notably, the hospital functioned as a secluded community. It wasn’t self-sustaining but had its own livestock, farm fields and gardens, an orchard, greenhouses, and dairy. These features served a dual purpose.
They provided the hospital with self-sustainability and offered the patients therapeutic benefits. Work, particularly tasks requiring skill, was viewed as medicinal and economically benefited the state.
While the hospital provided care to those in need, it is also remembered for its infamous lobotomy procedure. This controversial procedure, which involved surgically cutting into the frontal lobes of the brain, is now regarded as a dark chapter in the history of mental health treatment.
Expansion and Evolution
With time, the Athens Lunatic Asylum expanded. It added specialized buildings like the Dairy Barn (now an arts center), Beacon School, Athens Receiving Hospital, Center Hospital, and the Tubercular Ward. These additions allowed the hospital to offer more services to its patients and the community.
The expansion also meant that the hospital could accommodate more patients. The main building was supplemented with seven cottages, including Cottage B, to house more patients.
Despite their smaller size, these cottages facilitated a beneficial arrangement of patients in a setting reminiscent of a dormitory. By the decade of the 1950s, the hospital had become the biggest employer in the town, serving a population of 1,800 patients.
Shadows of the Past
The Athens Lunatic Asylum has a storied history of chilling tales and dark secrets. The asylum was operational from 1874 to 1993 and grew from 141 acres to a sprawling 1000-acre property with 78 buildings.
Despite its tranquil surroundings, Athens Lunatic Asylum was also known for its harsh treatment methods, such as ice water baths, electroshock therapies, and lobotomies, especially during periods of overcrowding.
Additionally, the hospital’s patient demographic changed over the years, with individuals deemed rebellious or inconvenient by their families also being committed to the institution.
The Ridges is perhaps most infamously known for the tale of Margaret Shilling, a patient who mysteriously disappeared and was later found dead, leaving a permanent stain in the form of her body imprint on the hospital floor.
Her spirit and those of other patients are said to haunt the former hospital buildings. Ghostly figures, strange lights, disembodied voices, and even screams are reported phenomena, adding a layer of eerie mystique to the asylum’s past.
The Ridges: A New Chapter
After the closure of the Athens Lunatic Asylum in 1993, the State of Ohio acquired the property and repurposed it, renaming it “The Ridges.” The term was derived from a naming contest held in 1984 to provide a new identity for the area and its evolving purpose.
Today, The Ridges is a part of Ohio University and house various facilities, including the Kennedy Museum of Art, an auditorium, numerous offices, classrooms, and storage facilities. It stands as a reminder of the area’s history while serving a new function in the present.
The building’s former function as a mental health institution still resonates in the architecture and layout, with the main building maintaining its original design by the Kirkbride Plan.
Conclusion
The Athens Lunatic Asylum represents a complex part of our history. Its story is a testament to how our understanding and treatment of mental health has evolved. The site bears the marks of its past—both in its physical form and the stories of ghostly encounters that continue circulating.
Yet, it has also experienced a rebirth, transforming into a space of learning and culture, demonstrating resilience and the possibility of new beginnings even in the shadow of a challenging past.
While the specters of its former life as a mental institution continue to haunt The Ridges, these stories form an essential part of its identity and remind its history. Moreover, these narratives and the site’s current role as part of a university and cultural center create a unique blend of past and present that sets The Ridges apart.
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