The hospital first opened its doors in 1904 in Norwich, Connecticut. It was built in an idyllic location chosen for its therapeutic properties overlooking the River Thames.
The Norwich Insane Asylum was built isolated from civilization, which worked to its benefit as it began to grow during its early years sprouting new buildings that accompanied the original construction (see aerial view of the hospital here). These new construction projects included patient wards, staff cottages, laboratories and workshops. All of the structures were interconnected by a large network of underground utility tunnels. These tunnels transported electricity, hot water, and patients to various areas on the grounds. The hospital remained self-sufficient, almost like a small town, with its own power plant, pump house, working farm, kitchen, theater and church.
Over 3,000 patients and 1,000 employees were residents on the asylum grounds in the 1950’s.
Slowly patients began to leave Norwich State Hospital due to deinstitutionalization and it permanently closed its doors in 1996. Since then time has basically stood still on the property with a few exceptions. Currently there is talk about converting the grounds into a theme park, but nothing has been set in stone.
After a long tedious drive we leave the car in a commuter parking lot close to the buildings. Ever the vigilant group of explorers we notice a State Trooper making his rounds and dive into the forest for cover. Luckily we outsmarted the police yet again and after regrouping walk along the Thames River for a few hundred feet. We finally see the abandoned pump house looming in the distance and decide to make this our entryway into the campus.
This site has a reputation for being well guarded, well patrolled, and does not take kindly to trespassers. I am always on edge when exploring across the Atlantic and the numerous “State Property – No Trespassing” signs that litter the grounds did not bode well for my paranoia. Instead of exposing ourselves above ground to security and prying eyes, we decided to take the underground route through the utility tunnels.
Using the tunnels we explored many buildings without ever being forced to go outside. This method of travel was soon confirmed to be the safest. On our first attempt to venture outside we were only a few feet away from a security officer in a black uniform. Fortunately he didn’t look our way and we quickly receded back into the tunnel network. For a while we hid in the abandoned theater so we could look around the campus without being seen.
This encounter with security dampened our spirits and made our visit a whole lot shorter than we would have liked. We made our grande exit through the empty chapel, this allowed us to avoid walking back through the forest. As we were walking back to the commuter lot to pickup our car we noticed the State Trooper had been watching us as we suspiciously walked down the road. I wonder where we went to and were coming back from?!
Archive document introducing a new therapy (click to enlarge):
Special thanks to Dr. Bob for sharing the old postcards.
Yeah, I noticed that in your shots of all their vehicles that they were taken from Kettle. That's what got me wondering if they went inside and if they had, which building it was. Good job at making it out unseen!
only in kettle. I saw a lot of cars, you can see them in the photos I posted below (norwich 2)when I left, psrked out front was the fire marshals truck too. they had the 4 doors of the stairwells open you can see pics of that too in the begining of the set. I read they are from branford the company name was listed somewhere too. the scarry part was I was in Kettle when they came in. I got past them and out the tunnel to lodge.
good luck Ken
The workers that you saw- Did you see if they went into any of the buildings?
another note, while I did not see security the rest of the day I did see a state cop car thursday when the workers showed up and a SUV prestion cop a few times. I saw a memo somewhere posted that they had 2 state cops from nearby troops for advisory, also remember the land in preston is prestons the land in norwich still belongs to the state. preston has been tring to get norwich to take a simular deal they did but norwich is not going for it because they don't want to pay for the clean up the state left. on monday I saw a security car parked on the grass on the house on the corner or rt12 and hillcrest and the sign still say state proporty. so that make 4 differnt patrols to avoid.
the budget for 2010 I thought was $1,000,000 plus grants that come is steps the estimated cost for CLEAN UP is $60,000,000 and to think preston rejected 2, billion doller deals for the property because they didn't want to increase traffic in the area now the stuff they are proposing will do just that.
thanks Ken
news papers name Day & Zimmerman as company, as to the rest I do not know at all I know they were there last thursday mourning in a white truck came with in 100 feet to me and reved the engine and drove away. I was playing bush in a bush and he did not see me. I did not see him the rest of the day but there were a lot of workers there that showed up to kettle around 7:30 to do the clean out. they were not on suits so there not cleaning asbestos or lead paint, they didn't have pumps so they were not cleaning out psb. I am guessing they were removing mercury from floresant bulbs and thermostats. they need to clean all that stuff out of the property before they can start knocking things down. they also need to clean the stuff underground that the state burried. plus there are the conduits that run to all the buildings that didn't run through tunnels. ie the lab, kirkbridge, rav have no tunnels but have burried things runnig to them. the info I am posting is all on the internent most of it on the preston town site under the preston redevelopment agency, there are maps of the conduits, they have had EPA, advisiors and others. the state is making clean everything and if they don't they forfit the property. it also seems the residents don't mind having the lad but don't like the fact there tases are going up because of it. the was also and oil spill found under the middle school that needs to be cleaned up also, preston has no high school. I can see this whole thing falling apart.
the only good thing is they have gotten a grant to save the admion building and they are tring to include salmen and awl. I have been in all 3 salmon is in sad shape roof missing in spots, walls falling from freezing. awl is just as bad, roof leaks there is a huge hole in the second floor in the middle.
good luck to all and be safe Ken
Do we know what outfit they are with? how many? shifts? days on? I gotta travel for awhile but when I get back I wanna make a last trip...
Bomb- I read your message today after I got back, I went today because I knew it would be a quiet day with no workers and lazy security.... I was right went early this mourning and got in more of the buildings. look for me of facebook its the easiest way to message for me because I delete everything i get in e-mail just lok for my photostream name with the aol extension.
everyone else. I got more photos and it brings my nsh photo count for may to over 2200 photos, I seen a few of you already found them it takes a while to upload 1.5 gigs. I will go through in the next few days and tag the locations. I did make it to the chapel but my camera battery's gave up again. it anoys me because the card for the camera can hold over 4,000 pics but average battery only last 300, some how I get over 800 with the two batterys I had, the other carmera I use I left at work because I didn't know I was going to go until I got up this mourning.
Thanks Ken
www.flickr.com
tell when you go back an i can meet you there ok
The other day when I posted I didn't want to alert security I was going back that mourning.
I went back with the intensions of checking out a few more buildings and I did I also took a few more picks
ok when will the cat fight start
good luck an have fun
Thank you to everyone who has looked at me photos.
I went through and posted locations for the pic. best to do it now because I plan to go back soon.
Thanks Ken www.flickr.com
hey bonzo it's on rout 12 preston ct or just map quest it an as for the security there just a bunch of mall cops nothing to worry about so go have fun
could someone tell me where abouts is this place in Conn. and how is the security because i would love to check this place out.i live next to the Hudson River Psych center and that is a great place to explore with many buildings on the site.thanks for any info you can give
Don't go anywhere. There will be no fun anymore if you leave
Read all the way back to earlier this month. I wish that Ken person labled his Flicker pics with the building names it would be nice to have some reference. Great pics in spite of that though.
Sparkles-sorry it took me so long to email you back. You should have a lengthy one in your email box now.
Paul, JPT, Bomb, Sticky miss your comentary so don't go away and don't get peeved if folks aren't on the site enough. We all have lives and sometimes they truly intrude. Keep up the good work you guys are doing on this stuff! If you all care to friend on FB let me know and I will send the link.
Don't go anywhere...sorry not enough hours to get on the PC sometimes, haven't forgotten you all.
the new security company started today i went over to nsh to check them out i spent half hour an what i can tell there just mall cops if that but you know what they say you get what you pay for lol THE FUN WILL START
Its a bit lame...which reflects on our real lives I guess... sucks how life gets in the way of fun...
This board is deader than NSH. Everybody seems to have vanished, except Bomb and Myself. Sparkles on occasion. Oh well, one less bookmark. Adios, folks.
hey JPT it's bomb thank you
I have to agree with John.. roses. I would suggest wild roses. You can find them growing along the road, stop and dig up a few small ones, and plant them somewhere they can expand. Hardy, need little care. They grow like wildfire in Maine, and thats a lot harsher weather than we have here.
what going on have you ever tried growing roses
I'm here. Can't go on during the day much anymore because of school... But rest assured, I didn't go anywhere!
Wish I could grow my own things... The only thing I got growing right now is my neon yellow flowers. (Dahlias are pretty. Don't work so I have to do something to occupy my time.)
What , has this become the Bomb-JPT show? Where all da res'a you delinquents get ta?
Its called experience, intelligence, savvy, and a knowledge of esoteric humor.
So, no. Sorry. You have to grow your own.
HEY MANcan i have some whay your on man DAMN
Go placidly amid the noise and waste, and remember what comfort there may be in owning a piece thereof. Avoid quiet and passive persons, unless you are in need of sleep. Rotate your tires. Speak glowingly of those greater than yourself and heed well their advice, even though they be turkeys. Know what to kiss... and when. Consider that two wrongs never make a right... but that three do. Wherever possible, put people on hold. Be comforted that in the face of all erridity and disallusionment, and despite the changing fortunes of time, there is always a big future in computer maintainance.
Remember the Pueblo. Strive at all times to bend, fold, spindle, and mutilate. Know yourself. If you need help, call the FBI. Exercise caution in your daily affairs, especially with those persons closest to you... that lemon on your left, for instance. Be assured that a walk through the ocean of most souls would scarcely get your feet wet. Fall not in love, therefore; it will stick to your face. Gracefully surrender the things of youth, birds, clean air, tuna, Taiwan, and let not the sands of time get in your lunch. Hire people with hooks. For a good time call 606-4311. Ask for Ken. Take heart amid the deepening gloom that your dog is finally getting enough cheese, and reflect that whatever misfortune may be your lot, it could only be worse in Milwaukee.
You are a fluke of the Universe. You have no right to be here, and weather you can hear it or not, the Universe is laughing behind your back.
Therefore, make peace with your god, whatever you conceive him to be: hairy thunderer or cosmic muffin. With all its hopes, dreams, promises, and urban renewal, the world continues to deteriorate.
Give up
1998-2018 (c) - www.Forbidden-Places.net - Contact
[fr] 
[es]
