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.
Whens he work? get a schedule. I go say Hi...
so i will be takeing a trip next week, going out west gonna see about maybe makeing some pit stops and infiltrateing some awsome hospitals that will give nsh a run for its money lol, anybody ever heard of the marquette state hospital? gonna be an awsome time i will bring back pics if i get a chance to go ive also got a few other areas i will be hitting so i should have some good ones to post up
hey paul i say we all hit nsh hard the night danny on make him work lolololololololol
Sparky and I went for a little while Sat. great day to chill...a few car loads of people some teenagers just climbing into and out of the building. some explorers/photogs also. so nice to sit and people watch (another hobby Sparks and I enjoy) Its really a great site Kudos to Waterford for allowing the grounds to remain open. so lets try and work another day out to meet and hang out for a little while! NSH seems real quiet on weekends. more dumpsters on site and debris piles pushed up against buildings gates across the street were open and unlocked...odd. the end is near...
going to nsh sat night or sun just to take some pics
Unfortunately it didn't go as well as I hoped. Woke up..everything was planned ready to go..went out the door to my truck drove 5 feet and heard that I had a flat tire..Really bummed me out..but no worries..It will be planned again soon im sure. Would have been nice however. Maybe this next time around we can get a few more faces to join us. What's new around NSH anyone know? Bomb? anyone from that area seen recent activity? Hope everyone is doing well..What's this hospital you speak of? Sparkles how did your interview go? ..hopefully it was better than mine..lol. ..I've been all over CT mostly fishing lately..I too did a solo explore today..pics will follow for whomever is interested. talk to you all laters.
Yea what's up? I wanted to but had to work jpt...I had a pretty epic solo op yesterday, got to do one of the other hospitals-score! It was much smaller but in great condition...
Did you guys get together this past weekend?
I remember the fear....I remember the taste....isolation, reflection....a distant-echoed howl....the noise of souls....shadows moving on me....tension, animal- response....blind eyes dawning-and watching the river....the sword raised in judgement....in my distance burning-to bring me to you...I'm walking- into-the eternal-lake of light.
Neurosis-shadow
i meant to say i will get back to you about the cops at nsh sorry man!
What does " I will get make on the cops at nsh" actually mean? in english
hey sparkles i will get make to on the cops at nsh
Awesome..Sounds good man.. Sparkles is the one in charge.. However it will be tomorrow at some point.. Just a heads up! So just email Paul,Sparkles, Or myself..let us know what's up
Damn it. phucphace@gmail.com
I too- like boobies... Unfortionally all I have too look at here at work are mantits- ya knowwww, just not the same. I'm down for this weekend... I'll email you guys when I can, send me some info on the plan-phucphace@gmail.com (I love when I check that email and it says: Hello phucphace!, you have --- unread emails) haaaa...
R-bar tonight..they didn't advertise it..But I saw the tour bus and shit..R-bar is kinda weak..however I will be there in 3 hours ..gotta get fresh ..lol
I'm always nice. See where those speakers end up buddy. You might not sit right for a while. lol Girls Gone Wild? I want to see boobies in the bar! haha
Stab-you should attempt to meet up with us this weekend..Hopefully all works out and it turns out to be a good time. As long as Sparkles is nice to everyone it should be a blast.
Sparkles- I'm offended..watch out I'm ripping speakers out of my house! lol
JPT- Cool to finally talk with you..You sound professional to say the least. Good luck this weekend and remember we're all a phone call away.
As far as COPS being at Norwich..that's nothing Girls Gone Wild is at R-bar in New Haven tonight!! they had the tour bus and a tent set up and everything..might go urbex a few ...nevermind. lol
Hell yea! I love meeting other splorers, it doesn't happen often so...how many cruisers would you say there are?
Hoping that's all it is....
You wanna meet up with us sometime soon?
Ruh-roh! idk but that can't be good, maybe someone got bagged?
Anyone know why there is a shitload of cops at NSH?
I loves that place too... I heard that was sold and might not have long either... Funny story, last time I went , we messed with some kid that was looking in the windows, and he must of ratted on us because about 10-15 later I noticed the guard was chillin out front parked on the lawn. He was there for a good 20min, and I figured it was a good time to go out the side and around back to the other building. There was a stick holding the door to that one, so we went in and did it up, on the way out the door seemed stuck so I put a little shoulder into it and SNAP! the guard had wedged the stick back... The old way into that one was kinda sketchy! Haaaa! Yea I'm down for a meet up and doin' some other spots this summer if anyone wants to... I'll send you an email today sometime. Now it's time for stupid work-sigh...
Yeah buddy..You totally have to make the trip..even for a little bit ..Like you said .."put the faces to names" I have grown pretty close to all you guys. It would be an awesome time. I'm broke and miserable..but I wouldn't pass it up.
Bomb- Shut your face it makes me wanna puke.
Sparkles- See you guys Monday regardless..hopefully! @ middletown
It's pretty weird none of us have bothered to plan a meet and greet type deal in the first place..Especially with the dogs..Must say best idea in the world..However grillin' some grub would add to it.. I will see what I can come up with sale at Ferraro's Meat Market this week..I once saw a guy buy a whole pig and two huge racks of rib I mean FULL SIZE RIBS..lol just a thought
Currently, Soccer has already started, Cub Scouts is still going strong, and I'm in the process of trying to sell a house. (anybody looking for a place? Nice little place located off the main road, but still close to everything in Norwich. Priced to sell.) Its also birthday season , will be doing about 1-2 a month till after June.
Let me know when and where, and if I can, I'd like to go. If for no other reason than to put some faces to some names!
Way to get way off topic guys!! I sense energy drinks and painkillers at work here? anyway...the meet should go on...before we all get too busy! big summer comin! Sparkles in a security role! sweeet!! Chris get in there too! I will teach ya'll the skill of grifting! bomber...thanx for the info. see? bein legit and honest gets ya a lot further man...I appreciate it. Danny? Ima see U soon pal... JPT....get on board...good clean fun for an hour or 2 and some cool photo ops...Sparky and I took some cool pics.... Stab? ya gonna come down? lets get something penciled in....
two hours of sleep will do that to you lol
Which. Not Witch.
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