Artwork

Content provided by Southern Gothic Media LLC and Southern Gothic Media. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Southern Gothic Media LLC and Southern Gothic Media or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://player.fm/legal.
Player FM - Podcast App
Go offline with the Player FM app!

Shadows of the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum

32:56
 
Share
 

Manage episode 398145565 series 2391367
Content provided by Southern Gothic Media LLC and Southern Gothic Media. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Southern Gothic Media LLC and Southern Gothic Media or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://player.fm/legal.

Constructed between 1858 and 1881, the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum was initially a symbol of progressive treatment for the mentally ill, based on the philosophy and designs of Thomas Story Kirkbride. With an emphasis on therapeutic sunlight, fresh air, and humane treatment, it promised a new dawn in psychiatric care; however, as decades passed, the asylum became a harrowing example of the system's failure. Overcrowding, poor living conditions, and the implementation of barbaric treatments, including lobotomies, marked its descent into a place of despair. This episode explores the stark contrast between the asylum's hopeful beginnings and its grim reality, culminating in its closure in 1994 and its enduring legacy as one of the most haunted places in the country.

Key Highlights

  • Dorothea Dix's reform movement and her crusade to improve mental health care.
  • Dr. Kirkbride’s revolutionary approach and philosophy to create mental health facilities intended to provide a nurturing and therapeutic environment for patients.
  • The history of the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, from its construction to its decline into an overcrowded institution with poor living conditions and inadequate care.
  • The horrific practices and inhumane treatments, including the use of lobotomies, that were believed to help patients.
  • The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum’s paranormal legacy is one of the most haunted locations in America.

Want to Listen to Southern Gothic Ad-Free?

Additional Resources for This Episode:

Lunatic: The Rise and Fall of An American Asylum by Edward Gleason

The Haunted History of the Trans Allegheny Lunatic Asylum by Sherri Brake

Portals to Hell (Season 1, Episode 6)

Paranormal Lockdown (Season 1, Episode 1)

Visit the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston, Virginia

Connect with Southern Gothic Media:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  continue reading

201 episodes

Artwork
iconShare
 
Manage episode 398145565 series 2391367
Content provided by Southern Gothic Media LLC and Southern Gothic Media. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Southern Gothic Media LLC and Southern Gothic Media or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://player.fm/legal.

Constructed between 1858 and 1881, the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum was initially a symbol of progressive treatment for the mentally ill, based on the philosophy and designs of Thomas Story Kirkbride. With an emphasis on therapeutic sunlight, fresh air, and humane treatment, it promised a new dawn in psychiatric care; however, as decades passed, the asylum became a harrowing example of the system's failure. Overcrowding, poor living conditions, and the implementation of barbaric treatments, including lobotomies, marked its descent into a place of despair. This episode explores the stark contrast between the asylum's hopeful beginnings and its grim reality, culminating in its closure in 1994 and its enduring legacy as one of the most haunted places in the country.

Key Highlights

  • Dorothea Dix's reform movement and her crusade to improve mental health care.
  • Dr. Kirkbride’s revolutionary approach and philosophy to create mental health facilities intended to provide a nurturing and therapeutic environment for patients.
  • The history of the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, from its construction to its decline into an overcrowded institution with poor living conditions and inadequate care.
  • The horrific practices and inhumane treatments, including the use of lobotomies, that were believed to help patients.
  • The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum’s paranormal legacy is one of the most haunted locations in America.

Want to Listen to Southern Gothic Ad-Free?

Additional Resources for This Episode:

Lunatic: The Rise and Fall of An American Asylum by Edward Gleason

The Haunted History of the Trans Allegheny Lunatic Asylum by Sherri Brake

Portals to Hell (Season 1, Episode 6)

Paranormal Lockdown (Season 1, Episode 1)

Visit the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston, Virginia

Connect with Southern Gothic Media:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  continue reading

201 episodes

All episodes

×
 
Loading …

Welcome to Player FM!

Player FM is scanning the web for high-quality podcasts for you to enjoy right now. It's the best podcast app and works on Android, iPhone, and the web. Signup to sync subscriptions across devices.

 

Quick Reference Guide