Trans - Allegheny Lunatic Asylum

“The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum was supposed to be a place of peace and restoration, but it soon devolved into madness and destruction.”

- Katie Serena

In West Virginia sits a gorgeous cathedral-like building. The landscaping is massive and currently creates feelings of peace and tranquility. The building appears more like a Gothic church than an Asylum which has a history so horrific and dark, that it leaves little doubt that the former patients of the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum still haunt the halls of this hospital.

The History of the Asylum

During the 1800's it was extremely easy for someone, such as a family member, to drop a person off at the Asylum. Sadly, these people could even receive money for dropping off their family members, no questions asked. Some of the follow are only a few of the reasons to have someone committed in the 1800's;

- Asthma

- Epilepsy

- Rabies

- Tuberculosis

- Vices

- Seduction

- Egotism

- Depression

- Domestic troubles

- Reading to much

- Masturbation

- Desertion of Husband

Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum (also at one time known as Weston State Hospital) is located at 50 South River Avenue in Weston, West Virginia. It operated as a psychiatric hospital from 1864 until 1994. Weston Hospital got its name in 1913 and this was the name used when it was inhabited by patients. However, when it reopened as a tourist attraction, the hospital reverted to its original name of Tran-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum.

The building was the “brain child” of Thomas Story Kirkbride. He was a doctor and a “crusader for the mentally ill.” The building was designed by Baltimore architect Richard Snowden Andrews. It was designed in the Gothic/Tudor style and was constructed from 1858-1881. Work was initially conducted by prison laborers. Later on during the building stonemasons were brought in from Germany and Ireland. Construction was disrupted in 1861 due to the Civil War but did eventually continue.

The hospital was designed to be self-sufficient. It had a dairy farm, waterworks, and even a cemetery located on the grounds. The property reached, unbelievably, 666 acres. By the end of the Asylum's active history, the land featured 3 full cemeteries.

In 1938, a survey conducted by a committee organized by a group of North American Medical Organizations found that the hospital housed “Epileptics, alcoholics, drug addicts and non- educable mental defectives.” A series of reports by "The Charleston Gazette" in 1949 found poor sanitation, insufficient lighting and lack of furniture and heating in much of the buildings. Patients were found sleeping on the floor and freezing due to the lack of heat. However, one wing which was being rebuilt after a patient set fire to it, was described as being “luxurious.”

The building was designed to hold 250 people but by 1880 held 717, by 1938 it had 1661, over 1800 in 1949 and finally in the 1950's the building became beyond crowded and housed over 2600! The doctors and staff were overrun and the patients were out of control. Due to the sheer number of patients, sanitation and cleanliness took a back seat. Clear windows were covered in grim and the wall paper was peeling. The areas that didn't naturally peel on it own, were torn off by the disturbed patients.

In the 1950's the hospital became home to the "West Virginia Lobotomy Project." This was an effort by the state of West Virginia to use lobotomy as a way to reduce the number of patients in the asylum as they were now severely overcrowded. Basically, the hospital was the “training ground” for this awful procedure. Dr. Walter Freeman was head of these procedures. He performed over 4000 lobotomies leaving many perfectly healthy patients with permanent damage. He used a method called the “Ice pick method.” This is when Dr. Freeman would insert a small, pointed rod (like an ice pick) into the patient's eye socket and then, using a hammer would force it to sever the connective tissue in the brain's prefrontal cortex. This resulted in a number of deaths.

Patients who were deemed “out of control” were often locked in cages. The violent patients would be confined to seclusion cells and locked in isolation. Patients who would bite would often have all their teeth pulled. There was no aesthetic to put the patients under during these procedures, so these people would be fully conscious the entire time! The pain was excruciating!

Many patients felt that suicide was the easiest way to escape the hell they lived in every day. They would regularly use their bed sheets to fashion a noose and hang themselves.

By the 1980's the asylum had seen a decline in patients due to the changes in treatments of mental illness. In 1986, the current Governor announced plans to build a new psychiatric hospital elsewhere and turn Trans-Allegheny into a prison. A new hospital (William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital) was indeed built and Trans-Allegheny was shut down in May of 1994.

The grounds since then have been mostly vacant. However, in 1999 all 4 floors of the interior was damaged by several city and country police officers who decided it was a great idea to play paintball inside the vacant building. All offers involved were dismissed over the incident.

The building then housed 3 small museums dedicated to military history, toys and mental health and were opened on the first floor of the main hospital building in 2004 but eventually were forced to close to due fire code violations.

The Hospital was auctioned off and purchased on August 29th, 1997 by Joe Jordan (an asbestos demolition contractor from Morgantown) for 1.5 million dollars. He immediately began maintenance projects on the grounds and started providing tours and events to help raise money for its restoration. The Weston Hospital Revitalization Committee was formed in 2000 for aiding in preserving the building and finding “appropriate tenants.”

Inside the Current Building

The building is over 242, 000 square feet and since it's purchase in 1997 has seen many improvements and much restoration. The main building of the Asylum (known as the Kirkbride), holds several rooms that now act as a museum (located on the 1st floor). There are poems, paintings and drawings made by the patients located in the art therapy room. There is a room dedicated to the treatments (and restraints) used during the hospital's past life. There are also straitjackets and even a hydrotherapy tub.

The Tours

There are now many tour options now available at the Asylum. You can choose from a short historical tour that will take you through the Kirkbride building or a longer tour that explore all 4 floors. There are also 2 paranormal tours, both start at sunset. The first last around 2-3 hours. The other lasts overnight and comes with an option for a private tour.

The Hauntings

Many believe that even though the asylum has long since closed its doors, that the crumbling halls are still home to many spirits of the patients who sadly perished within the hospital. Over the years, but especially once the hospital closed its doors, there have been many reports of paranormal activity in the building.

Staff have reported hearing the squeaky wheels of the hospitals beds rolling down the hallways and balls of light has been seen floating throughout the halls (orbs). Many have claimed to see full bodied apparitions. These apparitions have also walked through walls. Doors have also been known to open and close by themselves as well as hysterical laughter can be heard coming from several empty rooms.

One of the Doctors has claimed that one of the ghosts followed her home and to this day continues to haunt her. There is even reports of a ghost named Ruth, who hated men while she was alive and she would throw objects at them. It is said Ruth continues to haunt the Asylum and continues to throw things at male investigators. There is also another ghost named “Big Jim,” who haunts the third floor as well as the spirit of a nurse. The ghost of a soldier named “Jacob” is supposed to occupy the 4th floor (the Asylum has a very deep history in the Civil War). There is also a spirit named “Slewfoot” who was a murderer and was stabbed to death (17 times) in the bathroom. It is believed he haunts the first-floor bathroom.

The spirit that has been spotted the most is a girl named “Lily.” She appears to be about 9 years old and wears a white dress. It is said her mother gave birth to her in the hospital and she spent all 9 years of her short life there before dying within its walls. Lily is said to speak, rolls balls around the floor, turn on and off flash lights, play a music box and has also been heard laughing.

EVP's have also been captured in Ward 2 on the second floor. The words “Get Out!” where captured on the audio device.

The activity at this location is very intense. It appears that most of the evidence captured is “intelligent.” This means that the spirits are aware of people entering their space and they react to it.However, some of the activity can be described as “Residual”. This means the spirit is unaware of current life and is living various activities on “repeat.”

TV Episodes Featuring Trans- Allegheny Asylum

Ghost Adventures Season 3 Episode 1https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4kl0co

Portals To Hell Season 1 Episode 6https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOY6Ckgqo-8

Paranormal Lock down, Season 1 Episode 1https://www.destinationamerica.com/tv-shows/paranormal-lockdown/

The Wrap Up

This has been one of the most active locations that I have researched. The history is both dark and very violent. The hauntings are easily explained by the manner in which so many patients have died. Energies tend to absorb into stone, wood and earth and with so many “investigators” coming to visit, it is also now receiving a constant stream of new energy to feed off of.

It is apparent that Trans – Allegheny Lunatic Asylum is one of the most haunted locations not just in North America but the world.

Happy Hauntings!

Sources

http://trans-alleghenylunaticasylum.com/https://www.facebook.com/Trans-Allegheny-Lunatic-Asylum-312380260316https://www.facebook.com/312380260316/photos/a.10153861487930317/10163864689405317https://www.facebook.com/Trans-Allegheny-Lunatic-Asylum-312380260316/photos/a.10153861487930317/10163685067440317https://www.facebook.com/312380260316/photos/a.467264715316/10163791529090317https://www.facebook.com/312380260316/photos/a.467264715316/10163791527055317https://www.facebook.com/312380260316/photos/a.10153861487930317/10163685066965317https://www.facebook.com/312380260316/photos/a.10153861487930317/10162869951985317https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Allegheny_Lunatic_Asylumhttps://allthatsinteresting.com/trans-allegheny-lunatic-asylumhttps://www.artofabandonment.com/2018/10/trans-allegheny-lunatic-asylum-weston-wv/https://www.wowktv.com/news/west-virginia/the-haunting-history-of-the-trans-allegheny-lunatic-asylum/https://thoughtcatalog.com/jeremy-london/2019/01/trans-allegheny-lunatic-asylum/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/in-west-virginia-a-moving-respectful-tour-of-the-trans-allegheny-lunatic-asylum/2018/05/24/03d476e6-5937-11e8-858f-12becb4d6067_story.htmlhttp://www.americas-most-haunted.com/2016/07/01/trans-allegheny-lunatic-asylum-and-the-haunting-enigma-of-lily/https://www.legendsofamerica.com/trans-allegheny-lunatic-asylum/