GALLERY OF WOOD SOURCES & THEIR HISTORY
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National Casket Company | Appalachian Chestnut | Danvers State Hospital         Battery Wharf | Scott & Williams Knitting
Great Falls Bleachery | Alles & Fisher Cigar Factory | Cooper Cabin
Charleston Chew | Port Ivory | American Thread | Monson Dairy
Everett Mills | Fulton County Coal | Baker's Chocolate | Troy Cold Storage

DANVERS STATE HOSPITAL::
DANVERS, MASSACHUSETTS 

One of our most interesting, and most recent, sources of reclaimed wood is the Danvers State Hospital. Construction began on this incredible red brick Victorian Gothic style structure in 1874 and patients began to be admitted in 1878. Although it was architecturally designed by Nathaniel Bradlee from Boston, its functional design was informed and inspired by the theories of then-famous and well renowned physician Dr. Thomas Story Kirkbride. Kirkbride's theories on the treatment of the nation's insane greatly influenced most of the state hospitals built in the mid to late 1800's, which became known as Kirkbride buildings.

During the mid 1800's, mental illness was considered to be a condition best treated outside the home in facilities such as Danvers. Hospitals were moved from the cities and into rural areas where patients could enjoy the views of forests, farm fields and gardens. Dr. Kirkbride was, at the time, a progressive proponent of what was termed "moral treatment", a theory based on the respectful and compassionate treatment of the insane. Kirkbride believed that environments in beautiful settings where patients could enjoy gainful occupation and a mentally stimulating daily routine would promote mental health. Insanity was understood to be a curable, clinical disease, and furthermore it was the obligation of each state to provide humane places for treatment for its citizens with this condition where they could receive all the advantages possible from enlightened care.

View of Danvers State Hospital from the roof after its closing (above).

At the time that the Danvers facility was built, the other state-run hospitals were already exceeding their patient capacities.   Danvers was a multi-acre, self-contained facility that ultimately was comprised of planting fields and over forty buildings including medical, office and dormitory structures as well as workshops, storage and farming buildings, chapels and cottages for staff and their families. It was originally constructed to hold 450-500 residents, but over time as many as 2,000 to 2,400 were being treated there for a range of illnesses including dementia, depression and substance abuse.  Allegations of patient abuse and deplorable living conditions were common.  20th century treatments included electric shock, water immersion and lobotomies.  In the mid 1900's, as a result of changes in treatment philosophy, including alternative treatment methods, deinstitutionalization and mental health care based in individual communities, the number of patients at Danvers started to decline.  The hospital finally closed in 1992, after over 100 years of use.

Powerful images from the site after its closing (such as the one above of a bedroom and the one below of the solarium) can be found at "www.opacity.us"

Discussions began in 1981, before the hospital was even closed, between town and state officials and later among different planning committees, to investigate redevelopment opportunities for the architecturally significant and historically rich complex, which is on the National Historic Register.  Years later, a local oversight group decided that developer AvalonBay Communities should be allowed to purchase the property for redevelopment, and in 2003, AvalonBay signed a purchase agreement with the state of Massachusetts for the 75-77 acre property.  Their plan was to redevelop the property, saving one third of the 313,000 square foot main Kirkbride Complex (the central tower building and one wing on either side) and demolish the remaining buildings on the property.  The retained portion of the Kirkbride building would be gutted and rehabbed into new administrative space and residential units.  In the place of the newly torn down structures would be built additional condos and apartments. In total the land on the upper hill would hold 483-526 residential units.  On a lower part of the property, 100,000 square feet of commercial space would follow. 

Over the many years since the hospital's closing the buildings sat empty, visited by many trespassers, including people in search of shelter. This twice resulted in arsonous fires at the complex.  The elements also took their toll on the buildings which ultimately fell into incredible disrepair with damaged roofs, collapsed ceilings and gaping holes in the floors. As with many such abandoned buildings, Danvers became a high-risk area with doubtful structural integrity.

Intense resistance to the plan had been generated since the beginning by various groups, primarily preservationists who were opposed to the demolition of the other two thirds of the enormous Kirkbride complex, which they felt had irreplaceable architectural and historic value.  Their efforts, which included an 11th hour lawsuit, were ultimately unsuccessful in stopping the demolition and development project from proceeding.  After years of negotiations, AvalonBay took ownership of the property on December 14th, 2005.  Demolition began in January of 2006, and the final building was demolished in June of the same year.

Both photos of the demolition process shown above are by and courtesy of John Gray.
You can view more of his work at www.grayphotography.net.