PENNHURST 2018

HAPPY HALLOWEEN !

This is the very first picture I had ever taken of Mayflower Hall, Pennhurst. True, its a bit gritty. I took it with a disposable camera. 

This building alone set me off on a path to begin writing about Pennhurst State School & Hospital (1908-1987). 

What I found was sad, indeed - though not all bad. 

Author Tamera Lawrence 

AMAZON.COM 

https://www.amazon.com/Pennhurst-Ghosts-Mayflower-Tamera-Lawrence/dp/1478755881

PENNHURST STATE SCHOOL & HOSPITAL

 

Facing my fears in 2015

Pennhurst State School & Hospital 1908-1987

Located in Chester County, Pa - Pennhurst was once a home to people, who our good state decided, didn't matter. These souls needed to be tucked away, out of site, out of mind. 

A common misconception is that Pennhurst was a place meant for the criminally insane.

Nothing could be further from the truth. 

Pennhurst was originally a segregated community meant for the physical and mentally handicapped. A common belief was that someone labeled as "Retarded" would someday become a criminal. So these people were placed into Pennhurst to try and teach them a vocation. It was thought that residents would benefit from being with others like themselves. But in fact, many residents regressed. Lack of staff and money took its toll on patient care. Overcrowded conditions grew worse. Orphans were added to the mayhem.

 Children lived at Pennhurst. Many of them grew up within the compound, lived to adulthood and eventually died there. It's not hard to walk around in one of the buildings, and imagine what a child's life consisted of. Concrete walls. Floors. No homelike comforts. It can be pretty depressing when you view it that way.

Pennhurst was a huge complex of massive brick buildings with an upper and lower campus for the men and women. Everything for daily living was within the compound, a school, hospital, auditorium, laundry, dietary and of course, housing - also called "Cottages" - sounds homey, doesn't it? But if was anything but comfortable.

Old Pennhurst uniform (now missing from the site)

Philadelphia Building 2017

Mayflower 2016

Tim and I on 3rd floor of Mayflower

Wheelchair on 3rd floor that often sounded like it was rolling down the hallway. But alas, no rear wheels.

Want to know more about Pennhurst? Checkout my books below. 

Thank you!

*Author Tamera Lawrence 

Ghosts of Mayflower: A Pennhurst Haunting 

Pennhurst Ghosts of Mayflower II

(amazon.com)

PENNHURST CAR SHOW 2018

                  SEPTEMBER 29, 2018

      Pennhurst Fuel & Fire Auto Car Show

Soggy roadways and a muddy lot didn't keep auto enthusiasts from attending the Pennhurst Fuel & Fire Auto Car Show, located at the old Pennhurst State School & Hospital in Spring City, Pennsylvania. Cars lined up along the  roadway, spread out in front of the Administration and Mayflower Buildings in a vivid display of colors, nostalgia and pride. Hearses and other vehicles were situated to the right of Administration building.

With rain, seemingly, a daily threat in Pennsylvania, the last Saturday of September turned out blue skies and cooler temperatures. Owners were good sports about displaying their prized possessions on the grounds despite lurking puddles. Added to the mix, a Vintage Pinup Contest was held adding to the ambiance. Trophies were given out to the winners of the event. The car show benefited The Liberty Fire Company of Spring City, Pa.

1966 Mustang owned by your's truly

                  Yes, there were even a few creepers in some of the cars. YIKES!!!

AUTHOR TAMERA LAWRENCE

GHOSTS OF MAYFLOWER: A PENNHURST HAUNTING

PENNHURST GHOSTS OF MAYFLOWER 11

AMAZON.COM 

GHOST TRAIN

Used during the civil war era, the Colebrookdale Railroad is up and running again in Boyertown, Pennsylvania.

The newly restored railway is located a stone throw away from where a major tragedy took place thus bringing with it a ghostly allure to current day visitors.

On January 21, 1908 the local Rhodes Opera House in Boyertown was overfilled to capacity with men, women and children. The play that night was eagerly anticipated, and a strong turnout came to watch. But during the evening, an actor knocked over a kerosene lamp used for lighting, which set a curtain on fire. People were trapped due to improper exits and doors. Within 15 minutes, 171 people were killed in a horrific manner – some fused together, mostly above the waist. What a gristly undertaken for the volunteers and undertakers to have to separate and identify the forms.

 Added to the tragedy, a local fireman was also killed when responding to the alarm.

Local basements were used to temporarily house the bodies until burial.  It was truly a disturbing event for Boyertown. Thereafter ghost stories cropped up in mere days.  Many people claimed the Specter of a headless man was seen walking along Main Street – apparently this was a Monday event.

Over the years, more ghostly tales have followed  - many from homeowners now living in homes once used during the Rhodes fire tragedy. The Colebrookdale Railroad hosts a Eerie Unlimited train ride which brings some of these tales to life. 

Having taken a trip on this lovingly restored railway, I recently had a chance to interview one of the volunteers about the restoration of the trains. To my surprise, I found out that some of the artifacts being incorporated and used for restoration were donated by none other than Pennhurst. The miscellaneous items – missing bits and pieces needed for some restoration-  were found in some of Pennhurst’s basements.  Having written two books about Pennhurst, this immediately intrigued me.

So, if you have a chance to ride the Colebrookdale Railway, its worth a trip. You can even treat yourself to a delicious dinner. 

Check out their schedule of events. 

The Dining Car:

Author Tamera Lawrence

Ghosts of Mayflower: A Pennhurst Haunting    (Amazon.com)

Pennhurst Ghosts of Mayflower II

PENNHURST STATE SCHOOL & HOSPITAL

When walking the Pennhurst Campus, one can find beauty surrounding the buildings and landscape. These pictures were taken in the fall 2017. 

This Tree stands out in the Pennhurst Campus

Pennhurst State Hospital 1908 - 1987

Pennhurst Catwalk - beneath lies the tunnel system

The Pennhurst State Hospital & School housed people who were physically and mentally handicaped. Children with special needs were placed at Pennhurst to segregate them from "normal" society. These kids were housed and schooled at the Pennhurst campus and trained  in a vocation so that one day, they wouldn't  become future criminals. (as was the belief at the time)

Severely underfunded, Pennhurst lacked the ability to adequately care for the special needs of its populace. As a result, many residents were neglected and regressed mentally and physically. 

When the atrocious living conditions at Pennhurst were revealed in 1968 by newscaster, Bill Baldini - people were outraged over the footage. But exposure brought little to no difference. And as the buildings deteriorated so did the hope for any real change. It would take a lawsuit and continued exposure for Pennhurst to  be forced to closed its doors - forever. 

Today the Pennhurst Campus is said to be haunted. Many witnesses claim to have interacted with spirits. Ghostly phenomenon inside the buildings, tunnels or even the surrounding landscape is a common assertion. 

Whatever your belief, Pennhurst still stands today as a testament to the past. 

Author Tamera Lawrence

Want More? Check out -

GHOSTS OF MAYFLOWER: A PENNHURST HAUNTING on Amazon.com 

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY!

MAY THE LUCK OF THE IRISH BE WITH YOU! 

MAYFLOWER HALL:

THE MAYFLOWER HALL BUILDING: PENNHURST 

Mayflower Hall: Side facing Administration Building

Built in 1919, the Mayflower Hall was a male dormitory at the famous Pennhurst State School and Hospital. The building has a natural and sometimes supernatural chill. 

The school was opened from 1908-1987 

Mayflower Hall: Third Floor Hallway 

Today the building is a hotspot for ghost enthusiast 

Mayflower Hall: One of my strangest pictures

Want more?

Check out

GHOSTS OF MAYFLOWER: A PENNHURST HAUNTING

&

PENNHURST GHOSTS OF MAYFLOWER II

AMAZON.COM

Author Tamera Lawrence 

PENNHURST PICS: 2017

            PENNHURST STATE SCHOOL & HOSPITAL:

                       SPRING CITY, PENNSYLVANIA 

                                                                (1908-1987)

Adminstration Building 2017

MAYFLOWER HALL: Hallway

             

QUAKER HALL: 2017

SWIMMING POOL: Now overground and barely visible