This hospital was the scene of the ghost of old book, who haunted his gravesite. His real name is unknown, but he was nicknamed old book and recorded as manual bookbinder in historical documents. When its closure was announced only 20 years later, that number had dropped to 600. At one time over 40 buildings were located on the property. Old book, as he was sometimes called, mourned the passing of each and every. Construction on the bartonville state hospital began in 1885, and the main structurean enormous building most closely resembling a medieval castlewas completed in 1887. Records of state mental hospitals at the illinois state. Bowen building at the peoria state hospital insane. Zeller who was the physician who led the hospital attested that 400 staff and patients saw old. Past the pollak, to the left, is a gravel driveway that leads to cemetery threefour, where emily belsher is buried. Get ghost hunting tips and haunting details for peoria state hospital in. A followup to this post was published on thursday, july 26, 2012, with the title help in accessing closed records of illinois state mental hospitals. This patient assisted in the burial of many other inmates and was known for. A history of the peoria state hospital rhoda derry was born in adams county.
The ghost of old book bartonville illinoiss peoria state hospital has a pretty creepy history and legend surrounding it. The tale of old book the ghost that went to his own. Patients at peoria state hospital the 1950s were peak years at psh with over 2,800 patients residing here, but s everal patients were killed or died of mysterious circumstances during this time. Posted in uncategorized with tags bartonville, bowen building, haunted tours, insane asylum, peoria, peoria state hospital on april 6, 2010 by hauntedgirl it has had many names over the past 115 years. Its ruins are located west of peoria in the small town of bartonville, which lies directly across the illinois river. Peoria state hospital peoria state hospital is an abandoned mental hospital in bartonville. It is the purpose of this book to personalize the peoria state hospital through the use of. Below is the history of rhoda derry taken from the book bittersweet memories. One of the most historic local areas is also one of the most haunted. When book first came to the asylum in 1902, he was a mute and was said to have worked in a printing house as a manual bookbinder. Zeller assigned bookbinder to the hospitals burial corps, and he performed his job admirably. While rumors of ghosts and ghost stories are highly speculative, the old book tale has been documented many times. Manuel bookbinder old book gravestone at peoria state hospital. The complex, also known as bartonville state hospital or illinois asylum for the incurable insane, was a psychiatric hospital operated by the state of illinois from 1902 to 1973.
The hospital began in 1885 as bartonville state hospital. Pollak hospital paranormal investigation just say boo. The inhabitants of three french villages at peoria, illinois. It is the purpose of this book to personalize the peoria state hospital through the use of personal memories of the patients and staff. The peoria state hospital is home to a handful of legends, and is often referred to as the old state hospital. Peoria state hospital, 33building campus opened its doors in 1902. After old books body was interred, the tree began to. Areas greatest ghost story came from peoria state hospital. Peoria state hospital historic district, also known as bartonville state hospital or illinois asylum for the incurable insane, was a psychiatric hospital operated by the state of illinois from 1902 to 1973. I am a professional psychic medium and my husband and i are doing a film at the. Supposedly there was a man by the last name of bookbinder which legend calls him old book that supposedly haunts the area.
About peoria state hospital the main story associated with the hospital concerns the unusual circumstances surrounding the death of one of the patients, a. It answers many of the questions we have received via comments. Theres only one confirmed spirit active at peoria state hospital. The institution began life as the illinois asylum for the incurable insane.
Took students there in the 60s as part of learning how the state were treatingm people wiithout a home to live. Peoria state hospital maintains a reputation as a haunted spot. Peoria state hospital peoria state psychiatric hospital in bartonville, illinois, is the location of the well known local ghost story of old book. In 1902, the first patients entered what was then known as the illinois asylum for the incurable insane. The hospital opened in 1902 and was originally called the illinois asylum for. This book hones in on the ghosts and spirits said to be haunting the peoria state hospital in bartonville illinois. He led the grave digging and mourning duties for the hospital with a team of 6 nonviolent patients. Peoria state hospital bartonville asylum bartonville illinois real. Portrait of a 5yearold girl in 1928, last name cappelleno, looking toward the camera, sitting in a bed in a room at kankakee hospital in kankakee, illinois. Troy taylor popularized this location via several books including haunted illinois 1999. A few miles from the city of peoria, illinois at the bottom of a beautiful bluff overlooking the illinois river, are the remains of an old set of stairs.
In 1907, the hospital dropped the word incurable and became the illinois general hospital for the insane. Peoria state hospital wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. He was a new breed surgeon that believed the incurables and the hospital was originally known as the illinois asylum for the incurable insane would do better when treated with kindness than restriction one of the prime examples is the case of roda. From bartonville mental hospital in peoria, illinois comes the story of old book. See more ideas about peoria illinois, abandoned asylums and paranormal photos. Zellers plan for the bartonville hospital was to allow. One specific ghost yarn tells of the spirit of old book, a patient who dug. During the first half of the twentieth century, the peoria state hospital was the. Old book was popular, well liked and he took on the role of gravedigger in the hospital cemetery during his time there. The peoria asylum is home to one of the most famous ghosts of the world. Treatment plans for another 11,000 patients were also being fulfilled. The peoria state hospital museum page is a historical resource page with accurate information of the famous. As she notes, every persons situation is different. While this was an interesting building from years ago, it was torn down about two years ago.
Peoria state hospital museum, bartonville, illinois. Peoria state hospital bartonville, illinois hospital. The legend of old book mightve long ago faded into the backstory of peoria state hospital in bartonville, if not for dr. To get answers to individual questions, contact a librarian. The only documented record of old book at the asylum resides in a 1905 supervisors journal according to gary lismans book, bittersweet memories. The hospital is located in bartonville, illinois, near the city of peoria in peoria county. While still in her teens, she was wooed by the son of a neighboring farmer. To learn more about accessing mental health records, please read this followup after reading the post below.
Heres another photo from peoria state hospital in bartonville, il. Peoria state hospital bartonville asylum bartonville. Old book is the name given to a purported ghost or spirit that haunts a cemetery and tree on the grounds of the peoria state hospital in bartonville, illinois. The pollak hospital is part of the complex known as the peoria state hospital. Trespassers have long come away with stories of eerie encounter. Peoria state hospital which has also operated under the names bartonville state hospital, peoria asylum, the illinois general hospital for the insane, and the illinois asylum for the incurable insane opened as an insane asylum operated by the state of illinois from 1902 until 1973. The idea is probably perpetuated by the fact that there are four onsite cemeteries, because zeller implemented a system for burying the hospitals unidentified deceased. A reformer amid oftbarbaric peers, zeller made a priority.
While many ideas of paranormal tours have come up, weiss emphasized that the building is not being purchased to establish ghost hunting tours. Back then, most deceased patients bodies went unclaimed by their families. Maintained by one foot in the grave contributor 47388650. Then, in 1909, it traded all that in and become the peoria state hospital. Peoria state hospital was in operation from 1902 to 1973. In 1895, the illinois general assembly passed a provision to establish the ominouslynamed illinois asylum for the incurable insane. This abandoned mental hospital, now in the planning stages for restoration, is said to be haunted by manuel a.
If you have any interest in the old state hospital, this is the book for you. Old book was a patient who worked with the burial crew at the hospital until his own death. Peoria state hospital, bartonville state hospital, illinois general asylum for the insane, and illinois asylum for the incurably insane. The strange haunting of peoria state hospital the lineup. Peoria state hospital never sent any records from bartonville. Use her experience as a guide for pursuing state hospital records. The hospital grounds and its 63 buildings are listed as a historic district on the national.
Manuel bookbinder, or old book, haunts the graveyard, not far from a large elm tree. Trading house, after 1812 classic reprint by ernest edward east. Shults to bring stories of peoria state hospital to. This space on thursday detailed the 100yearold ghost story of old book, who was buried under bizarre circumstances at. The building was never used, apparently due to the structural damage caused when the abandoned mine shafts it was built over collapsed. Also known as bartonville state hospital or illinois asylum for the incurable insane, the peoria asylum operated as a psychiatric hospital from 1902 to 1973 and housed 2,800 patients at its peak. Top 10 most haunted hospitals in illinois mysterious. Written in a narrative of gathered stories, rumors and innuendos, this nonfiction book relates to all the remaining building left on the grounds of the hospital. He would mourn the passing of each person he helped inter in the cemetery.
The book will be a history of the facility, hopefully, it will be more than just a history of dates and events. Morelli for sharing her successful court case and helping others, now and in the future. I recommend taking a tour and reading bittersweet memories to truly understand the importance of this hospital. Rhoda derry bartonville state hospital 2 below is the. Peoria state hospital hauntings ghostly activities. Claims are that the area is still inhabited by the ghosts of many former patients.
The ultimate result was an institution that would eventually become known as the peoria state hospital, 63 buildings and their grounds on a plot of land at the edge of the small town of bartonville, near peoria, illinois. The asylum has a total of 47 buildings on its grounds. They say that ol book, as he was called, used to lean up against an old elm tree in the. He was one of the first patients in the hospital when it first opened in 1902. Another name change also occurs, the name of the peoria state hospital, is adopted. Zeller who was the physician who led the hospital attested that 400 staff and patients saw old books ghost mourning at his own funeral. Turns out, some folks remember old book better than others. Anyone fascinated in hauntings, ghosts in general or the old insane asylums. Among those documenting the tale is the first director of the state insane asylum, george zeller. He was a patient who worked with the burial crew until his own death. The psychiatric hospital was rebuilt in 1902 under the direction of dr. Not much remains of central illinois peoria state hospital, especially after the largest structure, called the bowen building, was controversially demolished in 2017.
By 1906 the facility was also used to train nurses. This book hones in on the ghosts and spirits said to be haunting the peoria state. George zeller came to peoria in 1902 and he had the bars removed from the windows and the mechanical restraints taken off the beds. The peoria state hospital is home to a handful of legends, and is often referred to as the old state. Peoria state hospital bartonville, illinois atlas obscura. Tales of the bewitched, bewildered, and beleaguered bedevil the former peoria state hospital in bartonville. At its peak, the hospital housed around 2,800 patients. Zeller, facility superintendent from 1902 to 19 and from 1921 to 1935, chronicled mysteries associated with the institution.
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