Peoria State Hospital facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Peoria State Hospital
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The Bowen Building - Nurses Dorm and Administration building at the former Peoria State Hospital
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 Location in Peoria County, Illinois
Location in Illinois
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| Location | Ricketts Ave. and U.S. 24, Bartonville, Illinois |
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| Area | 215.5 acres (87.2 ha) |
| Built | 1895-1910; 1902 (opened) |
| Architect | Reeves and Baillie |
| Architectural style | Prairie style, Mission style, Classical Revival, Georgian Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 82002590 |
| Added to NRHP | February 17, 1982 |
The Peoria State Hospital Historic District, also known as Bartonville State Hospital, was a hospital for people with mental health conditions. The State of Illinois ran it from 1902 to 1973.
This hospital is located in Bartonville, Illinois, which is close to the city of Peoria. The hospital grounds and its 63 buildings are listed as a historic district. This means they are important places from the past.
Contents
History of Peoria State Hospital
How the Hospital Started
The hospital began because the Illinois General Assembly (which is like the state's law-making group) decided in 1895 that a hospital for people with "incurable insane" conditions was needed. This was an old term for people with long-term mental health issues.
The governor at the time, John Altgeld, chose a group of three people to find the best place for the hospital. One of these people was John Finely from Peoria. Another was J.J. McAndrews, who later became a U.S. Congressman. They picked a spot near Peoria, in Bartonville.
Building the Hospital
Construction started in 1895. The main building was finished in 1897. However, this building was never used. Some say it was because old mine shafts under the property made it unsafe.
Another story from 1927 says the first building looked like a "feudal castle." But it wasn't good for helping people with mental health conditions. So, it was torn down. A new plan, called the "cottage plan," was used instead.
"The first building erected was a facsimile of a feudal castle, but before it was occupied it was found to be wholly out of harmony with modern ideas for the care of the insane and it was razed and replaced by the present cottage plan, under the direction of Dr. Frederick Howard Wines, the able secretary of the State Board of Charities."
In 1902, the new buildings were finished. Dr. George Zeller led this work. There were 33 buildings in total. These included places for patients and staff to live, a store, a power station, and a shared utility building.
Hospital Operations and Changes
The hospital opened on February 10, 1902. Patients who were considered "incurable" were moved there from other hospitals in Illinois. In 1906, the hospital started a training school for nurses.
The hospital's name changed a few times. From 1907 to 1909, it was called the Illinois General Hospital for the Insane. In 1909, it became Peoria State Hospital.
By 1927, the hospital's 25th anniversary, there were 2,650 patients. Dr. Zeller was well-known for his focus on helping patients get better. He even invited reporters and community members to visit the hospital. He wanted people to understand mental illness better.
From 1943 to 1969, the hospital helped train nursing students. They learned about psychiatric nursing, which is caring for people with mental health needs.
Later Years and Closure
At its busiest in the 1950s, the hospital had 2,800 patients. But by 1972, when it was announced the hospital would close, only 600 patients remained.
After the hospital closed, the buildings were empty. They were later auctioned off. Many of the buildings have since been torn down. Others have been fixed up and are now used by different businesses. The area is now a special zone to help new businesses grow there.
The Bowen building, which was a dorm and administration building for nurses, was torn down in 2016.
Architecture and Buildings
The hospital grounds originally had 63 buildings. Many of these were homes for patients and staff. They were set up in a "cottage plan," which was a common design for mental hospitals in the early 1900s.
The very first main building was designed using the Kirkbride Plan. As of July 1, 2019, only 12 of the original 63 buildings are still standing. All of these remaining buildings are currently being used.
Ghost Stories and Legends
The hospital grounds are famous for local ghost stories. One well-known legend is about Manuel A. Bookbinder, also called "Old Book". He was a patient who helped with burials at the hospital.
It is said that when Old Book died, Dr. Zeller and many patients and nurses saw his ghost crying at an old elm tree in the cemetery. But when they looked in his coffin, his body was still peacefully inside. This is how the legend of the "Graveyard Elm" began.
In the 1920s, Dr. Zeller wrote a book called Befriending The Bereft. It included his own experiences with Old Book and the Graveyard Elm, along with other mysterious stories from his time at the hospital.
The TV show Ghost Hunters also investigated the paranormal claims at Peoria State Hospital.
