Haunted History

On Janunary 9, 1874 The Athens Asylum for the Insane opened its doors for business to the mentally ill of southeastern Ohio. This 1000 acres of land was primarily, at first, home to many Civil War soldiers due to a wide spread problem of post traumatic stress disorder. This project was a great profit to the community of Athens, Ohio. Because Athens has been known as impoverished, the people of Athens welcomed this money making business to their town.

Serving around two hundred patients, the building had the capacity to house over 500 people. Although the stereotype of an insane asylum is creepy and scary, the patients at The Athens Asylum for the Insane were offered many activities including plays, church services and many more. Some were even allowed to farm and tend to the orchards around the grounds. These tactics were modeled after the European style of mental hospitals where family members were convinced their loved one was in good hands.

Although most people who were in need of the assistance were granted this, many who did not need to be at the asylum were also there. Many times, elderly people were dropped off by their children who no longer cared to provide for them. Teenagers, who acted rebelliously were often sent to the asylum. Homeless people took advantage of the free shelter provided by the asylum and often admitted themselves just so they would have a roof over their head. From these problems within the asylum, overcrowding became an issue. This forced two patients into one room, and less care to be granted to each patient.

With limited technology and research on the mentally ill, many extreme methods of treatment were used, sometimes resulting in death or sickness. Water treatment, shock therapy, and two types of lobotomies were often preformed on patients (click here for more information)

• In the 1960's humanity was incorporated into treatments of the mentally ill, gradually replacing brain surgery with medicine.

• 1972 was the last year patients from the asylum were buried in the backyard cemetery.

• In 1977 a rapist with multiple personality disorder , who had been raping girls at Ohio State, was sent by a Franklin County judge to the Athens Asylum for the Insane after his insanity plea was accepted. This was the first time in United States history that someone was admitted to an asylum instead of facing jail.

• 1981 the hospital had less than 300 patients. 344 acres of land were given to Ohio University to expand campus
  

1874-1911: Athens Lunatic Asylum

1911-1944: Athens Asylum for the Insane

1944-1968: Athens State Hospital

1968-1969: Southeastern Ohio Mental Health Center

1969-1975: Athens Mental Health Center

1975-1980: Southeastern Ohio Mental Health and Retardation Center

1980-1981: Athens Mental Health and Developmental Center

1981-1991: Athens Mental Health Center

1991-: The Ridges

In 1993, The Ridges was closed down and the final patients moved to smaller hospitals around the state. OU took over the building and had plans to renovate it into what is now a museum, classrooms and office space. Many students explored the land and property throughout this time. The Ridges was featured on Scariest Places on Earth due to a story of one girl's visit, apparent haunting, and then her death. To this day, the ridges is the only original Ohio mental hospital that still stands in a similar quality as it once had.

So what makes the Ridges Haunted?

"The Athens Lunatic Asylum, or The Ridges, has been considered one of the more haunted places on Earth ever since an incident in 1978, in which the lifeless, naked body of a missing female patient was found in an unheated room that was locked from the inside. Her corpse left a stain, and legend has it this darkened silhouette has remained ever since, despite numerous attempts to scrub it away"

from: http://www.asylum.com/2010/02/02/famous-notorious-abandoned-haunted-insane-asylums/