A Land Lost: The Norwich State Hospital (PART 1 of 2)

Documentary on the history of the former Norwich State Hospital, the future of the lands, and, of course, whether or not ghosts are contained in the buildings.
Video produced by Norwich Free Academy seniors Kyle Johnson and Michael Grant, and hosted by Josh Cingranelli
About eight months of hard work right here, so we hope everyone enjoys :)
Special Thanks To
Robert Congdon
Linda Riegel
Bett Schissler
Robert Murphy
Dr. Yunus Pothiawala
Edith Prague
Brian Girasoli
Justin Manafort
Syfy Channel- Ghost Hunters
Cheray Fitzgerald
Thank you Mrs. Fitzgerald for teaching us all that we know about video, this documentary wouldn't have been possible without you or your teaching
Any questions/concerns about the video or to receive a copy of the DVD, send me an email at [e-mail] or post on here and I will get back to you ASAP!
Documentary is thirty minutes long but the KZbin limit is only 15 minutes so we were forced to split it into two parts; here is the link for part two • A Land Lost: The Norwi...
Rate and comment please:)

[@snodogg2112]

In 2004 I was stationed at the submarine base in Groton, about 10 minutes or so down the road from this place. I made friends with one of the guards and he took me around the grounds and showed me the inside of some of the buildings. I still remember the sad and lonely feeling I experienced :(

[@samadhi5757]

I worked at Norwich Hospital as a nurse for many years. I was able to see the transition of the late 70's into the 80's, a time of great strides in the personalized care of psychiatric clients. While deinstitutionalization was a goal, many former patients ended up on the streets, fell out of the treatment cycle and gained nothing more but a new name... homeless. It seemed odd that as we were closing, the buildings were still being renovated... contracts had been signed. So sad... all lost.

[@dianedrzata9974]

My aunt was there her Gladys Bennison. Hope people never forget the atrocities that happened there. She was buried with just a number for a grave stone.

[@GhostofNewEngland]

I live five minutes down the road, and it was very sad to see these buildings being torn down. Up close the architecture was absolutely breath taking, you do not see it anymore. Preston should have opened up some of the buildings as "Haunted Hotels" Others as apartments or even city buildings. Everyone seems to be afraid of the land though. Sad.

[@autumnrosethompson1879]

I live very close too, I just moved to the area and first saw it today. I was heartbroken to see that they are being demolished!

[@icyflann7178]

Omg I know sooooo unfortunate

[@DOCTOROFMINDMD]

i did some of my psychiatric training there from 1991-1994 . dr. p was one of the attending psychiatrist.... dr. vderv was the best. omg thanks for making this.

[@redhead5150]

This place is amazing. I am working there now during the demolition. I know people want to save it but it contains so much asbestos,lead,mold and deterior that would cost billions to renovate. It's sad.

[@QueenE31]

I honestly don't get why there are down votes. This was a great vid, very informative. I love hearing the history in more than just still images. Very good video thank you for the hard work and upload😄

[@janiedemedeiros9470]

Welcome among Friends Ells. Great introduction in describing this hospitals history. Professional...the entire brief part 1 & 2. Most informative & educational. I will be watching these again! Thank you for sharing!

[@xSKYBLUEx23]

I live here in CT, to go to my school in Groton you would need to past this place it is mostly broken down, I have went here this place is one you should stay away from because i been in there with a couple of friends and we got stopped by police and this ended up with us going downtown near the marina so they took our names and we got taken home by our parents got yelled at and video games taken away so go there if you want.

[@icyflann7178]

I'm from ct I would have liked to seen the tunnels under ground

[@waynetaylor3035]

This was done with respect...and very informitive...Thank you.

[@slef86]

Great video, tastefully done. Thanks for shedding a good and informative light on this property that we have all grown to feel for as residents of Southeastern CT. Keep up the good work investigating, producing, and airing videos!

[@jtv92q]

grew up on the south end of laurel hill, used to hang out there alot in the late 90's and early 2000's before they really established any sort of security.. went to visit my mother a couple of days ago and found that there tearing it down...its too bad some of those buildings were beautiful

[@MoonwolfeConsulting]

Drove by shortly before the demolition and all three of us in the vehicle could feel the eyes of hundreds of souls watching us. Monumentally creepy!

[@jfree1998]

Its insane to me they let these beautiful buildings, some were ugly, rot away. They ought to at least lease them out for low income housing or something....

[@bigkev2084]

they are tearing them all down and building a park, and they wanted to put a movie studio on that land and they said no to it, Mohegan Sun Casino is putting up the money to clean the area from the medical waste

[@heavyjersey]

Why should the poor have to live there? You buy it and live there

[@Gh0stwalker90]

Six years later and it's still standing

[@KimbaLorber]

This really shows all the excellent and painstaking research and work you did on it. Wow, well done! *two thumbs way up* :)

[@InFiniTosEntertainment]

This video needs more views, it's a really great look into the actual history of the campus and the buildings, not some silly gimmick or the official Preston documentary snoozefest. I'll do my part to get the word out so more people see this. :)

[@samadhi5757]

By the way, nice job putting this together. I tried to get onto the property to take a picture of the building I used to work the most in, Seymour, but wasn't able. And for those about to view this... there is an introductory slide show with music... be patient, it's well worth the wait. Excellent.

[@dirtyarrie]

Love this! I hope if this was for a grade, you guys got an A. One thing not mentioned; thorazine was also called a 'chemical' lobotomy.

[@SummerJadeGreene]

Fabulous work in creating this fascinating documentary! I expected you to mention that President Kennedy's Sister, Rosemary, had a lobotomy. Many think of this place (NSH) as a torture chamber, not understanding that treatment is always based on current knowledge- an ever changing thing! What is 'great' today may well be considered primitive and barbaric in another 10 years (or less!). The doctor's voice is often difficult to understand. Wish you had some captions on screen when he speaks.

[@CingranelliGrant]

If anyone has question's please feel free to ask and we can do our best to answer them. Thanks again for watching!

[@SydneyTeagarden]

Just a note- if yr narrator and interviewee volume is low, ive found it comes across perfect on earbuds. Id definitely suggest u watch this w the full audio- very interesting!!

[@brandyhinds9732]

Thanks for the tip!! It actually worked on ear buds!!

[@compukatz]

Awesome documentary. Very informative and interesting. Top notch! Thanks for all of your hard work in putting this together. Really enjoyed it.

[@sharpemang]

What the heck is wrong with the audio? All I hear is the music.

[@HennessyPatrick]

out of phase

[@abandonednh]

@raeven1212 The hospital opened its doors on October 10, 1904; that's the year construction was completed. It's kind of hard to escape from a hospital that doesn't exist.

[@terrycraig6262]

I worked there from 1979 till the hospital was closed .I was 19 when I was hired. I was in the Administration Building being interviewed. I was asked why I wanted a job there. I sincerely stated I wanted employment where I could make a diffrence in peoples lives . I was hired that day.

[@Tomi_BuzzCat]

My wife, Heather, & I are watching this DVD from The Slater Library, Jewett City, CT called: 'Brewster's Neck, Memories of Norwich State Hospital' (c. 2006)...

[@3873236]

Thank You SO Much For the Details And History Put into this Vid. It is Fantastic and Informs The People that Care About these Places With Vital Information. Again FANTASTIC Vid Thank You !

[@RevToddBodysnachr]

Dude nice documentary. Very informative and unique. Screw all the haters, man, you did a wonderful job.

[@CingranelliGrant]

Thanks for all of the comments we really appreciate it.

[@93931Emma]

Loved it! Very well done!!

[@Chrispisz12]

I've seen this place in person. It's so creepy and I saw it during the day. I couldn't imagine driving past it during night time. My dad was raised in Norwich and it was still open when he was there.

[@MrsTylon928]

I live down the street from the hospital and they have started to remodel the main buildings for apartments. The older buildings are very creepy looking I wouldn't be surprised if some of them were haunted.

[@adorablekevin222]

i have always wanted to go in there i used to drive by there all the time every week going from groton to norwich i always loved going by there at night time

[@MRES3]

I explored this place from 10pm to 3am a day ago with a few others. Great place and creepy.

[@pillmaticmarilyn]

Great job guys!!!! Well researched and concise. Whoever did the camera work, kudos to you cant even shoot a still without my finger in it.~~~~~~~~~~Pamela

[@feralbluee]

This is absolutely true. it's a shame. i remember when all these people were 'released'. they were on the streets and it wasn't hard to tell who they were - no meds, of course.

[@blorpinino999]

My paternal grandparents met as patients here. I don't know how I feel about that...

[@jmKelley09]

Voice volume is too low, can barely hear narrative.

[@strangelittleman]

I was interested in this, but why are all the interview samples muted? Not sure what I'm looking at here.

[@samadhi5757]

Not all were. Communty based programs were set up to absorb many but the support system is far different and from and sometimes those in need of the structured residential treatment can't get a bed until they do something harmful to another person or themselves- sometimes with awful results. But this is a story about a hospital that once was home to many. Stories of success, trial and error, mistakes and triumph are many.

[@Chrispisz12]

just seeing it at daytime was good enough for me.

[@coyotedust]

Can't hear the people speaking in the interview.

[@darronj517]

Excellent. Thank you.

[@Themightymoze]

Very nicely done!

[@gothschaefer6631]

Its distrubing how these individuals that need help were dumped on the streets. Heart breaking

[@kaymad143]

It sure is sad to see the buildings this way. I wish they would just make it a huge park with maybe a restaurant (not fancy). Give it back to Nature!

[@samadhi5757]

This is no longer possible due to the demolition of the facility. The few buildings left standing are no longer safe to be inside of because of structural decay. I would not be worried about any paranormal activity at all. I'd be more concerned with raccoons, skunks, and snakes.

[@finn6861]

A reply- As an RN for 34yrs.it is uncomprehensible the decisions that have been made in that amount of time greatly affecting the directon of health care.But when we look at them as business decisions they become more understandable.What is good for business is not necessarily good for the art and craft of medicine -in fact the two are antithema.But business has at this time won out.It is an unimaginable catch 22-In order for the medical field to continue business concerns must be foremost.

[@FreakzRitual]

im gonna investigate this place but im gonna get permission ty for the info and history of this place

[@dianerobertson3524]

It's a shame those buildings were left to crumble. Beautiful architecture. They should've been saved and remodeled and used for something other than the original purpose if they couldn't be used for their original purpose anymore. Just a shame and a waste.

[@gamzee3651]

I KNOW. did you know that they were also nursing schools. my grandma went there

[@rxch1586]

Diane Robertson it's actually not a waste. They were used for firefighting/military/police force training. Most of the buildings are filled with hazardous waste such as led. Do your research. Thanks!

[@dianerobertson3524]

Rachie, I don't live near the Norwich facility at all. I just saw the video the kid put out and thought it was a shame that the buildings were left to crumble like the video made it look like. But thank you for your reply.

[@WeirdoCertified]

On May 8th at Preston Library they are having a program about this place a 3:30 I cant wait to go!

[@LUNACIE]

Requiem for a Dream... (: Made my day.

[@patrickjackson3317]

I'm mad that they decided to tear it down I wanted to go visit there. How was it to work in the hospital?

[@Cbennett534]

I'm from Connecticut as well, not that far away from your school either, I'm at norwich tech. Ima senior, I have some questions about the state hospital

[@jasonchristian5204]

Looks kind of like pennhurst state hospital in spring city Pennsylvania....been closed for many years.

[@loverofjax]

In situations like this I'm not so sure it is haunted by ghosts but more by residual energy from all the horrible things that happened

[@Godlim17]

BTW ECT is still widely used today and is highly effective for severe depression that cannot be treated with anti depressants. Lobotomies are completely gone though. That is fortunate since, it really just made them MR. Sure easier to deal with but doesnt help the patient much.

[@HattieLovesCattie]

Many of the old American mental hospitals were built in the European Kirkbride gothic architecture.Good examples is the hospital in Danvers,MA.

[@PapawsDadillacOEMplus]

RIP to Robert Murphy.

[@OldCBnGuns]

As a substance abuse/psychiatric nurse, I do believe that the state hospital system needed to be downsized in the sense that certain types of clients Didnt belong there. That being said psych units lose money in most hospitals. They used to make money until around 1993. the idea with closing ma state hospitals is it could be done cheaper privately. we have lost multiple psych units. The severe persistently mentally Ill need help. it's the states job to have enough beds and services to help

[@Spiritof48]

ECT is still used today , it is not so bad as most people think.

[@guy15s]

Why do so many abandoned town videos use Summer Overture? Can't say I don't like hearing it, though. Especially this version.

[@markhopple]

Great Job ..Very informative

[@Geek_Chorus]

Really impressive guys!!

[@brandyhinds9732]

Use ear buds if your audio isn't working on the voice parts! It works saw someone else suggest this I did it and it worked:)

[@meeronda6595]

Why is the audio completely distorted???

[@JW-eh5sb]

do you know who we need to contact to ask about performing a parnormal investigation there.. Maybe a overnight stay alone?

[@RUAmplified]

this place is huge!

[@CingranelliGrant]

Thank you!

[@stevefett1]

@Kate Slate. I was totally thinking the same thing. I love that movie. It's really effed up though.

[@RowanWarren78]

Well done!!!

[@boatblocker]

great job!

[@kuronekoanimehere]

I can't hear him talking??

[@marilyn27njeane]

Yep, there was children born at Norwich State Hospital from patients committed there

[@JW-eh5sb]

somebody should buy the main building and make haunted tours for halloween or make it a haunted house!!

[@v.e.s2884]

The abuse is crazy there because I have videos and recordings off voices pictures off ghost and a dark tall shadow thing moving

[@Chillmax]

Good job, with a little bit more work, I wouldn't have been able to tell this from a regular TV production ;-) 2 points - avoid the urge to read lists of names too often; and what happened with the tone & level of the narration & vocals, a real shame, it sounds like you read it down the phone - otherwise, keep up the good work!

[@marilyn27njeane]

If a Schixophrenia Reaction Catatonic type condition and the woman patient was pregnant, would she deliver her baby at this facility or be transported to a Norwich Hospital.

[@mrjericho5701]

is the building still there?

[@elizabethfourie]

Great job but what happend to the sound? It would be nicer if we could hear what they are saying. Otherwise nice job i like it alot.

[@NodDisciple1]

Did Ghost Adventures go to this place? I can't remember. X-/

[@PsychoCasualty]

@TexasGirly809 It is the theme song from the movie "Requiem for a Dream"

[@heckler7689]

Is it for sale? Does anybody know?

[@paulaabel3132]

where is the audio???

[@glennh1976]

Awesome but so how they treat people back then

[@mitchellperry714]

Whats the song at the beginning

[@BeigeEyesCroissantDragon]

The newer of the buildings probably could have been turned into a normal state funded hospital. And to think, im playing airsoft here at the end of the month.

[@lindathrall5133]

They also could've used these buildings for homeless shelters where homeless people could rest for a while to plan their next move

[@Vinniegret]

Duh, did you just listen to the first minute? The piece is nearly 15 minutes long and the commentary starts at 2:43 or so.

[@raybarr182]

i loved it 👍

[@shawnmccann8313]

This place reminds me of CVH.

[@woooster17]

@anastastia smith Correct, Requiem For A Dream..

[@ericapaige4612]

I drove by it last week

[@CherylBeatrice-j4x]

love

[@Piezac]

it's being taken down now, your too late if you want to go

[@xxhairstylexx]

when it was showing the hallways, it was like im not sure, death ;--; really ughrughdsa no.

[@aaronp51mustang]

May I suggest Fort Macon, NC?

[@bronxjulez]

i feel it was torture what they did to those patients and sad...

[@LovelyGirlCreations]

i believe ghost hunters went there!!!!

[@samking73]

Yep, too many things just don't add up with the "official" S.H. story.

[@nickykitty39]

Try coming to England as our Asylums are a lot worse believe me....