The Hudson River State Hospital for the Insane

The Hudson River State Hospital, originally opened in 1871 as the Hudson River State Hospital for the Insane, and ultimately known as the Hudson River Psychiatric Center, would remain in operation for a total of 141 years. And at its peak in 1955, it was "serving" 6,000 "patients." All of these videos seem to have their strongest, most drawing features, and perhaps with the Hudson River facility, this is the portion of the video pertaining to its final closure and ultimate redevelopment. So many people wonder at and become frustrated with how these old facilities have failed to be maintained and allowed to crumble into eventual nonexistence. But quite often, such efforts have actually been attempted only to meet with delay and ultimate failure for reasons that people perhaps fail to recognize. I feel that this particular video does an above-average job of addressing this sadly unrealized facet of so many of these old facilities' more modern histories, too.

[@lauraderose9551]

I watched all of your videos on psychiatric hospitals/asylums, and I find their history very fascinating and interesting. As a person going forward on my career as a historian, I enjoy all aspects of history, and I remind myself all the time that history is all around us, and that's the case when it comes to mental illness and treatment. Keep up the great work. Here are the hospitals/asylums you can look into in your future videos (of course, you can go at your own pace, no pressure): ~ Whittingham Hospital ~ Rolling Hills Asylum ~ Marlboro Psychiatric Hospital ~ Trenton Psychiatric Hospital ~ Kirkbride's Hospital ~ Beechworth Asylum

[@user-sg6ji2kk3u]

Whomever has put together these amazing video presentations of some of the State Mental Hospitals is amazing . The historical photos and detailed information is very refreshing and informative . I have long been interested in in the historical aspects of the Psychiatric Hospitals of the past . How patients were housed and treated as well as treatment . I have suffered with depression and anxiety since my teenage years . Was diagnosed with AD HD as a child . Back in the early 70s they labeled me as simply “ Hyperkinesis “ I had to take Ritalin everyday . Then asa teenager I became unipolar depressive and had anxiety attacks . I had been hospitalized 10 times since age 7 years. I got through my school and barely graduated High School. But couldn’t manage College . With daily Medications and Therapy sessions for 2 hours twice a month I have not had admissions to the ward since summer 2010. It’s now February 2024. And I am almost 60 years old . I do well as long as I have my medicine and it is monitored . I am very impressed with the history of the History of the various Hospitals here . Bravo to whomever and hope to see more historical examples posted since the last one about a month ago . My name is Laura. ❤😊

[@atouristinthelandofreason5284]

Hello, Laura, my name is Wendell, this is my channel, I produce these videos, and I am so happy that our paths have been able to cross paths here and at this time. Not only do I greatly appreciate your comment, your personal observations, and your first-hand experiences, but we have much in common, as well. I was born in 1968 having seizures at birth and with blue skin from oxygen deprivation. I would continue to have seizures throughout my early childhood and the medical experts of the time would ultimately diagnose me with an "undiagnosable brain dysfunction." I would spend over half of my childhood on a powerful mind-altering drug that my school insisted upon, in the years since I've had to be committed to 5 psychiatric facilities in 3 different states, and about 10 years ago they finally found a strong psychotropic drug cocktail that has allowed me to keep from having to be committed. Like you, therapy is a crucial part of my daily existence and I must be monitored. I was barely able to make it through high school, barely able to make it through college, and barely able to last 20 years out in the workforce before finally having to be declared fully disabled by Social Security. Today, one of my greatest driving passions - and perhaps one of my key ways in dealing with everything on a more positive basis - is the advocacy work that I now seek to do for the mentally ill and the mentally disabled. Because as hard as our lives have been in some ways, and as tragic as our days have often become, and to a large degree, we're actually amongst the more lucky ones. It took many years and a lot of suffering, but we have realized our issues, identified our problems, and we've managed to find some measure of equilibrium between our symptoms and our circumstances. My mind and my heart goes out to the mentally ill and mentally disabled currently being warehoused in our nation's prison system, and all of the mentally ill and disabled being forced to live lives of complete desperation as our nation's homeless. I don't consider myself to be a fitting prophet for our people...and yet I also lack the ability to look at all that's needing to be done and to then sit back and not try to do anything about it. And in studying the past, we can still learn so much about what needs to be done today and lay hold of the inspiration to carry us through in our efforts to do it. We will always walk best whenever we choose to walk together. ❤

[@Chuthermucker]

Your videos are so very well done. I like all of the older pictures of what "used to be" and the updates on what is going on with them now. They were built with such good intentions but over-crowding quickly messed that up. Excellent work.

[@pennyg2312]

The music for this video was wonderful and spot on. Thank you for these great informative videos 😊

[@atouristinthelandofreason5284]

Thank you so much for your continued support, interest, and kind words :-) Fesliyan Studios makes truly amazing backing tracks, and, since these videos are strictly non-profit, they are even allowing me to use them for free, a gesture that I most deeply appreciate. In the past, it hasn't been unusual for me to spend entire days looking for fitting backing tracks for my projects, so I've been most appreciative of them indeed :-)

[@valerieragsdale3272]

Sound track, perfect!

[@lyndamartinez8108]

Thanks for all the pictures and info great work

[@jordyjo6373]

I love watching these videos, you've done such a great job on these. I'm fascinated by old Kirkbrides and the history behind them.

[@pennyg2312]

Love Love your videos. Very well researched.

[@myhoose90]

Its really sad that these facilities when built were done so with good intent but all ended their many years of service only ever remembered for some of the dark things that happened within their walls.

[@atouristinthelandofreason5284]

What you're saying is correct, and I agree...but I also feel that there may be another side. Yes, they ultimately failed miserably for the most part, but when you look at the spirits in which they generally began, their commitment to their cause, and the tremendous scale of their failed efforts...and then compare it to the total societal apathy and disregard toward the mentally ill and disabled today...sometimes one can't wonder which of the two eras is actually the worst and most guilty - theirs or ours?

[@seacow313]

all that brick work, what a shame, Kirkbride buildings were magnificent

[@atouristinthelandofreason5284]

And all the more so back in the day in which they were built, too. Today we are used to large, expansive buildings. But back then, these magnificent constructions inspired awe and wonder by their sheer size and majesty. In the beginning, they truly did make great efforts toward attempting to accomplish good things.

[@bettycastro835]

Music is amazing 🙂

[@7hilladelphia]

What a stellar video. Sweeping thru time. Tops job. Thank you

[@PURDY_POISON]

I love your channel. These places are spectacular! However as a person who has mental illness and has been in a place, the care is more important. What scared me the most was almost getting attacked by other patients!!

[@lilabrantley916]

Keep on showing videos of these metal hospitals I like then along time ago time has passsince then ❤❤❤❤😂😂😂😂lila

[@Doo_Doo_Patrol]

I could go for some tub therapy right about now.

[@lilabrantley916]

Ilove the music playing with the hospitals they was under staff and wasing enough money or staff to run then keep videos coming ❤❤❤❤❤❤😂😂😂😂

[@SuperBigdaddywood]

They merely replaced the old nuthouse with a brand new one. Re-open the state hospitals!

[@atouristinthelandofreason5284]

The new video that I just finished producing and posting to this channel - "74 Insane Asylums: The Kirkbrides" - actually speaks directly toward this. Were we to combine the efforts that they made yesterday with the knowledge, technologies, and resources of today, then perhaps we might finally be able to begin to do the mentally ill and the mentally disabled proper justice.

[@candacesturtevant7139]

I like a man in Poughkeepsie. I wrote a poem for him including this Hospital in my thoughts. I write at heartunes THE GHOST OF HIGH STREET She worked at the insane asylum He worked on his Black Book Magazine Life was difficult for both of them Until the night came for fantasy's dream She walked home in her cape and hat He walked home to spank his brat Life was fun for them in bed They closed their eyes with heavy head She would come as mist in the night He would sleep with a night light Life was in between the times Until she kissed him with rhymes She was raised a Baptist girl He was born Jew in this world Life was difficult being far apart Until they touched heart to heart She was rushed all the day long He was her muse in poetry song While in their beds they were alone Across the country ghosts will roam She was living in her head He liked her coming to his bed When all the world slept peacefully The ghost of High Street would greet me She was a celibate too many years He found it difficult to hear her tears So many years between them wept While by his bed at night she slept She was his faithful doggy dear He could feel when she was near As tingling would come below From where he could not know She was there He could care Care he did While she hid She was loving and obscene He was strict and kinda mean But he had a way that she needed His way she heeded She loved him with love and lust He knew her from poetry rust That ran down as water on his steel Wondering what made her feel She was scared of big towns He was there by one a clown Who kept her laughing with his charms Who made her long to feel his arms She wanted his beard on her breasts He wanted a ladies head on his chest After exhausting sex was consumed To lay there listening to his heart boom She had brown eyes He had big thighs To be below him down there Give him pleasure that showed care She is the ghost of his High Street He is the one she'll not meet So in her poetry he'll be 'Till somewhere in time this ghost will be She was a mist He was man kissed From his insane asylum nurse Was she a blessing or a curse... ...The Ghost of High Street? 2/24/2015 1159 cj

[@dariazarina8357]

Land us still evil