The Overbrook Asylum in Memoriam - Decaying Wards Once Home To Thousands

Entering this place it feels less a hospital complex, and more a winding labyrinth of dirty red brick and chipping mortar. The sheer scale of the grounds is difficult to communicate in text or photo. One's imagination suggests the sense of having left the familiar world behind for something altogether separate, and in many ways you have. Serpentine lengths of brick adorned with copper flashing and ornate dormer windows expand outward for what seems to be forever in all directions. Every angle of the corridor reveals another bend, stairwell, or row of doorways, and every room has a story to tell. Overbrook is more than just a discarded shell or outdated facility - It is a testament to the massive strides in healthcare and basic human rights made during recent decades, and a crumbling monument to those who toiled, suffered, and died before they became a reality.
Overbrook opened in 1896 and was built in many ways to be Essex County's local answer to the neighboring Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital which once stood in Parsippany, New Jersey. Its purpose was to house and care for the mentally, and in some cases physically, handicapped residents of the county. Once completed the campus had over a dozen buildings on its 90 acres, most of them connected via miles of subterranean tunnels running under the grounds.
The hospital operated for over a century, and there was no shortage of hardships faced during that time. One of the most infamous events occurred in the winter of 1917 when the asylum's boiler broke down leaving the inhabitants without heat for twenty days. During that span, twenty-four people lost their lives to the cold, many freezing to death in their beds. Also, like many such institutions of the day, during the great depression large numbers of homeless found refuge here, but overcrowding and heavily rationed food made living conditions very poor. Following World War II there was also a large influx of patients suffering from 'shell shock' and post-traumatic stress, issues which the overburdened facility was hard-pressed to properly treat. Accounts of neglect, starvation, escapes, and suicides were reported. All told, over ten thousand people died while confined within Overbrook's walls.
Full story here - bit.ly/Overbroo...
Music - "Lilium" as performed by Myuu
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[@blackgrl71]

When my sister first started working for Essex County, she had to get a physical, and they sent her to Overbrook when it still had a few buildings operating. I tagged along, and it was creepy. We couldn't wait to leave.

[@DecayUNCUT]

I remember back in 2011 when there were not so many urban explorers. I thought, "what would make a good channel"? I only had the desire with no talent to show. When you guys/gals started, I knew this was how to present it. Although our channels never made it as big as some, we still do what we do. We still have the passion. Thanks for continuing to do what you do best. Tom

[@AntiquityEchoes]

Thanks Tom! It's amazing to think of how KZbin has evolved over the years... for better and worse. That said, we will always be here, and hope to upload more frequently in 2020 than we were able to thus far in 2019.

[@garywinterscoachablemoment7029]

I worked here as a college student in the early 70s. Lived in one of these buildings. On our free time, we'd explore the no-longer used portions of the facility. It was creepy, fascinating, and unbelievable to us. I worked on a children's psych ward for teens who were violent. It was a scary assignment, and it changed how I viewed the field of psychology. Still have many slightly creepy memories of this place.

[@AntiquityEchoes]

Those experiences and the emotions you felt are why we are such strong advocates for architectural preservation. Those feelings are only conjured by the walls themselves, which serve as powerful conduits to our collective history. Both good and bad.

[@miraclegirl1694]

Another gorgeous yet sad video. Such a waste of a beautiful piece of history. I wish it could have been saved. I love your work!

[@AntiquityEchoes]

Thank you so much. It was sad to see it finally go after all these years in limbo. Not so much as a memorial plaque is planned for the grounds.

[@Jennifer.335]

It should be criminal to raze such beautiful places.

[@AntiquityEchoes]

Absolutely agree, and in many cases it probably is.

[@ChristopherKing]

Really evoked the nostalgia for this building, and in the end, transformed into a lovely eulogy. Thank you so much for all the hard work that was put into creating this video.

[@AntiquityEchoes]

Appreciate this, in many ways it was a eulogy, after the demolition it truly felt like someone we knew had passed away.

[@Mark69Z28]

great job as usual guys...glad your still at it..thank you

[@AntiquityEchoes]

Thanks! We have no intentions of ever stopping.

[@Mark69Z28]

Awesome Thank You for always sharing

[@Riot98765]

Why doesn’t New Jersey listen to voices of opposition, when it comes to preservation of historic properties? Not to mention saving tax payers millions on something some of them don’t want to take part of in the first place. Destroying something with an important part of medical history in the United States. But no, let’s under go an 11 million dollar tax payer funded project. While we’re at it, let make a recreation center from the ground up. Instead of remodeling building 6 and gutting it out to make a new recreation center for the public, but still have remnants of the areas past history. I really love what you guys do. I’m extremely upset to see this place go, Great video.

[@chrisd.6346]

You know they tore down that new rec center... LOL, NJ

[@basurawitch3401]

This was such an awesome place I spent so much time in here as a kid, and honestly one of the few places I've actually been afraid of due to some strange occurrences and I'm a very hard skeptic

[@AntiquityEchoes]

We can only imagine how many people have stories to share from this place. You sound like you certainly do.

[@EphemeralProductions]

im not surprised you had such experiences there. many such places as this have such occurrences happen to people that visit them, which is hardly surprising considering all the negative energy, death and pain that such places had daily behind their walls.

[@PsYcHoFrEaKsUNITE]

Great video! Loved the piano cover of Lilium too!

[@AntiquityEchoes]

We chose the original Lilium as the backing track for our very first Overbrook video back in 2009, which was also our first KZbin video. It just suits the location so well that we felt we had no choice but to use it. The piano cover by Myuu is beautiful.

[@Whipslinger1]

I wonder if I'd even recognize the Ward I worked on in 1978 if I saw it in this footage. So sad to see the condition of that complex, especially since I remember when it was occupied and functioning.

[@AntiquityEchoes]

We agree, though we never knew the campus in operation, the sight of it slowly becoming undone was very sad to see. How fascinating that you once worked at the hospital center back in the day. We would love to help you identify your old ward if possible. Do you recall what building it was that you worked in?

[@Whipslinger1]

@@AntiquityEchoes Sadly no. Alls I remember is that I worked on Ward 62 and 63. Don't remember the building though. It wasn't very far in from Fairfield Ave. I didn't work there long. Just as a Summer job before going to College. My Parents, Aunt and Uncle worked there for 30-35 years though. The Calvin Skeet Childs Pavilion was named after my Uncle Skeet who has long since passed away. I had a great time working there.

[@Mason-zw2dr]

I lived near there in Verona and I always heard creepy stories about the place

[@adventureasone]

Loved how clean your shots were. Great job! I subbed (:

[@AntiquityEchoes]

Thank you for the kind words and support!

[@matthewbarker7533]

So beautiful!

[@laurencalligy1697]

Your videos are amazing

[@witchels666]

Beautiful video. I miss The Overbrook Asylum so much.❤😥

[@AntiquityEchoes]

Our hearts broke every time we saw it during demolition. Such a waste.

[@chrisd.6346]

Sad place, some sic people lived there. Thank god for advances in psychiatric medicine which made these places obsolete.

[@AntiquityEchoes]

Unfortunately they aren't as obsolete as we would like to believe, many in need of shelter like what Overbrook provided are now either homeless or in prison. Medical advancement also has a long way to come, with physical restraints and lobotomies having been replaced in modern times by chemical ones in the form of prescription drugs and sedatives. Still, we are hopeful for the future as mental health has become far less stigmatized over just the past decade.

[@sucnipii6834]

I remember hearing about Overbrook so one day I stopped by and looked around the premises. I scoped out the area and what the grounds are like. I left planning to come by again in my free time to actually go in, photograph and explore for myself. Unfortunately the following week when I returned, it was all dirt. Hate to see places like these get knocked down for someone else to make money. Sad to think people died and some suffered here. To others, it could’ve been all they’ve known their entire life. Places like these are sacred and should be respected and remembered for those who suffered.

[@AntiquityEchoes]

Overbrook will forever live within those who knew it. Even today it's ghost lingers around the new housing development that now stands on the grounds, in the form of old foundations in the woodlines, and miles of tunnels that still remain, sealed away under the new townhouses.

[@jerseydemon4134]

It sucks that the whole exploring thing is dying off- so many amazing places demoed recently like overbrook, greystone, Rockland, and most recently westborough. All I have local to me now is letchworth. Hudson won’t be around much longer. Overbrook was such an incredible sight, I’m glad to have explored there on 3 occasions but there was so much I didn’t get to see

[@AntiquityEchoes]

Eventually all that will remain to explore will be abandoned shopping malls.

[@rmbarnes672]

jersey demon it's not like only because of development you won't feel or see their presence. Abandoned places are everywhere. Not only in the USA, all you gotta do is be listening.

[@M0rshu64]

Beautiful drone footage. Sad to see it join Greystone and Dixmont.

[@AntiquityEchoes]

Greystone was another terrible loss. New Jersey loves to plow under anything with even a remotely questionable past, sadly it's these places we most need to preserve.

[@M0rshu64]

@@AntiquityEchoesAtleast Trans allegheny and Pennhurst are still standing. I have an Idea for a future video for you; there is a place in my state of Virginia called the Dejarnette Sanitarium.

[@Leatherface123.]

They have demolished it

[@AntiquityEchoes]

Yup. Hundreds of townhouses now stand here.

[@Leatherface123.]

@@AntiquityEchoes sadly

[@AntiquityEchoes]

@@Leatherface123. 💔

[@itsmebrielle6545]

you think it's demolished now?

[@johannapolo1853]

Is that place still there? whats the address?

[@Vibez_]

Is it still abandoned

[@AntiquityEchoes]

It's townhouses now 💔

[@Vibez_]

Antiquity Echoes damnnnnn

[@cockaheuck1534]

American The sick & The wasted. Its a shame.