Abandoned Norwich State Hospital

Connor Trabal

Contributing Writer

Image of the administrative building on the property through a window covered in vines. Photo courtesy of @ct.forgotten on instagram

Sprawled across approximately 800 acres on the Norwich / Preston town line is Norwich State Hospital, a ruin of what once was a pioneer in psychiatric treatments. Opened in 1904, the state hospital grew from 1 building on 100 acres to 90 buildings on roughly 800 acres. In the 1950s, the hospital had a peak patient population and was fully self-sufficient. It operated two garages, greenhouses, barns, and paint shops. Patients had access to various amenities, including a movie theater, dance hall, kitchen, and cafeteria. Additionally, some patients participated in specialized programs that offered trade and finance classes.

Close to 400 acres of Norwich State Hospital are going to be turned over to Mohegan once the cleanup is complete. Many of the buildings have been torn down and the ones left standing are going to be part of a large-scale renovation.

Image of the administrative building during sunset. Photo courtesy of @ct.forgotten on instagram

Every small noise made my skin crawl as I walked through the long corridors of these buildings, the gothic structures paired with norwich state hospital's dark history added to the anxiety. Each room echoed a story of a once prosperous community, chips of concrete and glass scream under my feet. Beds and dressers that were once full now lay vacant and rotting, reminiscing on better days. Every room seemed to have a question that was unanswered, why would they leave their patients files behind? What happened here? I couldn't help but think of the history of this complex, both the good and the bad. The hospital closed in 1996 due to decreasing patient population and patient mistreatment / abuse, but before their doors closed for good they were pioneers in psychiatric treatments and medications that are still used today.

Image of vandalized granite staircase in the administrative building. Photo courtesy of @ct.forgotten on instagram

The psych building was torn down a long time ago with a few people reporting that Mohegan had burned sage for up to four days after the demolition highlighting the impact of the hospital's dark history. The highlight of my tour through Norwich State Hospital was the administrative building, never before have I  seen an abandoned building with such grand and beautiful architecture. When I first walked into the main staircase portion I was in absolute awe at the sheer height of the ceilings, the granite railings and stairs convey the strong presence that this hospital once had here. I couldn't imagine why anyone would want to destroy such beautiful craftsmanship, what was the point? Even though I didn't like that this place was maliciously destroyed, it does make for a better comeback story.

Image of flooded tunnels underneath Norwich State Hospital. Photo courtesy of @ct.forgotten on instagram

Travelling further into the property, I discovered a portion of the old tunnel system that wasn't demolished yet the only problem was nearly a foot of water that covered the floor. Naturally, I got my friends together. We grabbed some waterproof boots and headed back fully prepared for the expedition. Each of us walked into the water slowly in a single file line, brushing past debris hanging from the roof. As we walk further into the tunnel our flashlights seem to work less and less. The darkness of the tunnel ate everything that wasn't directly illuminated by a flashlight, mice ran along the pipes next to us, and water was dripping from the ceiling onto us but we were determined to find out how far we could go. The frightening part was seeing pieces of the roof that had fallen onto the floor. We tried to be cautious, but in hindsight we should have left right then. Making it to the end, I was glad we were leaving but dreading the walk back through the tunnel. Once we relished in our accomplishment, we headed out of the facility. That was enough adventure for one day. 

Image of abandoned employee housing through broken glass. Photo courtesy of @ct.forgotten on instagram

Developing places like these is vital for a coherent community. We can get rid of hazardous areas and recycle them so they can serve our society again. Upcycling abandoned places is not a new idea and has been proven to be cost effective in places like Italy where they use abandoned buildings as positive energy buildings that generate electricity. These historic places sometimes get money from the state to help with renovation costs. Renovation of this property is a big win not only for the historic community, but also the citizens of Preston and Norwich that have been anticipating this project. Even though approximately 400 acres is going to be renovated, that still leaves nearly half of the property untouched not accounting for roads, water, and  unused land. The main half of the campus is currently being renovated, meanwhile houses and buildings off to the side decay more everyday.

Image of a hallway with a glass block window. Photo courtesy of @ct.forgotten on instagram

The town of Preston sold their side to Mohegan, which leaves the question of what Norwich is going to do with their portion of the property. After further investigation, Norwich seems to own the employee housing and some other buildings on the opposite side of the road from the hospital’s main campus. Is Norwich State Hospital finally getting the attention it deserves? Will we renovate or demolish the buildings that are unaffected by the ongoing project? Each one of us has an obligation to pay attention to the abandoned buildings in our communities and hold our elected officials accountable for the safety hazards that can be created by these places. Abandoned buildings can influence crime and property value directly affecting the investments of regular people. The renovation of this property is a step in the right direction in Connecticut's ongoing battle with vacancy, and it's our job to finish it. 

For more abandoned buildings around Connecticut follow @Ct.forgotten on Instagram or TikTok.