Allahu Akbar State Hospital Part II

 2/12/2011

The icy wind cut the air like a knife as I turned the key in the ignition and killed the engine. Stepping into the pre-dawn gloom of another February morning, Steaz, Scarecrow and myself grabbed our bags and began the long walk up the lonely road towards the institution. Barely anyone was out at this hour, and we weren't remotely concerned about being questioned as we were in the middle of absolute-fucking-nowhere. The broken crown of a smokestack visible over the treetops being our landmark of where the State Hospital was.

A week earlier, the three of us crouched in thigh-deep snow gazing at a dark hole leading into a steam tunnel. Now this mission was a 3 man operation. I personally had brought up the idea of using the tunnel as a ways onto the campus, Steaz and myself kept watch while Crow checked it out. After a few moments, Crow came back to the hole with indefinite news. His flashlight had died, but the tunnel went a LONG way uphill.

Now, back at the same dark portal, we planned to find out just how far the rabbit hole really went. I had a theory that since this tunnel supplied the steam for the institution, that there would perhaps be a walkable tunnel to most buildings on campus. Donning MSA respirators, we slid feetfirst over asbestos covered pipes and dropped to the damp floor of the tunnel. After regrouping, we began the long hike up the hill.

After about a half mile, we came to a slight bend in the tunnel. Racks of pipes on our left and the mental map in my head the only thing guiding us, we came to an intersection. The words "Glenview + Pleasentview" were visible in orange spraypaint with an arrow pointing right. After following this side tunnel for about a hundred feet, we came to a locked door. "Shit, fuck, asshole, motherfucker and cunt" were just several of the curses that came to mind, until Crow pushed the door hard as can be and it creaked open. Wide-eyed with anticipation, we walked through a boiler room that led into a connecting patient tunnel. Far in the distance, we could see a flickering fluorescent lightbulb still burning in a building that had been out of use for 7 years

Heading upstairs, we were somewhat disappointed to find that this building had been largely stripped of interior items. Throughout our exploration, a constant high-pitched scream emanated from a dying fire control box in the basement. On the top floor, the remnants of a woodshop yielded several interesting signs and other items.

After 2 hours of exploring, we began the long walk out. Climbing headfirst out of the tiny window, I felt a sense of victory unlike any other. For having not the faintest clue of where we were going or what we were really doing, I felt proud to have accomplished so much with my best friends. Little did I know it, but this was the beginning of a 4 month commitment to exploring every inch of this institution.

Above: Toilets (obviously)

Above: EOR

Above: Self-Portrait