Born To Raise Hell: Taunton State Hospital

May 17th, 2009

Our journey to Massachusetts had started the evening of the 16th. Soldat picked me up from the local train station under a sky streaked with spring lightening and we headed into Philly to pick up Vincennes. After we got her, we hit the road and spent the next 6 hours keeping ourselves awake by talking about various abandoned locations. Anything to keep our minds off the task at hand.

In the exploring world, Taunton State Hospital's main Kirkbride building had a reputation as being one of the hardest places to crack. Before 2005, security at the hospital was virtually non-existent and one entered the building through one of many open doors. However, a $1 million anti-climb fence was constructed around the entire building in summer '05, and a fire swept through the main administration building in 2006. Following the fire, police in both marked and unmarked cars patrolled both inside and outside the fence and around the property. Rumors of motion activated flash cameras and other security countermeasures hung over the building like ghouls as the cops circled the fenceline like sharks waiting to tear into prey. You were guaranteed to be arrested if you were caught inside the fence. No questions asked.

After parking, our group began the short walk towards the hospital perimeter. Within 10 feet of the property line, an unmarked cop drove by. "He's coming back" I thought as I watched the tan Lincoln swing back around and approach us again. "Don't even think about going up to the hospital" the officer said as he rolled up. "Is it alright if we walk around and take pictures?" Soldat asked. "You can take pictures. But if you go inside the buildings i will arrest you" the cop said. With that in mind, we headed off and began walking the fenceline. Within another two minutes, a dark blue Crown Vic began following us at 2MPH around the building...Another cop.

At this point things were starting to look pretty bad. We drove around town for an hour or so, trying to figure out what to do. We hadn't just driven 6 hours to be turned away. The building was going to be demolished within the month, and we weren't going to be easily defeated. Soldat and Vincennes were down for trying again. I on the other hand was beginning to have bad second thoughts. My paranoia and fear were through the roof, and I decided to quit while i was ahead and let Soldat and Vinc go for it. They both got in successfully and started texting me pictures of all the awesome stuff inside. About two hours later, i accepted the fact i was completely insane and stupid. I parked the car, got my gear out, walked to the hospital perimeter and sprinted up to the hole in the fence as my compatriots watched the undercover in the Crown Vic.

I made it.

As far as Kirkbrides go this one wasn't particularly spectacular. Neoclassical architecture meant many cupolas, cast iron turrets and windows replete with bars for the more unstable patients. However, the true beauty of this hospital laid in its simplicity as well as its spectacular sunbridges that connected the infirmary wings. Construction began in 1851 and was completed in 1854, making this the fifth Kirkbride ever built. Sadly in 2009, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts set aside the $1.3 million necessary to raze the building, and the long history of one of the few Kirkbrides left came to an end.