Athens Asylum - Athens, Ohio (Spencer Trenoweth)

Athens Lunatic Asylum was opened in Athens, Ohio in 1874, and closed in 1993. During its time of operation, the asylum provided services to a number of populations of people including Civil War veterans and children. It's noted that the first documented patient at Athens was a 12-year-old girl with epilepsy who at the time was thought to be possessed by a demon. Athens was one of the first Victorian-style institutions in North-America that did not use torture as a means to treat patients, instead they encouraged healing through activities such as gardening, counseling, and having access to the fresh air. The designs of the building were influenced by Kirkbride. The main section of the building served as administrative offices while the rest of the complex was split into two wings that included three sections. Males were housed in the left sections of the ward and females on the right. The asylum housed nearly 600 patients which was noted to be double the recommended amount from Kirkbride. Throughout the years the complex expanded and by the 1950’s the asylum covered nearly 1,000 acres and treated more than 1,800 patients. 

The intent of the institution was to provide “moral” treatment to the patients that attended the facilities. From what I have found there was a big belief that restrictions and restraints were not to be used on the facility grounds and that the best way to “train the mind” was by participating in a variety of outdoor activities such as farming, milking cows, picking fruits, and a number of kitchen duties. This was the approach up until 1973 when the federal court system ruled that patient labor needed to be compensated with at least minimum wage.

Patients at Athens came from a variety of settings, including Civil War veterans, children, elderly, homeless, “rebellious teenagers being taught a lesson by their parents”, and violent criminals. Patients were seen for slight distress or severe mental illnesses. Patients at Athens were exposed to a variety of treatments, most of which have since been discredited. Athens is most famous for its practices in lobotomy but is also known for its use of hydrotherapy, electroshock, restraint, and psychotropic drugs. 

I did not find any in-depth narratives, however, I was able to come across an article from an Ohio newspaper that highlights the “spooky” events that took place. The article is a first-hand account by a gentleman that worked at the asylum prior to its closing in 1993. 

https://www.athensmessenger.com/spotlight/remembering-life-at-the-athens-asylum/article_d78a2e7e-0d09-5f64-b1fa-3f6f83a1f856.html

As mentioned the facilities housed around 600 people in the 1800s and up to 1800 people in the late 1950’s. Ohio History Central notes that most of the people who received treatment at Athens never left and in fact were buried in a cemetery on the complex itself. Most of the patients at Athens were involved in some kind of work, this was actually the intent of the facility was to offer patients a number of different experiences on the grounds of the asylum that would help with their rehabilitation. The cemeteries at Athens seem to be a place of interest today for folks who are interested in learning more about the paranormal activity that is believed to happen at the complex. One paranormal event that has received public recognition at Athens would be the stain of bodily fluids found on the floor of an abandoned ward. The woman had been missing for several weeks before staff found the remains of her body, the stain still remains on the floor today. In the search that I did I had a hard time find the information directly related to the practices of lobotomy, hydrotherapy, and electroshock. Most of the historical websites talk about the moral treatment approach that allowed for patients to wander the facility and interact with nature, rather than highlight the lobotomy practice. 

Would I have wanted to receive treatment in this facility? I would not have wanted to receive treatment in any asylum at all honestly. I think the idea of being subject lobotomy, hydrotherapy, and electroshock sound unimaginable. The idea of having a facility that allowed some freedom to explore the outdoors and participate in employment like activities would have been alright with me though. It was nerve-racking to learn that most patients that were checked into Athens never left the facility, that in itself would make me not want to receive treatment there.