It sat vacant for another 20 years until developer Alexandra Partners announced a proposal to restore the historic structures crumbling faade and add a 13-story hotel tower onto the existing building. From historic prison sites, to state hospitals, modern day explorers will find a variety of urbex adventures to choose from. The Hotel Alexandraalso known as the Walworth Buildingwas named for Alexandra of Denmark and featured a handsome sandstone faade designed by the celebrated Peabody and Stearns architecture firm. After fundraising, the organization is working on plans to restore the theater, although its progress is unknown. Bases like this were common on the east coast and throughout the northern Canadian border. Elton John is said to have been given a tour of the once-famous concert hall but the less-famous urbex may have to settle for photos online. This design choice focused on more open areas for communal work, and eliminated the small cells of previous designs. In the spring of 1914, the wealthy Houghton family bought their first car. Those with trustee-status could tend to the outside landscape or work in snow-removal. Most of the land was sold to the National Parks Service and is now part of Cape Cod National Seashore Park. The sound of singing has accompanied some of these ghostly incidents. In 1991, an enormous fire destroyed the abandoned building, destroying much of the structure. We highly recommend either thePETZL Actik Core, or theBlack Diamond Wizfor those on a budget. Find out all the things you can Each building housed separate living quarters for the married couple who administered the dormitory; they were assisted by a schoolteacher and a laundress. During 1963 the northern section of the tunnel was redeveloped and ultimately filled in to support the new Boston City Hall that was being built above it. Named for the third superintendent, Walter E. Fernald, this mental institution was to become infamous for its eugenics-obsessed warden and illegal radiation testing. WebThe Ghosts of Houghton Mansion. Killer Urbex Note: The Kirkbride building was closed in 1975 and left abandoned and neglected while the eastern infirmary building remained in operation. Iceland in Winter: Natural Wonders & Ancient Legends, Vietnam: A Culinary Adventure from Hanoi to Saigon, Antiques and Their Afterlives: Osteological Specimens, Accidental Discoveries: A Celebration of Historical Mistakes, Monster of the Month w/ Colin Dickey: St. Foy, Mindful Mixology: Making Non-Alcoholic Cocktails During Dry January With Derek Brown, Designing Immersive Gatherings With Zach Morris of Third Rail Projects, Raising the Bar: Chocolate's History, Art, and Taste With Sophia Contreras Rea, Once Upon a Time: Fairy Tale Writing With Anca Szilgyi, How a Groundbreaking Pastry Chef Bakes Outside the Lines. The settlement eventually swelled to 120 members and included a regionally-lauded school that eventually became the communitys primary source of income. Albert Charles Houghton, President of the Arnold Print Works and first Mayor of North Adams, built the Houghton Mansion in the 1890s. Hours: Thursday through Monday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Since its opening in 1888, this school has been known by many different names, such as the initial name, the Experimental School for Teaching and Training Idiotic Children. Rutland Prison Camp was constructed in 1903 to rehabilitate criminals with minor offenses. In the middle of a New England forest sit the crumbling ruins of World War II-era ammunition storage bunkers. Here are a few guides to surrounding states that will be helpful in your explorations outside of the wonderful abandoned places in Massachusetts: If you have a specific location from the list below that you would like to immediately get more information about, click the links in the list to snap straight to that abandoned places in Massachusetts location. Franklin Park, a partially-wooded 527-acre nature park, was founded in 1912 in the city of Boston. At Saratoga National Historical Park, the ghost of a black man in a three-cornered hat and ragged militia uniform was said to appear and tell his story to a visitor. Cameras, headlamps, respirators and more. TV's Ghost Hunters explored this manor, famous for its apparition of a monk who walks the grounds. Walking through the Long Couch Woods, visitors find the huge stone staircase leading to the abandoned dens. Sometimes claw marks are left behind. Designed by architect George Dutton Rand of Weston & Rand, the brick and flagstone building stood 4 stories tall with a Gothic clock tower dominating the center. Admittedly, not much is documented online about this Fire Control Tower. The stage is now filled with junk and other remnants from the past. After the members of the commune scattered, the property was used as a training site for soldiers during the Civil War. Here at Bennington, many ghosts are said to roam and photographic images show mysterious figures. A large fence was erected around the property in 2000 to discourage urban explorers and looters. Amidst the legal battles, horrific stories of abuse and torture surfaced. At the time it was the second-longest tunnel in the world, but there were many gruesome deaths and accidents associated with its construction. The remaining portion of the site returned to military use in 1971, when the U.S. Army Reserve 187th Infantry Brigade was stationed at United States Army Reserve Center Hingham for the next decade. Four stories below ground is the concert auditorium where classical musicians would play during the early 1900s. portalId: "5317100", All rights reserved. If you are one of the many who seeks adventure, exploring abandoned places and historical landmarks, continue reading to discover our top 15 best abandoned places in Massachusetts. Featured on TV's Ghost Hunters, the estate and museum of artifacts relating to novelist Edith Wharton is said to be home to the ghost of Wharton herself. It is still open to the public for exploration. The station remains vacant and will probably remain so since much of it contains asbestos siding and flooring tiles, and a serious black mold problem. While this might not be your typical idea of an abandoned location, I still thought it was an oddity worth mentioning. What we do know is that these towers were part of a coastal artillery defense network tasked with protecting the Boston Harbor during World War II. Slowly the horrific conditions of Belchertown State School were brought to light. The dry dam and all its glory sit in the middle of the woods. This property, which spans parts of the towns of Cohasset, Hingham, Norwell and Scituate, was purchased by the U.S. Navy in 1941 to be developed as an annex to the existing Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot. Youre in the right place. The railroad tunnel nicknamed the "Bloody Pit" for taking the lives of hundreds during its construction. Tremont St, Boston, MA 02108, United States Granary Park Burying Grounds is said to be the third oldest cemetery in Boston. In 1692, the town of Salem experienced the mass-hysteria we now call the Salem Witch Trials. Alternatively, check outour comprehensive guidefor far more options, tips, and tricks. Worcester State Hospital was an insane asylum built following the famous Kirkbride principle wings spread wide from the central administration building, one wing housing male patients, the other wing, female patients. Back in 1860, the Chester-Hudson Quarry played a vital role in developing the town of Becket. Construction began in 1863 and was completed three years later. Founded in 1841 by transcendentalist leaders George and Sophia Ripley, the Brook Farm Institute of Agriculture and Education was envisioned as a utopian community where residents would work together to sustain the operation of the farm. Much of the concentration camp scene was filmed at the Whittenton Mills Complex. Powered by revize, the Government Website Experts | Login. Originally designed to showcase pianos manufactured at the site, this ornate hall became the center of musical culture in Boston by 1911. The standard of education was poor and the boys were stuffed into over-capacity dormitories. The one featured at this location has recently been purchased and is now considered private property. Even before the mill was constructed the area had been used for industry dating all the way back to 1670. The rumor mill says the building is haunted by a former employee, a gymnastics coach, who committed suicide. Some say there is a greenish, ghostly light that can be seen some nights in front of a certain gravestone in St. Mary's Cemetery in Troy, NY. Left to decay with rot and neglect, the site is an interesting area for exploration. According to local legend, playwright Peter Bergman had a ghostly encounter while visiting here. Recreation areas host sporting events and concerts while the modern zoo draws in millions of visitors yearly. In 1917 the factory had over 45,000 spindles and 1,640 looms. Activity along the rail line peaked in the 1930s, with both freight and passenger trains growing increasingly scarce in the decades that followed. The rubble was cleared and an effort was made to salvage parts of the remaining hospital, such as the iconic clock tower. The central tower and several wings of the original building have been restored and made into condominium residences. Ultimately, the base was closed in 1994, along with many of the older radar bases at the end of the Cold War. Even today, people are curious about what Americas Most Haunted Asylum looks like and there is still much internet activity about the site. The 20 members of the cooperative lived with the Ripleys in the main farmhouse known as the Hive, paying $500 to purchase their share in the community and receiving a fixed income in exchange for their work on the farm. Find more respirator options inour in-depth guide. It's haunted by original builder Captain Jonathan Hunt's granddaughter Lucy and her lover, Johnny Burgoyne, a British general whom she met when Cemeteries near North Adams, MA It is known to jump on cars, and is heavy enough to shake it as if a full-sized person were sitting on your trunk. In the 1950s the patient population stood at its peak with over 3,000 patients. The views and amenities drew in travelers far and wide. The network of towers extends 75 miles along the Massachusetts coastline. The owners deemed the cost of upgrading to code would be too costly. Due to its proximity to the reservoir, the area around the tunnel tends to be muddy, with several inches of standing water at times accumulating inside the tunnel during the summer rainy season. WebThey broke ground in 1851. The mansion is rumored to be haunted by the spirits of Albert Charles Houghton, the first mayor of North Adams, and his family, who died in a car accident in Vermont in 1914. Many of the windows and entrances are sealed most of the time. Additional structures were built on the campus to alleviate overcrowding and the Bryan Building (known as Camp Joy) was opened. Students in the residence halls have reported apparitions, unexplained old-fashioned music, footsteps, electrical appliances that turn on or off by themselves, strange sounds, spirit orbs, and pinches on the rear end from an unseen hand. The horses allegedly swap positions, seemingly overnight. North Adams, Massachusetts Natural Bridge State Park Naturally formed white marble arch housed in an abandoned marble quarry from the 1800s. The biggest draw to the park in 1912, at the time of its opening, was the Bear Dens. There have been several unsolved disappearances on the mountain, and all the trails stop partway up the mountain as if forbidding hikers to go any further. It was founded back in 1660 and is the final resting place of not one, not two, but three Declaration of Independence signatories Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and Robert Treat Paine. The tower is left abandoned and can be accessed through a small path in the surrounding forest. In 2008, the state decided to build a new psychiatric facility at the site. Education was delayed while they stayed busy working at the institution. Determined to be beyond salvageability, a project was undertaken to de-construct the clock tower, brick by brick, and rebuild a new clock tower using original materials. Nearby, Highland Light still warns ships of the treacherous cliffs, as it has since 1870. She is said to be still watching over her former workplace. Just keep in mind it is private property with active owners. We recommend both theOsprey Packs Daylitefor sling backpacks or theMardingtop Tactical Backpackfor a standard two-strap backpack. Videos online have spurred interest in the site and made it one of the most famous abandoned places in Massachusetts. The Jenny Lind Tower is actually the last remnants of the Fitchburg Railroad depot located in Boston. Many elements of the Kirkbride building were sold or auctioned off, including timber, marble, iron gates, antique plumbing fixtures, and slate roofing tiles. Like many things built in the good old days, the dam wasnt destined to last long. In 1971, the facility became co-ed with two cottages now housing female juvenile delinquents. Without enemy ships, cargo could traverse to other more resource-rich areas for settlement. Another famous patient who was committed at Taunton was Thomas Hubbard Sumner, developer of the celestial navigation system known as the Sumner Line; he was also committed here for life. With the country much safer from conflict, many people took to the waters and other open areas to find fish, minerals, and other natural resources. The entire building was closed and boarded up in 1989 when it became one of the most famous abandoned places in Massachusetts. My first stop was the Bellows Pipe Trail on Mount Greylock, known to be haunted by a ghost called the Old Coot. This unfortunate soul went by the name of The institution opened in 1886 as the Westborough Insane Hospital immediately received 200 patients from nearby overcrowded facilities. Remnants of vehicles, tools, machinery, and buildings are all still left behind and often covered in heavy vegetation. Unused buildings were boarded up and left to decay. The three-story hospital had enclosed curved breezeways connecting the 70-foot tall domed center building to the infirmary wards. The large iron pens held domestic bears for visitors to view and enjoy. Established in 1922, the Belchertown State School for the Feeble-Minded was known for its inhumane treatment of patients, lack of funding, and brutal practices. In total, 57 boys were experimented on. Opened as a country park, the facility brings together scenic views of the city with secluded woodlands, picnic areas, and 15 miles of pedestrian and bridle paths to explore. The road runs through the cemetery, with part of it lying on either sode. One of them is said to be artist William Morris Hunt, and another is a night watchman who perished in a fire in 1911. Housing the most violent lunatics at the wingtips, far from the curable patients near the center of the building. The hospital was closed and abandoned in 1973 Urban explorers discovered the site was easily accessible and relatively untouched since its closure. Outside of special events, the property remains abandoned. Folks speculate that her death was connected to a hotel that stood here before the railroad building was constructed. Of all the abandoned places in Massachusetts, the Fernald State School has one of the darkest histories on our list. Perhaps the most striking component of the ruins is the reconstructed guy derrick, with its 55-foot mast and 50-foot boom. In the 1990s, the 50-room property was purchased by the Church of Scientology. Today the tunnel exists as a buried portal underground that ends in a dead-end.