February 8th, 2010
The Lost Kirkbrides: Brooklyn State Hospital
Kirkbride connoisseur Ian Ference has put another notch in his found-a-kirkbride-building-no-one-knew-about belt. What’s especially exciting is that, just like the last lost Kirkbride he discovered, this Kirkbride was located in New York City — in Brooklyn to be exact. Brooklyn State Hospital was created to serve the Kings County region of New York. I’m not 100% sure of this, but other names for the hospital include Flatbush Insane Asylum, Kings County Lunatic Asylum and Long Island State Hospital. It’s now known as Kingsboro Psychiatric Center. It was originally a county hospital, but the state took it over in 1895.
According to various reports, by the early 20th century the building had become very overcrowded and wasn’t fit to house patients. It was replaced by other buildings some time in the 1920s and/or 1930s. When the Kirkbride was demolished exactly is a little unclear, but it’s likely that it was gone when the highrise Building 10 opened in 1935 as Ian suggested to me.
I haven’t been able to find any good pictures of the Kirkbride yet other than the above aerial shot Mr Ference found on the New York City map site. As I find out more, I’ll post about it here. And if anyone has any information to share about this find, please let us know. Thanks.
Update: Ian found evidence that the Kirkbride building was erected in 1852 but only had one pair of wing sections. Another pair was added circa 1861, and another pair circa 1869. [source]
Looks interesting, hope some pictures of the place are found. Thanks Ian!
Great find!
Great find, keep up the good work.
Oh Ian, forever the internet sleuth. However DO you do it?
I’m Looking for my birth mother death records and or her death certificate she died at Brooklyn State Hospital in 2/23/69 She was a patient there in 1967 I dont know if the hospital is still there. My bith mother’s name was Carman Maria Roman Cruz.Any help or information in any way you can give me would be appreciated.Thank You Joseph R Meyer My E – MAIL IS MEYSPEED@ AOL.COM and my number is 631-736-4205
Hi, I am looking for my great grandmother. I was told she died in child birth. But think now she may have been an inmate at Anna State Hospital in 1910-1920. her name may be Ida AWeatherley or Ida Barrett. Grandpa’s name was John Barrett. The had 4 girls and baby boy died. If you can help me I would be so greatful. Thank you again,Laura
Looking for information on my Great aunt Susan McLaughlin, inmate in Brooklyn Hospital for the insane 1935-1946 she died in the hospital, trying to get whatever information I can.
thanks, Maggie
mother Margaret Maxwell