January 9th, 2008
Weston State Hospital
As I’m sure most of you already know, late last summer a private individual purchased the former Weston State Hospital and is working to preserve the Kirkbride building. In case you haven’t already found it, let me direct your attention to a fairly new web site in connection with this:
www.TheWestonStateHospital.com
In addition to the usual photos and background information you’d expect, there’s also a place where you can donate funds for the restoration of the building, and directions for subscribing to their email newsletter and list-serv. If you sign up for the newsletter you’ll be notified of upcoming tours. Tours aren’t being given yet, but they plan to have them in the near future.
Well, I’m quite curious about this place… I understand “re-use” plans can be difficult to come up with for massive quarter mile long buildings that are only 40 or so feet in depth and frequently built in or near small communities… and this guy bought this building with no real re-use plan in place… what a leap of faith… but I’m glad to see preservation is still a priority. I wonder though as it seems a huge place for ghost hunts, tours, and a historic civil war museum… I can’t wait to hear more as the focus of the place continues to expand.