Kirkbride Buildings - Dixmont State Hospital

In response to a lack of appropriate accomodations in western Pennsylvania, the Western Pennsylvania Asylum for the Insane at Dixmont was founded in the late 1850's and began taking patients in 1862. Dorothea Dix was personally involved with many aspects of founding the asylum — including the adoption of the Kirkbride plan — and the institution was named in her honor. The hospital ran until 1984 when it was closed permanently.

Sitting halfway up a hill overlooking the Ohio River, the Dixmont Kirkbride, known as Reed Hall, is now a desolate ruin. An extensive fire in its center and nearly two decades of exposure to the elements and vandalism have left little more than a shell. What's visible through the gaping windows and doorways is strikingly bare and crumbling. Interestingly, the terminal sections of this building's wings come forward of the previous sections instead of being set back from them as with most other Kirkbrides. There is also a lack of ornamentation which gives the impression of a more spartan design than was typical of other buildings documented on this web site. This may not be the case, as it is difficult to tell how much has been destroyed or removed. But even with some ornamentation, the stark lines and predominance of brick indicate that the building was rather modestly designed and adorned.

Demolition of this building is now complete. There were plans to build a Wal-Mart store on the grounds once the hospital buildings were gone, but it's not certain that that will happen now.