This place had a really dark vibe to it and, an interesting history. It was also full of activity with scrappers and homeless people running wild inside. Built in 1870, it was one of Canada's first psychiatric hospitals. In the 19th century, there was little understanding of mental illness and psychiatric medicine. The original director and physicians of the hospital believed that patients could be cured by removing a person from their environment, stopping unacceptable behaviours, or removing parts of the brain. In the Victorian era "hysteria" was a common diagnosis for women. Some doctors believed that the source of women's mental illness could be from their uteruses. Many hysterectomies and lobotomies were performed on women in this hospital. Throughout this era, it was also believed that the source of men's mental illness was excessive masturbation. If a man could not stop masturbating on his own, doctors would place a metal ring under the foreskin of the penis to make it too painful for them to touch themselves. In some areas of this hospital, it felt as though we were being restrained, and as if we couldn't breathe. Definitely, an outing I won't soon forget.

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Thanks for looking

Nice set, I got a chuckle out of the "Stop taking selfies" sign

Good thing our healthcare has moved from the barbaric "treatments" of the past !

Thanks for sharing

These pics are so refreshing, most people just point their flashlights and cell phones at a long dark hallway with nothing interesting to show.

These are my fave pics out of here in a really long time!

Well done

Nice pictures, a real mood to them. Surprised that the curtains haven't been yanked down yet

Thank you for the nice comments everyone! Very much appreciated as it was a stressful day due to all the activity in the buildings. We were concerned for our personal safety most of the time, which took away a lot of my focus in the photography department. Appreciate the feedback!

Awesome, thanks for sharing.

I agree with Freak, these shots are actually so clean. Had to visit your profile for more (:

Posted by theninjalobster I agree with Freak, these shots are actually so clean. Had to visit your profile for more (:

Thank you so much 😊

I miss exploring in Canada uuuughhhh

Sweet set!

Very creepy. Nice shots!

Loving the 444 room, super cool!

Still amazed that this place despite having security ends up filled to the rim with people, glad they left you alone, a lot of them are pretty messed up people.

Posted by cboy295 Still amazed that this place despite having security ends up filled to the rim with people, glad they left you alone, a lot of them are pretty messed up people.

I can tell you right now that this place was the least relaxing exploring experience I have ever had. I always go exploring with my partner for security reasons. We could hear people bashing out pipes before we even entered. We were stalked by someone who wouldn’t answer us in the main building which lead to us bailing on that part of the site. When we were leaving, we heard someone come down the stairs, again not answering us. When he finally showed himself he was just staring at me and my camera bag. When he saw the size of my partner and that I was holding dog repellent spray he changed his tune and started being friendly. We explained that we were just taking photos and that we were leaving. He asked if we had seen some girl around and we replied no. He then walked through a doorway and a woman wearing nothing but underwear started screaming at him. She was accusing him of having some other woman there and started throwing tools at him. My partner and I looked at each other and immediately scurried out of the building. It’s a real shame that the site is so trashed with so many crazy people inside. I wish I had gone much earlier when it was more intact.

Posted by Katsabbath I can tell you right now that this place was the least relaxing exploring experience I have ever had. I always go exploring with my partner for security reasons. We could hear people bashing out pipes before we even entered. We were stalked by someone who wouldn’t answer us in the main building which lead to us bailing on that part of the site. When we were leaving, we heard someone come down the stairs, again not answering us. When he finally showed himself he was just staring at me and my camera bag. When he saw the size of my partner and that I was holding dog repellent spray he changed his tune and started being friendly. We explained that we were just taking photos and that we were leaving. He asked if we had seen some girl around and we replied no. He then walked through a doorway and a woman wearing nothing but underwear started screaming at him. She was accusing him of having some other woman there and started throwing tools at him. My partner and I looked at each other and immediately scurried out of the building. It’s a real shame that the site is so trashed with so many crazy people inside. I wish I had gone much earlier when it was more intact.

OMG

Nerve wracking to say the least ffs !!

Glad you and partner were okay...nutter butters all over these days.

Have not heard the term "bailing" in a VERY long time....It was a phrase I first learned in Bowmanville....cheers to bringing back some good memories

Yikes.

On the crazies.

I definitely would be bailing on a place if people were bashing pipes, and not there to just take pictures.

That gives me the creeps.

Glad you were able to post pictures of this adventure, and got out safe.

Great post.

Posted by leafloving4x4gal OMG Nerve wracking to say the least ffs !! Glad you and partner were okay...nutter butters all over these days. Have not heard the term "bailing" in a VERY long time....It was a phrase I first learned in Bowmanville....cheers to bringing back some good memories

Glad I could bring back some good memories. Was definitely an exploring experience that I won’t soon forget.

Posted by RockNRollWithMe Yikes. On the crazies. I definitely would be bailing on a place if people were bashing pipes, and not there to just take pictures. That gives me the creeps. Glad you were able to post pictures of this adventure, and got out safe. Great post.

Thanks! Yeah I definitely prefer empty buildings, it just makes the experience so much calmer and enjoyable. Don’t always have to worry about looking over your shoulder.

Posted by Katsabbath I can tell you right now that this place was the least relaxing exploring experience I have ever had. I always go exploring with my partner for security reasons. We could hear people bashing out pipes before we even entered. We were stalked by someone who wouldn’t answer us in the main building which lead to us bailing on that part of the site. When we were leaving, we heard someone come down the stairs, again not answering us. When he finally showed himself he was just staring at me and my camera bag. When he saw the size of my partner and that I was holding dog repellent spray he changed his tune and started being friendly. We explained that we were just taking photos and that we were leaving. He asked if we had seen some girl around and we replied no. He then walked through a doorway and a woman wearing nothing but underwear started screaming at him. She was accusing him of having some other woman there and started throwing tools at him. My partner and I looked at each other and immediately scurried out of the building. It’s a real shame that the site is so trashed with so many crazy people inside. I wish I had gone much earlier when it was more intact.

That's a pretty terrifying experience.. What do you mean they were stalking you? Could you see this person or were they following you in the distance. Either way.. pretty messed up. I've been there twice in the last month. The first time we had the place to ourselves besides some young kids with cameras in the old infirmary. The second time, when trying to access the medical building through the basement we heard someone smashing something so we turned around and accessed the building through the main floor. We heard more noises from beneath us. The guy definitely had some sort of power tool, sounded a drill. Can't imagine what he was doing or how he could afford a cordless tool and had electricity to charge it with somewhere.. We went to the top floor and worked our way down, thankfully with no issues. I'll be going back but I'll be extra cautious.

Have you, or anyone else here had any other experiences at the hospital?

Fuck yeah! Was there about an hour before our trip got cut short. Got a pic very similar to #5. Planning to go back, could easily spend another 6 hours in there.

Haven't been around here in a while, didn't know there was another older psych hospital. I was only aware of Rockwood being that age. Glad you got out ok.