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Location DB > United States > New Jersey > Cedar Grove > Essex County Hospital Center At Overbrook
 Name
Essex County Hospital Center At Overbrook
 Viewing Options
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 Database Info
created by EsseXploreR on 4/1/2012 5:53 PM
last modified by EsseXploreR on 9/18/2019 1:16 PM
 Viewability
Publically Viewable Publically Viewable
This location has been labeled as Demolished, and therefore can be viewed by anyone.
 Overview
 Description
Huge campus, including tunnels,a power plant, and plenty of other hospital related things
 Basic Information
Type: Building Complex
Status: Demolished
Accessibility: Easy
Recommendation: worth the trip
 Physical Information
Address

Cedar Grove, New Jersey
United States
Owner: Essex County
 Hazards
  • asbestos
  • rust
  • flooding
  • air quality
  •  Interesting Features
    Plenty of remnants of of the hospital lying around, though most of them have been pissed on and tagged.
     Security Measures
  • fences
  • 24 hour guard
  • locked gates
  • wooden boarding
  • Patrols from local police.
  •  Historical Dates
    Built: 1896
    Closed: 2007
     Required Equipment
  • flashlight
  • gloves
  • long pants / sleeves
  • towelettes
  •  Recommended Equipment

     History
    This historic North Jersey Psychiatric Hospital took patients from all over, including transfers from other psychiatric hospitals in and out of state. What started as one building, and a small powerhouse, soon spread into a vast campus of about 120 acres. The Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders purchased the tract of land from the town in 1896, right on the other side of the mountain from the Essex County Jail Annex. Construction began immediately, and before long, the Star Building was built. It was named the star building because it looked like a star from above. Eventually, the one building became overcrowded, and in 1909, construction of the hill wards began. The hill wards were buildings 1 - 5. Along with these buildings came a need for more power, food, and workers, so it eventually became an entirely self sustaining community. Other buildings built were a larger powerhouse, a larger firehouse (Built in 1915), staff housing, and other miscellaneous buildings. With the huge influx of patients with PTSD after both world wars, the hospital found itself unable to care for so many people. There were patients in day rooms filled way past the maximum capacity. Conditions were deplorable, and the hospital was struggling to keep up with the huge amount of patients. Anti Psychotic drugs became more advanced and helpful, and soon the population of patients was dwindling. The Fairview Ave. buildings were emptied of their residents, and in some cases used for storage, but they weren't maintained properly. Finally, on 2/27/ 2007, the last few patients were discharged from the hospital, and the hospital closed its doors for good. It continued to be a spot for local teens to hang out, and it even worked it's way into pop culture when it was featured in 3 ghost hunting shows and 4 movies. The parcel of land where the Fairview Ave. Buildings stood was sold to a developer, and the buildings were abated and demolished one by one.
     Media Coverage
    Essex County Hospital Center to be razed for parkland
    Published: Wednesday, July 01, 2009, 6:10 PM
    http://www.nj.com/...ital_center_t.html

    Teens arrested at old Essex County hospital center
    Published: Monday, October 25, 2010, 6:54 PM
    http://www.nj.com/..._old_essex_co.html

    Essex County opts not to sell Cedar Grove property to housing developer K. Hovnanian
    Published: Thursday, January 17, 2008, 6:48 PM
    http://www.nj.com/...s_not_to_sell.html

    Perth Amboy teens accused of setting fire to vacant Essex County Hospital Center
    Published: Thursday, May 21, 2009, 7:17 PM
    http://www.nj.com/..._accused_of_s.html

    Eight arrested on charges of trespassing at old Essex County Hospital Center
    Published: Monday, October 19, 2009, 6:22 PM
    http://www.nj.com/..._charges_of_t.html

    Six arrested at old Essex hospital campus while 'hunting for ghosts'
    Published: Thursday, July 30, 2009, 3:40 PM
    http://www.nj.com/...ld_essex_hosp.html

    Cedar Grove urged to get off the fence on housing plan
    Published: Tuesday, August 10, 2010, 12:05 AM
    http://www.nj.com/..._to_get_off_t.html
     Future Plans
    Currently, most of the complex is the subject of a lawsuit between the county and the developer who owns the other side of Fairview Ave.

    5/2016 edit: the rest of the campus is currently being demolished. This started with the firehouse a few months back, and now building 5 is being ripped apart. Admin is abated as well.
     Stories


    Add your own story
     Photo Galleries
    Click to view gallery
    Building 1, 2, and 3
    Sun, Apr 1st, 2012
    posted by EsseXploreR
    19 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Buildings 4, 5, and 6
    Wed, Apr 4th, 2012
    posted by EsseXploreR
    11 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Buildings 7, 8, 9, 10
    Thu, Apr 12th, 2012
    posted by EsseXploreR
    15 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Building 11
    Wed, Apr 18th, 2012
    posted by EsseXploreR
    16 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    document
    Fri, May 11th, 2012
    posted by explorateur us canada
    19 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Building 12
    Sun, Mar 3rd, 2013
    posted by EsseXploreR
    20 pictures


    Add your own photos

    Mark all galleries as Seen
     Panoramas

    built in 1896 but ....the date
    Fri, May 11th, 2012
    posted by explorateur us canada
     Web Links
    The UER uploader really doesn't do the pictures justice. For all photo's posted by EsseXploreR, check out the following link. This page also offers a ton of historical info and news updates. Check it out!

    http://www.faceboo...al/148986081854341
     Contribute

    Edit this Location
     Moderator Rating
    The moderator rating is a neutral rating of the content quality, photography, and coolness of this location.

    This location has not yet been rated by a moderator.
     Validation
    This location's validation is current. It was last validated by Emperor Wang on 9/19/2019 3:01 AM.

     Latest Changes
  • on Sep 19 19 at 3:01, Emperor Wang validated this location
  • on Sep 18 19 at 13:16, EsseXploreR changed the following: Status
  • on Jun 2 16 at 21:51, Explorer Zero validated this location
  • on May 12 16 at 15:28, EsseXploreR changed the following: Security Measures
  • on May 12 16 at 15:26, EsseXploreR changed the following: Latitude, Longitude, Status, Future Plans
  • on Mar 6 13 at 0:14, Opheliaism validated this location
  • on Mar 3 13 at 18:43, EsseXploreR added some pictures to a gallery
  • on Mar 3 13 at 18:23, EsseXploreR added some pictures to a gallery
  • on Mar 3 13 at 18:19, EsseXploreR updated gallery Building 12
  • on Mar 3 13 at 18:16, EsseXploreR created a new gallery
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