Episode 14: The Haunted Asylum I: History
Come with us on a journey through more than a century of Athens, Ohio history as we examine the myths, legends, rumors and truth that surround the old Athens Lunatic Asylum. The Asylum went through many name changes and finally closed in 1993, and was deeded to Ohio University by the State of Ohio at that time. Now, it’s called The Ridges, and houses an art museum, art studios, a small history museum, and administration offices for the University. There’s also an observatory, a day care center, a land lab, nature trails and an arts center on the property that once was the campus of the asylum.
Trigger Warning:
This episode contains references to violence, rape, abuse of patients, and somewhat graphic descriptions of brain surgery. If you are easily upset by any of these topics, it's best to skip this episode and wait until next week's episode when we talk about the hauntings at this historical site. We felt that to be true to the history of this historic facility, we had to partially tell the story of mental health treatment in the United States and that isn’t a pretty narrative. And truthfully, some very disturbing and upsetting things occurred at the asylum, even though it was built and intended as a place of peace and healing.
Included here are many of the sources we used in researching this episode. They include books, magazine and newspaper articles, personal testimony, a PBS documentary, history websites and interviews we conducted ourselves.
History of The Athens Lunatic Asylum/The Ridges:
The Asylum on the Hill: History of a Healing Landscape by Katherine Ziff
The Ridges Cemetery Project
”Legends Behind the Ghosts of Athens” by Jessica Jones, WOUB
”Rumors Around Haunted Athens” by Laura Ramoser WOUB
The Soul of Athens: Margaret Schilling
“The Mystery of the Ghostly Stain in the Attic of the Athens Lunatic Asylum” by Alison Stine
“Danvers, MA and Athens, OH The Stain”
Excerpt from Ghostland: An American History in Haunted Places by Colin Dickey
”Alligator Once Swam the Waters (of a Fountain) In Athens, Ohio “by Colin Morris Athens News
The Ridges Athens Area Outdoor Recreation Guide
Kirkbride Building History:
Kirkbride Buildings
History of American Asylums:
Ten Days in a Madhouse by Nellie Bly
”Bedlam 1946 “by Albert Q. Maisel, Photographs by Jerry Cooke LIFE Magazine
Dr. Walter Freeman:
The Lobotomist by Jack El Hai
”Walter Freeman’s Lobotomies at the Athens State Hospital” by Gary E. Cordingly, MD, PhD
”An American Experience: The Lobotomist” PBS 2008 (video)
”He Made it Look Easy” by Wolfhard Baumgartel Oral History NPR
My Lobotomy: A Memoir by Howard Dully
”The Secret Lobotomy of Rosemary Kennedy” by Lyz Lenz Marie Claire Magazine
Billy Milligan:
The Minds of Billy Milligan by Daniel Keyes
