Allentown State Hospital: Demolished Or Not?

The Allentown State Hospital, a psychiatric hospital in Allentown, Pennsylvania, was demolished between late 2020 and early 2021. The hospital was opened in 1912 as the Allentown Homeopathic Hospital for the Insane and was considered a modern facility for its time. Despite its historical significance and attempts to preserve the building, the state government decided to demolish the site to prepare it for private purchase and development.

Allentown State Hospital's demolition was completed in early 2021

Allentown State Hospital, a psychiatric hospital located at 1600 Hanover Avenue in Allentown, Pennsylvania, ceased operations in December 2010. The hospital, which opened in 1912, had served the counties of Northampton, Leigh, Carbon, Pike, and Monroe. It was once considered a modern and cutting-edge medical facility, but by 2010, its patient census had dropped significantly, leading to its closure.

In 2019, the state government announced plans to demolish the hospital to make way for new projects. This decision sparked controversy, as many residents wanted to preserve the historically and culturally significant property. Despite these efforts, then-Governor Tom Wolf authorized the sale and demolition of the site in July 2019. The demolition process began in late 2020, with a cost of $12.7 million, and was completed in early 2021.

The Allentown State Hospital demolition involved the destruction of 44 buildings and structures across approximately 200 acres of land. The site was prepped for demolition by placing bins around the property, and crews worked to tear down the structures while many gathered to watch and remember the hospital's history. The main building, which was once considered an impressive example of institutional architecture, was among the structures demolished.

The completion of the Allentown State Hospital demolition in early 2021 marked the end of a historic site that had served the community for nearly a century. The site is now likely to be sold and redeveloped, though specific plans for its future use have not been disclosed. The demolition of the hospital highlights the evolving nature of mental health treatment and the changing landscape of institutional architecture in the United States.

The hospital was once a cutting-edge medical facility

The Allentown State Hospital, located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, was once a cutting-edge medical facility. It first opened its doors on October 3, 1912, as the Allentown Homeopathic Hospital for the Insane, situated on a sprawling 200-acre parcel of land atop a hill by the Lehigh River. The hospital was established after the Germantown Homeopathy Medical Society of Philadelphia promoted a bill for its construction, which was passed in 1904.

The hospital was considered impressively modern for its time, with a focus on providing the best treatments available. It was one of just seven psychiatric hospitals remaining in Pennsylvania in 2019. Patients were attended to by medical professionals, who created comprehensive case histories to determine the most suitable course of treatment. The hospital also featured a morgue and laboratory in a standalone building on the western side of the property, which was only accessible via underground passages.

The Allentown State Hospital quickly reached capacity and calls for expansion soon followed. Over the next two decades, several additional facilities were constructed, including staff housing and additional wards, bringing the total number of buildings to almost 30. The hospital population peaked in 1954 with 2,107 patients, but by January 2010, this number had dropped to 172.

In November 1998, Allentown State Hospital became the first psychiatric hospital in the United States to be completely seclusion-free. However, due to a sharp decline in the need for psychiatric hospitals and a shift towards community-based treatment, the hospital eventually closed its doors in December 2010. Despite its closure, the hospital remained in immaculate condition until around 2018.

Unfortunately, despite attempts to preserve the site due to its historical and cultural significance, the hospital was demolished between late 2020 and early 2021, with the site being prepared for private purchase and development.

The site was purchased by TCA Properties in Doylestown

The Allentown State Hospital, located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, was purchased by TCA Properties in Doylestown. The hospital was founded in 1912 as the Allentown Homeopathic Hospital for the Insane. It was situated on a 200-acre plot of land and served the counties of Northampton, Leigh, Carbon, Pike, and Monroe.

The hospital was once a cutting-edge medical facility, but by 2010, it closed down due to a sharp decline in patient census. After its closure, the state initially intended to tear down the buildings and then figure out a reuse plan for the site. However, concerned citizens and residents petitioned the state to preserve the site due to its historical and cultural significance. Despite these efforts, the then-Governor Tom Wolf decided in July 2019 that all the buildings on the property would be demolished to make way for new projects.

The site was then purchased by TCA Properties in Doylestown, and the demolition process began in late 2020, costing $12.7 million. The demolition was completed in early 2021. The sale and demolition of the Allentown State Hospital site were authorised by a bill signed by Governor Wolf in July 2019. The bill also allowed for the sale of the property, which was purchased by TCA Properties for the purpose of demolition and redevelopment.

The Allentown State Hospital was featured in the 2019 film "Glass" directed by M. Night Shyamalan. Parts of the movie were filmed on location at the hospital before its demolition. The site's unique architecture and historical significance made it a notable example of institutional architecture from the early 20th century. Despite the efforts to preserve the site, the state ultimately opted for demolition, reflecting a common fate for many state hospitals.

The hospital was featured in the 2019 film *Glass*

The Allentown State Hospital, a psychiatric hospital located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, was featured in the 2019 film *Glass*. The hospital, which was built in 1912, served as the setting for the film's narrative, with its unique architecture and history adding to the overall atmosphere and tone of the movie.

The hospital was transformed into Philadelphia's Raven Hill Memorial Psychiatric Hospital in the film, and it received almost as much screen time as the film's stars, including Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, and James McAvoy. The film's director, M. Night Shyamalan, chose the location for its eerie beauty, and the hospital's interior and exterior served as a significant backdrop for many crucial scenes.

The Allentown State Hospital has a long history, dating back to its opening in 1912 as a homeopathic asylum for the insane. Over the years, it underwent expansions and played a significant role in the treatment of mental illness in the region. However, by the time of its closure in 2010, the patient census had dropped significantly, and the evolution of mental illness treatment favored community-based care.

The hospital's closure and subsequent demolition plans sparked a debate, with some wanting to preserve the historically significant building. Despite efforts to save it, the hospital was mostly demolished in December 2020, with only a couple of buildings remaining.

The inclusion of the Allentown State Hospital in *Glass* provided a unique opportunity to showcase the beauty and history of the location before its demolition. The film captured the essence of the hospital, allowing audiences to experience its grandeur and intrigue, both as a stunning example of institutional architecture and as a setting that enhanced the narrative of the film.

The hospital's history dates back to 1901

The Allentown State Hospital in Allentown, Pennsylvania, was a psychiatric hospital with a long and complex history dating back to 1901. Planning for the development of the hospital began in 1901, and eleven years later, on October 3, 1912, it opened its doors as the Allentown Homeopathic Hospital for the Insane, later known as the Pennsylvania State Homeopathic Asylum for the Insane.

The hospital was located on a roughly 200-acre parcel of land on a hill on the north bank of the Lehigh River. The total cost of construction was $1,931,270, and the campus ultimately consisted of almost 30 different buildings, including staff housing and wards. The hospital's capacity was quickly reached due to an influx of patients from nearby state hospitals, and there were immediate calls for expansion to accommodate the growing population.

Over time, the Allentown State Hospital became known for its modern facilities and focus on providing the best available treatments. Patients were attended to by medical professionals, and comprehensive case histories were compiled to determine the most effective course of care. The hospital's patient population peaked in 1950 with 2,012 patients, with a further increase in 1954, serving primarily residents of Lehigh, Northampton, Carbon, Monroe, and Pike counties.

However, in the late 1990s, the hospital began to experience a decline in occupancy, falling to as low as 175 patients due in part to community mental health efforts. In November 1998, Allentown State Hospital became the first psychiatric hospital in the United States to be completely seclusion-free. Despite this milestone, the sharp decline in the need for psychiatric hospitals led to the hospital's closure on December 17, 2010, after 98 years of operation. The patient census had dropped to 172 as of January 2010, with 379 employees.

The decision to close the hospital was influenced by the evolution of mental illness treatment, which favoured community-based care, as well as local economic development opportunities for the hospital campus. Following its closure, the hospital stood abandoned, with the grounds and buildings maintained in immaculate condition for several years. Despite efforts to preserve the property, including an offer by a local developer to purchase and redevelop it, the state ultimately authorised the sale and demolition of the site.

By the end of 2020, most of the buildings had been demolished, with only two structures remaining to house community services. The demolition process was estimated to cost $15 million, with annual maintenance and security costs for the site at $2.2 million. The destruction of the Allentown State Hospital marked the end of a significant chapter in the history of psychiatric care in Pennsylvania.

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