Who Bought The Old Travers Hospital?

The Traverse City State Hospital in Michigan, also known as the Northern Michigan Asylum, has been the subject of much intrigue and speculation. Established in 1881, it was the third psychiatric hospital in the state, serving patients with mental illnesses and those suffering from tuberculosis, typhoid, diphtheria, influenza, and polio. After closing its doors in 1989, the property stood vacant for a decade, sparking debates about its reuse. In 1993, the state transferred the land to the Grand Traverse Commons Redevelopment Corporation, and eventually, the Minervini Group secured an agreement to renovate the property, investing over $60 million into its transformation. Today, the former asylum has been redeveloped into a thriving community known as The Village at Grand Traverse Commons, featuring residences, retail shops, restaurants, and event spaces. Despite the cheerful atmosphere, remnants of the hospital's past remain, with old photographs adorning the hallways and rumours of hauntings adding to the allure for ghost hunters and thrill-seekers alike.

The Traverse City State Hospital's history

The Traverse City State Hospital, originally known as the Northern Michigan Asylum, was established in 1881 as the third psychiatric hospital in Michigan. The hospital was founded by lumber baron Perry Hannah, who used his political influence to secure its location in his hometown of Traverse City. The first building, Building 50, was constructed in Victorian-Italianate style according to the Kirkbride Plan, which emphasised the importance of a beautiful setting in therapy. The hospital opened in 1885 with 43 residents and expanded over time, eventually growing to 1.4 million square feet of space.

The hospital was unique for its time due to its focus on moral treatment and the belief that patients should be treated with kindness, comfort, and pleasure. Restraints were forbidden, and patients were provided with beautiful surroundings, including flowers from the asylum's greenhouses and trees planted on the grounds. The asylum also operated based on the "work is therapy" philosophy, providing patients with opportunities to engage in meaningful activities such as farming, furniture construction, and fruit canning, which also contributed to the institution's self-sufficiency.

The hospital's use expanded beyond mental healthcare during outbreaks of tuberculosis, typhoid, diphtheria, influenza, and polio. It also served as a training ground for nurses, a rehabilitation centre for drug addicts, and a care facility for the elderly. The institution became the city's largest employer and played a significant role in its growth.

In the 1980s, due to the deinstitutionalization movement, the asylum closed its doors in 1989, leaving the campus abandoned and neglected for a decade. In 1993, the state transferred the property to the Grand Traverse Commons Redevelopment Corporation, and in 2000, the Minervini Group secured an agreement to renovate the area. Today, the former asylum has been transformed into a thriving community known as The Village at Grand Traverse Commons, featuring condominiums, apartments, retail shops, restaurants, and more.

The Village at Grand Traverse Commons

The hospital was established by lumber baron Perry Hannah, who used his political influence to secure its location in his hometown. The first building, known as Building 50, was constructed in Victorian-Italianate style according to the Kirkbride Plan, which emphasised the importance of a beautiful setting in helping people re-enter society. The hospital eventually expanded to 1.4 million square feet of space, including twelve housing cottages and two infirmaries built to meet the specific needs of male and female patients.

The former asylum has a pioneering history in mental healthcare. Dr. James Decker Munson, one of the asylum's founding doctors, was a proponent of the moral treatment movement, which emphasised patience and kindness. Restraints were forbidden, and patients were engaged in meaningful activities such as farming and art. The asylum had its own vineyard and greenhouse, and patients were served meals on fine china. Despite its progressive approach, the asylum was not without its flaws. Lobotomies and insulin-induced comas were performed, and patients with diseases such as syphilis, epilepsy, and menopause were committed.

The Minervini Group's renovations

The Minervini Group has carefully renovated the Traverse City State Hospital, which is now known as The Village at Grand Traverse Commons. The group bought the property for just $1, investing over $60 million into the renovation and restoration of the buildings and grounds.

The Village at Grand Traverse Commons is now a thriving community with a mix of condominiums, apartments, retail shops, restaurants, offices, senior living, and event spaces. The former asylum's beauty has been preserved, with old photographs of its past life hanging throughout the hallways. The Minervini Group has also developed hiking trails and public spaces, including Historic Barns Park, which was once the hospital's cattle barns.

The hospital's former buildings have been carefully restored, with Building 50, the visual centerpiece of the complex, being a particular focus. This three-story Victorian-Italianate structure, constructed according to the Kirkbride Plan, now houses a mix of residences and commercial spaces. The Minervini Group has also renovated other buildings, including Buildings 56, 58, 60, 61, 63, 67, and 69, as well as Cottages 19, 20, and 36.

The hospital's unique architecture

The Traverse City State Hospital, also known as the Northern Michigan Asylum, has undergone extensive renovations and is now a thriving community known as The Village at Grand Traverse Commons. The hospital was established in 1881 as the third psychiatric hospital in Michigan and has a unique history and architecture.

The hospital's architecture is notable for its Kirkbride and cottage plan, with multiple buildings located on a large rolling campus. The first building, known as Building 50, was constructed in the Victorian-Italianate style according to the Kirkbride Plan, supervised by prominent architect Gordon W. Lloyd. Building 50 is a visual centerpiece, with a three-story structure, towers, bracketed eaves, and dormers that showcase a Victorian ambiance.

Twelve housing cottages and two infirmaries were built between 1887 and 1903 to meet the specific needs of male and female patients. The cottages to the south were for men, while those to the north were for women. Cottages 19 and 20 served as patient infirmaries for post-surgery recovery and the treatment of contagious diseases. The hospital eventually expanded to 1.4 million square feet, with additional buildings constructed in the early 1900s.

The hospital's design reflects the "beauty is therapy" philosophy, emphasizing the importance of aesthetics in the healing process. This philosophy, championed by Dr. Thomas Kirkbride, a physician and early adapter of psychological care, believed that a beautiful setting would be vital to helping people recover and re-enter society. The hospital's grounds included a working farm, and patients were encouraged to participate in farm work and other trades as part of their treatment.

Today, The Village at Grand Traverse Commons offers a mix of condominiums, apartments, retail shops, restaurants, and offices, while still preserving the unique architecture and history of the former hospital. Visitors can explore the grounds, enjoy the hiking trails, and attend special events and festivals held throughout the year. The transformation of the Traverse City State Hospital showcases the successful preservation and reuse of historic buildings, creating a vibrant community that honors the past while embracing new life.

The hospital's rumoured hauntings

The former Traverse City State Hospital in Michigan, also known as the Northern Michigan Asylum, has a long history of providing mental healthcare that dates back to 1881. The hospital closed its doors in 1989, and the buildings were left abandoned for a decade, leading to rumours of hauntings and other supernatural occurrences. Here are some of the rumoured hauntings within the old hospital grounds.

The Hippie Tree

Folklore surrounding a downed tree on the hospital grounds, known as the Hippie Tree, claims that it is a portal to hell. While this may seem like a harmless superstition, it adds to the eerie atmosphere surrounding the old hospital.

Patient Hauntings

With the hospital's long history of treating mental illness, it is not surprising that patient hauntings are among the most rumoured supernatural occurrences. Stories of former patients knocking on the asylum's doors after its closure and patients suffering from mental illnesses being hidden away in basements or attics contribute to the eerie atmosphere.

Torture and Unethical Treatments

In the early 20th century, mental health treatment often involved torture and unethical practices in the name of "treatment". Lobotomies and insulin-induced comas were performed on patients, many of whom had other diseases such as syphilis. The hospital was also used to commit women going through menopause, as it was considered a committable condition at the time. These horrific practices are rumoured to have left a dark imprint on the hospital, with the suffering of patients lingering in the form of paranormal activity.

The Kirkbride Plan and Architecture

The hospital was designed according to the Kirkbride Plan, a philosophy that emphasised the importance of a beautiful setting in helping patients recover. The buildings were constructed in a Victorian-Italianate style, with each patient room having a large window to fill the space with natural light. However, the grand architecture, including the towering Building 50, may now contribute to the sense of unease felt by visitors, as the majestic structures stand as a reminder of the hospital's dark past.

While the hauntings at the old Traverse City State Hospital remain rumours, the site's history and its former use as an asylum fuel the imagination of visitors, leaving a lasting impression of intrigue and unease.

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