…. As the law provides that we are to care for epileptic and feeble-minded persons, and as the training for both is along similar lines, it has been thought advisable to classify both feeble-minded and epileptics into groups, separating them only with distinct and suitable buildings ….. Excerpt from the Year 1912 by Charles S. Little – Superintendent of Letchworth Village
In September of 2009, I decided to explore Letchworth Village, an abandoned facility that housed the mentally ill, developmentally disabled, and those with conditions that at the time were felt to be a detriment to society. Letchworth Village is located near Thiells, New York, and was opened in 1911 and closed in 1996. It has been abandoned ever since, and while a small handful of the buildings are being used for other purposes, the vast majority of them have been slated for demolition.
I should probably mention that it is NOT recommended that you visit as doing so exposes you to peeling lead paint, asbestos, and, according to rumor and urban legend, diseases that have been not been seen in decades, having eradicated through the wonders of modern medicine. Despite these risks, and strange stories that go along with just about any other asylum, I decided to go ahead and explore one of the many buildings still standing on this site.
This photo was taken on the top floor of one the building I explored. The red biohazard bag in the middle was just one of many that were scattered everywhere.
My company specializes in writing, photography, and website design. My father gave me my first camera when I was a small child, and it quickly became my most prized possession. I was also fascinated with exploring places others rarely ever ventured, such as abandoned places, buildings, and railroad cars.
As time went on, I formed a business centered around my passion; living larger-than-life adventures, and sharing the photographic journey on my website.
