Author Archives: katherine ziff

The asylum on The Ridges reached its architectural and landscape fullness as a state mental hospital  in the 1950′s and has been losing ground since. In 1950-55 the last major structures were added:  the 45,000 sq. ft. receiving hospital and … Continue reading →

Thinking about the apparently impending demolition of Building 26 on The Ridges I was reminded of the craftsmanship and materials required to build the asylum. Early in 1868, shortly before the groundbreaking for the original Kirkbride structures on The Ridges, … Continue reading →

Today the Athens Lunatic Asylum (the first of the institution’s eleven names) and the efforts of the Athens County Historical Society & Museum to preserve Building 26 on The Ridges are featured on   http://www.kirkbridebuildings.com/blog/ Kirkbridebuildings.com is a constantly updated … Continue reading →

Yesterday I spoke with Jim Phillips of the A-News, who shared that Building 26 is scheduled for demolition in March. I hope something sensitive and beautiful will be done with the site, sitting as it does at the topmost point … Continue reading →

This afternoon, taking care of a cold by sipping hot water and lemon made me think of the home remedies and sometimes desperate measures nineteenth century families undertook to help a parent or child with mental illness. I found this … Continue reading →

Thursday evening I traveled to Meigs County to the Chester Courthouse (built in 1823) and the Academy next door (photo, built in 1840). The Courthouse was the first to be built in the Northwest Territory and was originally the county … Continue reading →

Here are three views of the fountain that once stood in front of the asylum. The first is as it was originally installed. When the asylum “came down from the hill” the fountain was removed and stored in the horse … Continue reading →

Thomas Kirkbride’s nineteenth century specifications for moral treatment-based asylums  recommended at least fifty acres of “pleasure grounds” for the use of patients, to include at least several acres of woodlands and groves of trees for the enjoyment of patients. Empirical … Continue reading →

After a work day indoors, an evening walk on The Ridges around the grounds of the old asylum is a welcome change. An hour in the stillness of nature and the magic of twilight is very restorative. These photos were … Continue reading →

The painted plywood street lamps next to the old women’s chapel at the back of the asylum have multiplied: now there are two. I spotted them while walking on The Ridges on Monday afternoon. They are quite tall, about the … Continue reading →