Not quite Arkham House, but it'll do.....

[poltr1]

One of the scariest buildings I've seen in my life is the Buffalo State Hospital, just south of SUNY College at Buffalo, on Forest Ave. in Buffalo, NY.

Here's an image of the Buffalo State Hospital.

The hospital complex was designed by Henry Hobson Richardson and built in the 1880s. It's a prime example of Romanesque architecture. Its initial purpose was an insane asylum.

To the best of my knowledge, patients and staff have been moved to newer buildings. But this building still stands as a reminder of the days of earlier, more barbaric mental health treatments. It's listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

As scary as it looks, I'd hate to see it razed.

Comments

[tigertoy.livejournal.com]

I think it looks cool! I will admit that it does look a lot more suited to inspire a mob of torch-waving peasants than the average public building. But maybe if we had a few more mobs of torch-waving peasants outside public buildings, we'd have fewer occasions when we seem to need one.

[kliklikitty.livejournal.com]

I love that old building. It's near(ish) my home, I often pass it when out and about. Funny thing, not even the bravest or the stupidest of any of my friends has ever wanted to hold a halloween party or seance there. It looks it's spookiest at night in the rain.

[redaxe.livejournal.com]

Mental health facilities are often scary. One of the most frightening experiences I've ever had was picking my mom up from the grounds of Pilgrim State Asylum when she was doing some teaching there.

A close second was walking home one night past Bellevue Hospital (unfortunately, all the pictures seem to show the recent construction and renovations; it was scary, set back from the avenue, with the occasional sound typical of facilities for mental health care).

[athenawindsong.livejournal.com]

I find it beautiful because it's Victorian (Late American Gothic) - my favorite time period in interior design.

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

They tore down Danvers State Hospital in Danvers MA not long ago and are building condos on the site.

Supposedly DSH was the inspiration for Lovecraft's Arkham.