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You are allowed to hike/walk around on the roads/trails up at the top of the mountain. There supposed to make botanical gardens and homes up there. Obviously it is illegal to go into any of the remaining buildings along fairview ave or walk around the top of the mountain roads/trails at night. I still go for walks/bike rides up there once and a while. The Old Overbrook up at the top is gone. The newer portion called Essex County Hospital Center buildings are still up. There were rumors of building new homes or making it all a park area.
I wonder if they filled in all the underground tunnels?
Sadly this was a very sad place...many ill/mentally disabled people. In one article I read many people were admitted after the The Great Depression and World War II.
You are allowed to hike/walk around on the roads/trails up at the top of the mountain. There supposed to make botanical gardens and homes up there. Obviously it is illegal to go into any of the remaining buildings along fairview ave or walk around the top of the mountain roads/trails at night. I still go for walks/bike rides up there once and a while. The Old Overbrook up at the top is gone. The newer portion called Essex County Hospital Center buildings are still up. There were rumors of building new homes or making it all a park area.
I wonder if they filled in all the underground tunnels?
Sadly this was a very sad place...many ill/mentally disabled people. In one article I read many people were admitted after the The Great Depression and World War II.
It is indeed illegal, although that hasn't stopped countless locals and many out-of-towners (many folks from Central and South Jersey) from venturing inside. The most they can hit you with is a trespassing charge, so the actual enforcement is fairly minimal.
As someone who has a great reverence for local culture and history, I wasn't about to see the buildings torn to the ground without getting a glimpse for myself. The buildings are county property, not private residences, and therefore the "trespassing" in this case is a victimless crime.
It is indeed illegal, although that hasn't stopped countless locals and many out-of-towners (many folks from Central and South Jersey) from venturing inside. The most they can hit you with is a trespassing charge, so the actual enforcement is fairly minimal.
As someone who has a great reverence for local culture and history, I wasn't about to see the buildings torn to the ground without getting a glimpse for myself. The buildings are county property, not private residences, and therefore the "trespassing" in this case is a victimless crime.
Illegal to go into the buildings or walk around the trails at the top after dark. But you are allowed to hike/walk the dog/bike ride, whatever during the day.
It is now called Hilltop Reservation and is part of the Essex county parks and reservations. h Essex County Parks
I use to live on Fairview Ave when it was in operation. There were several different asylum levels. One for the dangerous committed criminally insane, short-term to normal outpatient treatment centers. The bldgs shown in pic and there today were open for anyone visiting patients. Mental illness was not well studied back then and all kinds of "therapies" were conducted. Shock treatments very common. I remember visiting a relative with bi-polar.
I remember an area enclosed in barb wire perhaps that's the Sanitorium Rd area today with bldgs demolished. They must have had children there too since I used to play on their swingset. It's been 35 years so my memory is fuzzy but I recall how quiet the place was and very few patients permitted outside.
The place over on Sanatorium Rd started as a childrens home. They put up more buildings and largely became a tuberculous hospital because of the epidemic. Later, they took the overflow from the crowded Overbrook on Fairview.
All of the big old mental institutions eventually had accommodations for children whether they were orphaned/homeless, mentally ill, "incorrigible".
Wow, scary place indeed, We drove past this summer and it's really creepy...I hope they do demolish
them soon. It certainly does nothing for the community.....
Wow, scary place indeed, We drove past this summer and it's really creepy...I hope they do demolish
them soon. It certainly does nothing for the community.....
Yes, I wonder also who would have the honor of the liability if one of these thrill seeking trespassers got themselves seriously injured
The place over on Sanatorium Rd started as a childrens home. They put up more buildings and largely became a tuberculous hospital because of the epidemic. Later, they took the overflow from the crowded Overbrook on Fairview.
All of the big old mental institutions eventually had accommodations for children whether they were orphaned/homeless, mentally ill, "incorrigible".
That explains the swingset. Thanks.
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