The original West Group, for the first time in twenty-five years, boldly displayed its architectural pride. On June 14, 2006, a celebration of sorts was held in front of building C-7 to commemorate the long-overdue demolition of the neighborhood eyesore. The overgrown hospital sign was ceremoniously knocked down. In attendance were Governor Ed Rendell, Mayor John Street, CEO J. Westrum and J. Sweeny, CEO of Brandywine Realty Trust, the developers of the new buildings to be built onsite. At this writing, still unfinished homes for fifty-five and older residents cover the site, but portions of the hospital’s roadway system are still in place. Other traces still loom of Byberry’s existence. In wooded areas near the hospital, building remains and PSH-stamped patient clothing can still be found, dumped from earlier demolitions.
Byberry’s story—ignored by many, misunderstood by most—has been almost forgotten. It was one of the most tragic and emotional stories that I have ever experienced. For me, the intrigue was in the way information presented itself. The despair seemed endless, a pain that was unfathomable. I hope this story brings awareness of the American pastime of segregating, labeling and ultimately banishing its randomly prejudged classes of citizens. Thank you for reading!
Building B, East Group, circa 1989. Courtesy James Bostick.
SOURCES
All Evening Public Ledger articles are property of the Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers Site, found at http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
All Philadelphia Inquirer articles are property of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
All Evening Bulletin and Northeast Times articles cited are property of Temple University, Urban Archives- Special Research Collection.
All PA State Archives photos from:
Pennsylvania State Archives, Harrisburg; Record Group 23, Records of the Department of Public Welfare; Philadelphia State Hospital; Graphic Material of Philadelphia State Hospital Grounds, Facilities and Activities (series #23.644, accession #4682).
PhillyHistory photos courtesy of PhillyHistory.org, a project of the Philadelphia Department of Records.
Agnew, David H., Lewis P. Bush, Roland G. Curtin, Charles K. Mills and Alfred Stille. History and Reminiscences of the Philadelphia Almshouse and Philadelphia Hospital. Philadelphia: Detre and Blackburn, 1890.
American Architect and Building News. September 2, 1905; October 21, 1905; October 28, 1905.
Dudley, Albert W., and Joseph C. Martindale. A History of the Townships of Byberry and Moreland, in Philadelphia, PA: From their Earliest Settlements by the Whites to the Present Time. Philadelphia: George W. Jacobs & Co., 1901.
Annual Report of the Department of Health and Charities for the Years Ending December 31: 1903, 1904, 1906, 1908, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1920, 1921. Department of Public Health and Charities, City of Philadelphia.
“Awaits Plans for Insane Hospital.” Unknown newspaper, 1910.
“Boss Durham Dies at Dining Table.” New York Times, June 29, 2009.
Forty-third Annual Report of the Board of Public Charities. City of Philadelphia, 1913: 126–130.
Jones, Alfred. “Farm Treatment for the Insane.” Technical World Magazine XIX, no. 4, June 1913.
“Architects Will Probe Career of Philip H. Johnson.” Evening Public Ledger, January 7, 1915.
“Byberry Insane Hospital to U.S.” Evening Public Ledger, July 20, 1918.
“Byberry Loses Contract for U.S. Men’s Care.” Evening Public Ledger, December 24, 1919.
“Byberry Ready Aug. 1 to Relieve Blockley.” Bulletin, April, 1916.
“Byberry ‘Rush Work’ Costs City $185,000.” (likely) Evening Public Ledger, 1915.
“Dr. Krusen’s Farm at Byberry Makes Soldiers of Boys.” (likely) Evening Public Ledger, 1917.
“Hospital Work Held Up.” Bulletin, December 30, 1916.
“‘Phil’ Johnson and his Wonderful Job.” Evening Public Ledger, January 7, 1915.
“Plans to Question Legal Status of Johnson Contract.” Evening Public Ledger, January 13, 1915.
Morgue in N-3 building, 2005. Photo by author.
“Warburton Charges Byberry Raid.” Philadelphia Inquirer, July 10, 1914.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PHILADELPHIA HOSPITAL FOR MENTAL DISEASES AND THE PHILADELPHIA INSTITUTION FOR FEEBLE-MINDED, BYBERRY, PENNSYLVANIA. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, BUREAU OF HOSPITALS, PHILADELPHIA CITY ARCHIVES, 1925.
“Byberry Cellar Traced to WPA.” Northeast Times, April 30, 1970.
“Byberry Faces Menace of Fire and Epidemic.” Bulletin, March 28, 1930.
“Byberry Hospital to Open Cottages.” Bulletin, February 20, 1925.
“Byberry Hospital Probe is Started.” Chester Times, January 21, 1931.
“Byberry Hospital Without Any Head.” Bulletin, November 16, 1929.
“Byberry Transfer Ok’d by Senate.” Bulletin, September 14, 1938.
“Curb on Johnson as Architect Asked.” Bulletin, March 21, 1932.
“Dr. Sands to Head Byberry Hospital.” Bulletin, November 18, 1929.
“Dr. Sands Regrets Removal of his Aid.” Bulletin, January 5, 1931.
“Great Work Being Done for Mental Cripples at City’s Fine Hospital on Lincoln Highway.” Trenton Sunday Times Advertiser, March 22, 1925.
“Injunction Issued as State Takes Byberry Over.” Bulletin, October 15, 1938.
“Injunction Lifted on Byberry Shift.” Bulletin, October 21, 1938.
“Johnson Contract Fight is Started.” Bulletin, March 22, 1932.
Mackey, Mayor Harry A. “Report of proceedings at a meeting in the Mayor’s room Tuesday March 31 1931 in connection with the survey of conditions at the Philadelphia Hospital for Mental Diseases at Byberry.” Bulletin archives, Temple University, Urban Archives.
“Mayor Breaks Byberry Ground.” Bulletin, August 30, 1935.
“Mayor to Dismiss Zimmerman from Post at Byberry.” Bulletin, June 8, 1938.
“Mayor to Renew ‘Authority’ Plea.” Bulletin, May 31, 1938.
“Mayor Will Fire Dr. Zimmerman at Byberry.” Bulletin, June 7, 1938.
“Men at Holmesburg Don’t Get a Chance, Inspector Charges.” Evening Public Ledger, December 7, 1922.
“Monaghan Probes Rum at Byberry.” Bulletin, January 7, 1931.
“New Morgue Law Brings Complaint.” Philadelphia Inquirer or Bulletin, circa 1920–1925.
Obituary of Philip H. Johnson. Chester Times, November 30, 1933.
“Phila Stirred Over Byberry Insane Cruelty.” Chester Times, July 22, 1938.
“Public Refused to Believe the Truth about Byberry.” Philadelphia Record, June 4, 1938.
“Shapiro Byberry Inquiry Near End.” Bulletin, June 6, 1938.
“Shapiro Says Give Byberry to State.” Bulletin, July 3, 1938.
“Victims of Maniac Unaware of Death.” Bulletin, May 17, 1938.
“Will Not Continue Hospital Dispute.” Bulletin, November 11, 1929.
“Wilson Demands Resignation of Byberry Staff.” Bulletin, July 21, 1938.
ABBOTT, NORMAN. “THE ‘WHY’ AT BYBERRY.” PHILADELPHIA RECORD, MARCH 28, 1941.
“Bill in Assembly for Taking Over of PA Hospitals, Goes to Earle.” Inquirer, September 28, 1938.
“Byberry Chief Wants Dorm to Halt Escapes.” Bulletin, May 2, 1962.
“Byberry Is Not Fit to Be ‘Hospital’ Woolley Says.” Bulletin, December 24, 1938.
“Byberry to Start Remodeling Job.” Bulletin, May 30, 1954.
“Byberry’s Death Rate 8 a Week.” Bulletin, February 14, 1941.
“Doctors Urged to Aid Mental Institutions.” Pittsburg Post Gazette, October 21, 1954.
“Dr. Woolley Quits as Byberry Head.” Bulletin, July 14, 1941.
Ellis, Paul F. “Byberry Tour Reveals Some Defects but Improvements Go Forward.” Bulletin, January 14, 1941.
“Fatal Beatings Under Inquiry.” Pittsburg Press, January 12, 1941.
“4 Attendants at Byberry Held.” Chester Times, April 3, 1941.
Hallw
ay in C-11 building, 2005. Photo by author.
Harris, Allen W. “Medieval Pesthouse Disappearing.” Evening Public Ledger, March 8, 1939.
“Head of Byberry Says B Building Still Is Disgrace.” Philadelphia Record, February 10, 1946.
Hill, Robert F. “$3,000,000 Byberry Building Will Be Put Up by State.” Bulletin, January 28, 1947.
Leonard, Gus. “Melodies for Mental Cures.” Boston Herald, September 10, 1939.
“Low Bids Announced for Work at Byberry.” Bulletin, January 23, 1948.
“Martin Appoints Dr. E.L. Sielke as Byberry Head.” Record, February 21, 1946.
“Names Woolley as Byberry Head.” Bulletin, October 21, 1938.
“New Byberry Head Appeals for Help.” Bulletin, March 5, 1941.
“New Head of Byberry Had Decided Upon Career When He Was 12.” Bulletin, September 4, 1941.
Nolan, Joseph. “$1,000,000 Furey Ellis Auditorium Dedicated at Byberry Hospital.” Inquirer, May 2, 1957.
“No Shakeup Now at Byberry.” Bulletin, October 22, 1938.
“Ominsky Orders Byberry Probe.” Bulletin, November 5, 1954.
O’Neil, Thomas. “Byberry Given $5,850,000, Architect to Get 6 P.C. Fee.” Philadelphia Record, January 28, 1941.
“Patient from Byberry Terrorizes Auto Camp.” Bulletin, April 4, 1946.
Shapiro, Joseph. “WWII Pacifists Exposed Mental Ward Horrors.” NPR News, December 30, 2009.
“$27,583,300 Outlay at Byberry Urged.” Bulletin, January 8, 1941.
“Woolley Defends Byberry Record.” Bulletin, January 7, 1941.
“Zeller Named New Head of Byberry.” Chester Times, July 25, 1941.
BENNETT, RALPH K. “OVERCROWDED BYBERRY STRIVES TO FOSTER HOPE AMID MISERY, UGLINESS.” INQUIRER, FEBRUARY 14, 1965.
Brooten, Gary. “Daily Crises Confront New Director at Byberry.” Bulletin, January 19, 1967.
“Buckingham Alarmed by Mental Camp.” Bulletin, November 12, 1967.
“Byberry Renews Use of Camp Wonderland for Patient Therapy.” Bulletin, April 28, 1968.
Cooney, John E. “‘Snakepit’ Byberry’s Worst.” Inquirer, December 31, 1967.
Daughen, Joseph R. “State to Build 2 New Units at Byberry.” Bulletin, June 23, 1968.
“Dr. E.L. Sielke Retires as Byberry Hospital Head.” Bulletin, November 13, 1965.
Dunphy, Joseph. “City Sees Byberry as Municipal Park Site.” Inquirer, August 10, 1972.
Eichel, Larry, and William Weisenbach. “Missing Patient Is Found Dead.” Inquirer, June 7, 1975.
Ellis, Lisa. “New Head Appointed at Byberry.” Inquirer, January 7, 1988.
———. “State Park Lies in a State of Limbo.” Inquirer, July 26, 1987.
“Ex-Patient Finds a Home in Byberry Tunnels.” Bulletin, March 6, 1970.
Gemperlein, Joyce. “Ex-Psychiatrist Fights Life Sentence.” Inquirer, October 24, 1981.
Gunter, David, and Michael E. Ruance. “8-Member Byberry Board Resigns Over Demotion of Hospital Head.” Bulletin, November 25, 1980.
Herskowitz, Linda. “Judge Refuses to Block Transfers from Byberry.” Inquirer, October 25, 1981.
Infield, Tom. “State Repeats Offer to Move Inmates Out of Byberry.” Inquirer, April 3, 1986.
Kanaley, Reid, John Woestendiek, and Susan Fitzgerald. “At Health Centers Locally, Workers Strike and Supervisors Scramble.” Inquirer, January 23, 1986.
Kearns, George L. “Unit Urges Probe of State Hospital.” Bulletin, December 16, 1965.
Kohler, Saul. “Probers Accuse Byberry Ex-Chief of Lax Security.” Inquirer, November 14, 1965.
Lewis, Maurice M., Jr. “Byberry Chief Confirms Plan to Close 3 Chapels.” Bulletin, October 23, 1973.
McGuire, Arthur M., Jr. “Boys Play on Byberry Grounds.” Bulletin, August 6, 1970.
“New Lighting Project Begun for Byberry.” Inquirer, February 19, 1968.
Obituary of Catherine Yasinchuk, Inquirer, February 16, 1983.
Obituary of Earline L. Houston, Inquirer, June 27, 1986.
“Old Building Is Nailed Shut at Byberry.” Bulletin, June 30, 1968.
Smyth, Jack. “Self-Help Called Key for Addicts.” Bulletin, November 26, 1978.
Spady, Mary H. “Patients Can Now Obtain Clothing at Modern Shop in Byberry Building.” Northeast Times, May 15, 1969.
“State Hospital at Byberry Faces ‘Another Trying, Turbulent Year.’” Bulletin, February 3, 1974.
Woestendiek, John. “Classes for Retarded Offer Skills to Survive.” Inquirer, June 29, 1983.
———. “N.E. Mental Hospital To Be Examined.” Inquirer, May 7, 1987.
———. “Suit Challenges Release of Mentally Ill.” Inquirer, July 7, 1984.
“Anna’s Institutional Years.” www.theAnnaInstitute.org.
Bustos, Sergio. “Relief, Worry in Goodbye to Byberry.” Inquirer, January 7, 1988.
Detjen, Jim. “Byberry Expected To Be Closed.” Inquirer, December 6, 1987.
Ellis, Lisa. “Four Aides Fired in Byberry Abuse Probe.” Inquirer, November 22, 1987.
Miller, Bill, and Mark Fazlollah. “Byberry To Close By 1989, Patients To Be Shifted Elsewhere.” Inquirer, December 8, 1987.
Orezechowski, Michael J. “The Closing of Philadelphia State Hospital.” English thesis, school unknown, 1989 (material found inside building N-3 in March 2003).
“PA to Pay $100,000 in Freezing Death of Patient.” Bucks County Courier Times, December 31, 1989.
Woestendiek, John. “Byberry Lockup Policy Fails to Prevent Second Death.” Inquirer, January 12, 1988.
———. “Father Seeks to Free his Son from the Straps of Byberry.” Inquirer, January 25, 1988.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
John Webster is an avid Philadelphia historian, amateur photographer and urban explorer. His photos have been published in the Northeast Times, City Paper, Philadelphia Inquirer and the Germantown Crier. More at: http://www.PhiladelphiaStateHospital.com.
Photo by Ed Straddling.
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The Philadelphia State Hospital at Byberry: A History of Misery and Medicine (Landmarks) (PA) Page 16
