Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital Is About To Be Torn Down 2015 | Morris Plains, New Jersey
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Greystone Park
Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital was originally built in 1876 as the New Jersey State Lunatic Asylum at Morristown.
Obviously, there was no “political correctness” at the time.
If you grew up in Morris County, the original Greystone Park was legendary. It was so big looming up at the end of Central Avenue.
It was actually the building with the largest footprint in America until The Pentagon was opened in 1943.
There were also rumors about horrible events that actually went on in the building. It was also incredibly overcrowded.
Probably the most famous resident was the great singer-songwriter Woody Guthrie. He spent 5 years at Greystone Park.
Woody was suffering from Huntington’s Disease, and little was understood about the illness. Sadly, he was sent to live in psychiatric hospitals for most of the last years of his life.
Here he is singing probably his most famous song, the beautiful “This Land Is Your Land.”
The young and unknown Bob Dylan idolized Guthrie and visited him at Greystone!
He sang his song “Song to Woody” for him when he visited.
So touching, and how courageous of Bob to visit him there.
There is a wonderful video from 2007 from Weird NJ when the building was already deteriorating. They went inside with their friend who wrote the great book Wardy Forty (yes, I have a copy.)
Old and New Buildings
The original building at Greystone is still located in Morris Plains/Parsippany, New Jersey (GPS and other places give either of the towns).
A new hospital was built several years ago, and the patients were transferred to the new facility.
The Old Building Is Being Torn Down
Some of the old structures have been torn down, but the original main building – the Kirkbride Building — is still standing.
There is now fencing around the building to get it ready for demolition (and probably to discourage intruders from breaking into the building).
The building was supposed to be demolished last year, but a group called Preserve Greystone is fighting to save the building.
The building is architecturally significant. It was built in the Second Empire Victorian style.
Now I can understand why the state wants to tear down the building. It was used for rather sad reasons. I also understand that you can’t save every historic building.
However, I do believe that we don’t save nearly enough architecturally significant buildings, in New Jersey or the entire USA.
The building was quite beautiful inside and has not deteriorated so badly that it can’t be restored. They certainly don’t make hospitals this beautiful anymore!
Apparently, Woody Guthrie’s daughter wants to save the building.
Preserve Greystone makes some very good points about the historic value of the building. Some of those reasons are truly haunting. In this magnificent video, there are some stunning aerial shots of the hospital, including some by a drone!
There are some truly haunting photos of the inside of the building at Weird NJ.
2022 Updates
The buildings have been torn down.
I went back in September 2017 to see if you could see any remnants of the Kirkbride Building.
No remnants existed. You would never know that the Kirkbride Building ever existed.
The state promised that they would not construct any buildings on this property, and as of 2017, they kept their promise.
I tried going back in August 2022, but the road was blocked off. I have no idea why.
You may also want to read about:
Port Murray Post Office and Abandoned Train Station.
Thanks for visiting New Jersey Memories!
20 Comments
Fun60
I am saddened that they want to demolish such an historic building probably because of the reminders it would give of the horrors that took place there. The building could be given a new purpose. A well known 'lunatic asylum' in London – Bethlem from which the word bedlam originated moved from its original building but that building was reused and is now the Imperial War Museum.
Mystery Case
What an amazing looking building. Such a shame they want to demolish it.
Al
That is a beautiful building, but I bet it would cost a fortune to keep up if it's preserved.
NCSue
I grew up in PA and (at least in my little clique) often heard folks sneering at NJ. Then I had the opportunity to travel through portions of Jersey and found it enchanting. My apologies – I should never have listened to unsubstantiated sneers!
Thanks for reminding me that NJ can be and often is beautiful.
Please come share at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2015/03/visiting-saint-kitts.html
New Jersey Memories
I think it would be best if they reused the building. It was very beautiful inside.
New Jersey Memories
It's great looking, isn't it? Especially on the inside. And I love the aerial shots from the drone!
New Jersey Memories
Probably, but there have apparently been some offers.
New Jersey Memories
Yes, there are many places in New Jersey that are really beautiful. 🙂
stevebethere
Nice post and photos, seems a shame to demolish it doesn't it
Thank you for woofing by 🙂
Anonymous
A beatiful building but seemed to have a dark past. Thanks for sharing. Again this place is unknown to me until you shared infos and photos about it. A great tour!
Rhonda Albom
Interesting. I love the architecture, and sometimes appreciate the political correctness. Lunatic Asylum just sounds so bad.
Beth F
Great post. I clicked through to see the interior photos. Disturbing, yes, but seems like such a piece of history. Hope the building is saved.
Villrose
This place makes me shudder! What destinies!
New Jersey Memories
It is a shame to demolish it.
Thanks for visiting! Woof! Woof!
New Jersey Memories
It most definitely has a dark past. I grew up in Morris County where we all knew about it and there were plenty of rumors going around. Thanks for visiting!
New Jersey Memories
Yes, "lunatic" and "insane" really does sound bad. Imagine building such a beautiful building for a state hospital. It would never happen today.
New Jersey Memories
I hope the building is saved, too. It could be put to good use.
New Jersey Memories
It definitely has a lot of sadness and creepiness surrounding it. Thanks for visiting!
Unknown
i. Had. A. Cousin. Name. Edna. Caldwell0. Very. Good. Artist. They. Had. Some. Of. Her. Drawings. On. The. Wall.s. of. Greystone. I. Am. Looking. For. Some. Of. Her. Drawings. Please. E-mail. Me. My. Address. Is. Vernaann130@gmail.com. any. Kind. Of. Information. Would. Be. Suitable
Unknown
i. Had. A. Cousin. Name. Edna. Caldwell0. Very. Good. Artist. They. Had. Some. Of. Her. Drawings. On. The. Wall.s. of. Greystone. I. Am. Looking. For. Some. Of. Her. Drawings. Please. E-mail. Me. My. Address. Is. Vernaann130@gmail.com. any. Kind. Of. Information. Would. Be. Suitable