Pilgrim Psychiatric Center, located on Long Island, was built to accommodate the overflowing psychiatric hospitals in New York. Designed in the "farm colony" style, Pilgrim State Hospital was entirely self-sufficient and focused live-and-work therapies for the patients when it opened it's doors 1931. At its peak, the campus hosted it's own fire/police personnel, post office, power plant, and church. With the advent of anti-psychotic medications, the hospital started to discharge patients and over time. Deinstitutionalization and a focus on community care led the closure of the other major state psychiatric hospitals, and the last of those patients arrived at Pilgrim State Hospital, now called Pilgrim Psychiatric Center, in 1996.
Pilgrim itself was not exempt from closures, as some buildings were closed during the 1970's and 1980's. Parts of the property have been sold off for redevelopment and the buildings demolished. A much smaller version of the psychiatric hospital still remains operational today, with a few buildings standing vacant while they await the wrecking ball.: a testament to a darker time in mental health history.
EDIT: Now demolished.
Pilgrim itself was not exempt from closures, as some buildings were closed during the 1970's and 1980's. Parts of the property have been sold off for redevelopment and the buildings demolished. A much smaller version of the psychiatric hospital still remains operational today, with a few buildings standing vacant while they await the wrecking ball.: a testament to a darker time in mental health history.
EDIT: Now demolished.
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