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| Eloise Asylum History "A City Within A City" |
| Eloise was one of the largest mental hospitals in the county. At one time it housed over 8,000 people who were mentally ill, had Tuberculosis or were just plain poor. It was opened in 1839 as the "Wayne County Poorhouse". Many buildings were built throughout the years to serve the residents there. By the early 1940's there were 75 buildings including a morgue, bakery, library, police department, and fire station. In 1945 it was renamed "The Wayne County General Hospital", but people have simply always continued to call it "Eloise".In the 1950'ssuch crude methods for treatment included Insilin and Electro-Shock Therapy. There have been many reports of patient beating, unsanitary conditions, and overcrowding during this time period. 3, 800 mental patients were crammed into quarters meant to house 2, 500. 125 woman shared five toilets. In 1964 new buildings were built: a medical hospital and a long term care term facility. |
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| Shock Treatment |
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| Underground Tunnel Linking Buildings |
| By 1987, six years after closing, Eloise was reduced to eight buildings. Eloise has been knownfor a long time as the "Crazy Hospital". In the small Museum, located inside the Kay Beard On Michigan, whisch use to be Elise's D building. There are artifacts including leather arm straps. There once was amorgue on the property, as well as a cemetary. The old Eloise Cemetery is located on the south side of Michiagn Avenue, across from the main buildings. There are as many as 7,145 former Eloise residents buried there. So far only 593 markers have been uncovered, after being a half buried in the ground for so long. The last burial took place around 1948. The remaining buildings now house the Wayne County Office of Aging and other programs such as "meals on Wheels." Several accounts tell of huantings in the buildings and at the cemetary as well. with such a long and somewaht disturbing history, it's no wonder the poor tortured spirits of Eloise still remain. |
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