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| Graff Building |
A few of my favorite places to investigate are the old sanatoriums
and state hospitals in Pennsylvania. My first ghost hunt actually
took place at on of the hospitals known the Torrance State Hospital.
The hospital was originally built-in the early 1900’s due to the
increase need for care of the mentally ill. Torrance Hospital started
with a few patients that were transferred from the Danville Hospital
and patient census continued to grow to over 3000 by the 1960s. After
understanding and treatment for mental illness improved,
deinstitutionalization came into effect in the late 1960’s and
early 1970s. The move was to provide quick stabilization of mental
illness and offer community and outpatient care. Now only a few
hundred patients are currently admitted to Torrance State Hospital.
Over the years some of the older builds had been torn down or abandon
and a new hospital was built. Some of the old buildings remained used
but primarily for storage.
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| First Floor |
As for the hauntings associated with the Old Torrance Hospital,
they mainly circulate around the Graff Building/Cottage. The Graff
building provided a place for staff to reside, did some patient
intake, and housed the print shop. The Graff building is often
referred to as the staff quarters and is where many people go to get
a glimpse of the afterlife. This site is directly across from the
Army Reserves station in Torrance and a short distance down the road
from the current Torrance Hospital campus. The Graff Building has
been privately owned for years. Years ago the past owner allowed WW2
reenactments to take place on the property and was lenient with
people who investigated the building. However, for the past several
years the current owner has taken a stand against people trespassing.
The grounds have been cleaned up and many of the tress have been
removed that people used as cover to get into the building. The owner
has now installed a waist-high fence and reportedly motion sensors.
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| Basement Hallway |
The Graff building has many claims of haunts. Some believe the
souls of people are restless because of the primitive therapies used
on them that included Electroshock therapy, Hydrotherapy, and even
Lobotomies. Some reports that people were even placed in locked rooms
without windows or lights, or restrained for long periods of time.
Wittiness of the paranormal activity report seeing lights in windows,
mist figures and shadow apparitions. Noises of disembodied voices,
crying, and doors slammed have been heard. People have also
reportedly been hit by gurneys, feeling cold and warm spots, getting
grabbed at the ankle, and feeling suddenly weak and unable to move
their arms or legs. The epicenter of the activity seems to take place
in the basement in the boiler room. The first floor and basement are
easily navigated. The 2
nd floor of the Graff Building is
falling apart with the ceiling caving in at areas.
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| Boiler |
Besides the Graff Building, other areas of the Hospital have
claims of a haunting as well. Former residents have been seen roaming
the halls and property. Elevators have been known to open and close
by themselves. An old woman is said to haunt one of the private
rooms. The old tunnels that once connected the buildings are also
claimed to be haunted.
The Old Torrance State Hospital is still in operation and cares for patients while the Graff building is on private property. Neither of
these locations should be visited without proper authority and
permission. To get to this location, from Blairsville, PA take 217
south and make a left hand turn at the abandon gas station onto
Torrance Road. Approximately after one mile the old Graff building
will be on the right-hand side and the Torrance Hospital Campus will
be on the left-hand side a short distance up the road.
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| Boiler Room |
My names eileen. I live in new alexandria pa and have loved this haunt all my life because of my sensitivity to the paranormal. Do you know where the entrances exits are to the underground tunnels. Id loooove to check them out but doubt theyd give the ok if i asked. Maybe we could go together for an investigation. My email is ellenbergereileen@ gmail.com. have you been to nearby livermoore where hauntings abound because of a town still submerged underwater to this day from a flood long ago. You can see roofs and foundations crestibg the waters surface and the famous zombie flick Night Of The Living Dead was filmed there. Also very near theres a house in Blairsville that was feautured on Paranormal State for reportedly haunted hy a boy i grew up with who overdosed but his mother believed was being pulled from the other side by a previously deceased family member who was posessed while alive. I miss that show terrribly.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Linda n I am very interested in learning everything abt torrance state hospital n the buildings n what went on in each of them . The entire history of the hospital. If u can tell me anything please email me at lindastanton1972@gmail.com
DeleteMy name is Linda n I am very interested in learning everything abt torrance state hospital n the buildings n what went on in each of them . The entire history of the hospital. If u can tell me anything please email me at lindastanton1972@gmail.com
DeleteI work at Torrance State hospital and I can tell U that U will not get permission to enter the tunnels. Unwilling be caught if U try 2. Only building U may see is the 1 across from Army National guard building. I get caught on the property they will arrest U. It's not like when I was growing up. No pictures are allowed to be taking either since 9/11. Just a fair warning. They have cameras every where and motion sensors all over the property
DeleteMy great grandfather died of a fractured skull in this hospital in 1951.
DeleteHey there, I was wondering if someone could tell me how if anybody know how I can get proper permission of getting into the Graff house. I have been drawn to this place driving back and forth for almost 2 years now trying to figure everything I possibly can about it. But too scared to trespass because all of the rumors I have heard about motion sensors and what not. So if there is a way I would be more than happy to know. You can reach me at my email, and that is ruccionikelle@yahoo.com. Thank you so much!!
ReplyDeleteThe current owner is very strict about no visitors. I assume for legal reasons. The building is very much in disrepair & dilapidated. Unsafe to enter. I even tried to get syfy channels ghost hunters to visit, but I couldn't get the new owners contact information.
DeletePeople go all the time. I'm going tonight with friends
DeleteDid you happen to go? And did you see anything pernormal?
DeleteHas anyone ever gotten permission to metal detect in the fields and surrounding areas?
DeleteI learned recently that my paternal biological grandmother died at this older abandoned hospital.
ReplyDeleteThat information is very haunting, sad, tragic and sad of itself.
My gradnfather, Dr. John I WIseman, was Director of the Torrance State Hospital in the late 1940s and early 1950s. His wife, Dr. Katherine Wiseman, was a psychaiatrist there as well. They had their own home near the hospital. At that time there was a farm connected to the hospital where the patients were able to do meaningful work. The farm supplied my grandparents with milk and vegetables and possibly meat.
ReplyDeleteOne of the patients lived at my grandparents' house. Her name was Miss Chester.
My grandparents made a big point of being respectful to the patients and never making fun of them.
The hospital iteself I remember as a series of red brick buildings. I dont remember much else about them. Are there any pictures of the hospital when it was fully functioning? I am really sorry to hear it has been abandoned and is full of ghosts.
Kathie Wiseman Whelchel
I'd like to hear moreaboiut the Graff house. That house was next door (through a woods) to where my grandparents lived. They were friends with the Graffs. I was very young ( 6-9 years old) then so don't remember much about their interactions.
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to the Graffs?
I learned that my dads, dads, dad was once a patient here. He was born in 1886 and died in 1957. Wish I could get his records to learn more.
ReplyDeleteI learned that my dads, dads, dad was once a patient here. He was born in 1886 and died in 1957. Wish I could get his records to learn more.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting blog post! I'm never going here so I will just enjoy your photos and knowledge about the place.
ReplyDeleteI loved hanging out in graff! I have pictures from about 20 years ago and they bring me a sence of sadness.
ReplyDeleteWell the personal stories of the people who were patients there were very sad. My grandmother was a patient there after having a mental break down during the Great Depression. After they killed the last chicken on the farm for food there was nothing left to eat. Her new born baby starved to death which drove her over the edge and I'm guessing was in addition to what we now know as post partum depression. Why folks find the crumbling facilities entertaining is baffling to me. The patients were hurting people that had families that cared and loved them.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to read the story of your grandmother and her baby:(
DeleteMy grandfather's brother was also a patient there and I would like to know more about him. Everytime I see pictures of this old hospital, I get sick to my stomach just thinking of what was happening to these patients. God Rest Their Souls.
My father was a psychiatrist on staff at Torrance in the early 50's. There were 6 of us: my parents and 4 kids. We lived in staff housing. I would like to know if there were records of his work there. I know that this just before drugs that are routinely used now were developed. To calm down patients who were out of control, they used strait jackets and safe rooms to keep the patient and those around them safe. Seems primitive to us but they didn't have the medicinal options that we have today.
ReplyDeleteMy Great-Aunt died there. She was young - only 27. I don't know much about her - my grandmother didn't talk about her much. She never married so no one really knows her story (all her siblings, including my grandmother are gone now.) Her death certificate mentions pneumonia, but that a contributing factor was exhaustion due to "mental excitement." Is it possible to get in touch with a historian, or someone who could tell me about her, and her life there?
ReplyDeleteWere you ever able to get any other information about you aunt? My husbands grandmother died here also. Ironically her death certificate also list Pneumonia as her cause of death with exhaustion psychosis as a contributing factor. She was only 28 and was only spent 9 days as a patient before she died.
DeleteI agree with David Dougherty, this place is a hell hole. My autistic brother was there in 1974. He could walk, run, and talk. When my parents were finally able to get him the hell out of there, he could no longer walk, run, or talk again. His physical appearance was unimaginable. His hair, he had bald patches on his head. I hate this place. It's evil. I met an elderly woman, whose brother was there around the same time as my brother and he was of a special needs. He was abused in ways I won't mention. She had told me they had the one building made especially for special needs and they were treated badly,in ways that no human being should endure. She did tell me that building was torn down, but like the underground pard is still there near this old wreck. I just wished they'd tear this hell hole down. There is nothing here to glorify, especially of innocent special needs or any other loved one who resided in this shit hole.
ReplyDeleteI was able to get a little help from Bureau of Community and Hospital Operations. Of course that was April 12, 2006. I was wondering if there might be any records from when my grandfather was taken there. The only way was to contact them.What I am trying to say is he was there in 03/30/1931 until he died 4/12/1931. It says he died from acute myocardial failure, many bed sores and exhaustion due to a mental disease . My Mom always said her Dad wasn't crazy and that her stepmother put him there. I was told by my uncle that he was just little and they had my grandad laid out at home and his mother put something in to bury with him. When she did, she told him that ends with him. We had a papers that conflict with each one that filled them out. I don't know if any of this can help you or not.
ReplyDeleteMy great grandfather also was a patient and past away there. I never met him, he past away before I was born. I would be intrested in any records of him seeing not people who knew him are still alive. What I know is that he drank rubbing alcohol at the hospital and died from the effects of that. That's all that I know about him. If there is a away to gain access to these records i would like to know since I am his great grandson and I'm sure there wouldn't be any hippa violation since I'm family and its many many years since his passing that hippa was ever conceived.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry about your great grandfather. I am saddened by accounts I've read on the hospital and how the patients were treated. I have tried numerous outlets to get the records of my family member who was there, but no luck. I will keep trying!! If you do manage to find a source for the records, would you be so kind as to let me know? Thank you
ReplyDeleteI went with two friends. No cameras, no motion sensors. Why would anyone put an enormous amount of funding in security for an all but fallen, pile of bricks? Motion sensors, really? It was in such bad shape that there wasn’t much to see. No paranormal activity. However I messed with my two gullible friends and was able to creat noise in rooms that were beside us by tossing debris though small holes in the wall. They were freaking out. I still haven’t told them and now they are set on finding some kind of spirit ghost stuff. They have gone back three times. Second time they went security from the operating hospital saw their truck parked along the road And that was a dead give away that someone was there. They were warned not to do it again. They went again the next week and didn’t see security but somehow when they came back they said they were chased by horses, I guess from one of the farms beside it. They are actually there tonight. If you want to check it out just don’t park on the road. Other than that no one will see you. There are no cameras, motion sensors and whatever else people want to make up out of thin air. It was a little creepy but nothing too special
ReplyDeleteHello, has anyone been able to get inside? I have always wanted to check it out since I was a kid.
DeleteMy Great Grandmother was admitted to Torrance in 1927 and she died there in January of 1929 after spending 2 years and 2 months. A Dr. E.R. McKinnis? pronounced her dead. Does anyone know of the physicians that worked there at that time? Would love to know the name of the doctor as it is hard to make out on her death certificate.
ReplyDeleteI'm going research on my great grandmother and found out she spent many years here and died in 1965 from lobar pneumonia after 8 days of onset. Has anyone had success access old medical records?
ReplyDeletePennsylvania death records from deaths at least 50 years past should be public now. They should be available through Ancestry.com., or other internet sources. I've found numerous death certificates from Pennsylvania relatives.
DeleteMy mom grew up in a now-abandoned town called Cokeville, which was right near the hospital. When she was a kid in the 1940s all of the hospital buildings were full. She said that sometimes patients would wander away while on outdoor work details. A hospital whistle would blow to alert people that a patient had escaped. She remembered walking past the buildings and seeing patients looking out the windows, as though pleading to be free. She said it was heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteMy chronically missing great-uncle, who repeatedly abandoned and abused his family, was spoken of as if no one knew where he was. But in his mother's obituary, he was listed as living in Torrance. He must have been a patient there.
ReplyDeleteI went here twice about 13 years ago as a high schooler - the first time we were loud and trying to scare some girls we brought along, but the second time we were a smaller group and a bit more serious about "ghost hunting". Our investigation did not last long. We entered through the main doorway into the lobby and then continued downstairs before entering a room (on our way to the boiler room, which I had crawled inside of during my first visit), when we heard what we thought was a security guard running at us from down the hallway to our right. They made no vocal sound, however, so my brother took a photo using the flash as a light to see the guard as he entered the room from the hall, but the hallway was empty. Needless to say, we power walked the hell out of there within 15 minutes of arriving (we drove from Brookville, PA). Was this a ghost? Was it a raccoon? Was it our imagination? It doesn't matter. What matters is this place will always be a topic for debate for people who are interested in lore of Pennsylvania and want to feed their imagination, and with that I am content with my experience. As for security, I don't really remember there being much other than no trespassing signs, (which as a 15 year old, I happily ignored) but I do believe we parked a good distance away and walked through the field neighboring the Graff Building. I vaguely recall horses in said field, but I could be wrong. Glad to see people are still discussing this old place! Cheers!
ReplyDelete