February 18th, 2008
Athens In Peril?
The asylum in Athens, Ohio is the subject of an article published today on The Athens News web site: The Ridges: Echoes of History. Writer Jenaye Antonuccio describes the asylum’s history and its relationship with the city. Also available on Jenaye’s blog is an un-edited version of the article: Glimpses of Home – The Shape of Lunacy.
In related news, rumors have been circulating recently that some buildings, or parts of buildings, on The Ridges may be torn down due to severe deterioration. Even if these rumors are based on fact, I’m pretty hopeful that no part of the Kirkbride is in jeopardy, but time will tell. I will of course post more about that if anything comes to light.
As a little girl growing up in Athens, my parents would drop off me and my friends to go skating on a winter’s day on the ponds surrounding the “Insane Asylum” grounds. We loved it there. On a Sunday, my grandparents would take us to the grounds to see the alligator that was in the water surrounding a beautiful water fountain by the front building.
Thanks for sharing the memories, Shirley.
So the alligator stories are true? You saw it with your own eyes?
I had assumed it was an urban legend…
Hi my name is Kelly I’m into haunted places, Is this place haunted, it looks like it might be.