March 5th, 2008
Western Hospital for the Insane
Credit goes to squad546 on the Asylum Projects forum for this revelation: it looks like there may have been a Kirkbride building in Bolivar, Tennessee. As it stands today, the building has no wings, but there are clues it used to have some. An older topographic map shows what appears to be that old, familiar outline. Also, the structure was completed in 1889, putting it within the tail end of the Kirkbride era. And lastly, these photos show there was definitely something torn down on either side of the old administration building. Check out these images in particular where you can make out traces of what was torn down:
Image One
Image Two
Image Three
I’m still not completely sure this was a Kirkbride, but I wouldn’t post about it if I didn’t think there’s a really good chance it was. Finding out about a Kirkbride not mentioned in the usual sources is always a nice surprise. It gives you hope that there are more out there. Conservatively, I’d estimate the total count of Kirkbride asylums ever built at somewhere around fifty. But the real count could be more like seventy. Finds like this make me think the larger number is more likely. I’ll write more about those estimates in a future post.
Western State Mental Hospital at Bolivar, Tennessee, was indeed built on the Kirkbride Plan. It was designed by the McDonald Brothers architectural firm of Louisville, Kentucky, and built from 1886-1889. The west wing was the female ward; the east wing the male ward. A dining wing to the rear and admin offices in the center. The building was NR-Listed in 1987 prior to the removal of the wings in the late 1980s. Contact the TN-SHPO for details.
I have so much I want to learn about this place. Both my great grandmother and my great, great grandmother died here.
-Danielle Cara
i pass by on my way to work and have questions but dont know who could answer them?
It really looks like a Kirkbride. I wish I could know of a full list of every Kirk. ever built.
My great-great-grand-uncle died in Western State Hospital in Bolivar, Tennessee on March 27, 1946. I would like to find more information on him. Please e-mail me back or call me on my cell phone at 901-283-1177. I live in Memphis, Tennessee.
My great uncle was Robert Sellers and was interned at Western State Hospital in 1910 according to the census for that year, he must have died between 1910 and 1920, although I have no way of knowing for sure, he did not show up on any further census. If you would like to help me my email is sellersad@bellsouth.net cell phone number is 251 459 3304. thank you.
My great grandfather, according to oral history passed down to me by a now deceased elderly aunt, died at this asylum and was buried there, but they claim to have no records of him ever being there or dying there. Suggestions?