Eloise Asylum
The Eloise Asylum spent over 125 years in operation, from a simple poorhouse to a sprawling self-sufficient hospital system that housed 10,000 patients. Though it no longer houses residents, some buildings still stand, rotting and decaying, as a monument to the many lost souls that once called it home. Some say that the souls never really left and their presence still lingers within its walls.
Eloise Psychiatric Hospital first opened in 1839 with its original purpose to be a poor house and farm to help support those struggling. It was subbed the Wayne County Poorhouse. Poorhouses were often refuges for those struggling with mental illness or other illnesses that were not fully understood at the time. While they provided food, shelter, and work they did not provide medical treatment or therapies. However, over the years it developed into an asylum, sanatorium, and eventually a hospital. In 1913 it was rebranded as the Eloise Mental Hospital. In its prime, it would consist of over 75 buildings across 900 acres and housing 10,000 patients and 2,000 staff..basically a small village! It was also, at one time, the largest psychiatric facility in the United States. Not to mention, there was no reason for folks to leave--the complex was self-sufficient and even had its own police and fire departments along with a railroad and trolley system. It wasn't all drudgery and mistreatment (though that certainly happened) the grounds also housed a bakery and an amusement hall. It wasn’t only an asylum, it also had a fully functioning hospital used by those who did not live in the compound. For example, the hospital housed the first kidney dialysis unit in the State of Michigan and pioneered the use of music therapy.
However, the support for mental health and various mental illnesses was often regressive or even, in some cases, inhumane. Various tactics were used, including shock therapy. It isn't surprising that while it was a place of great progress, it was also a place where those who couldn't advocate for themselves were often used and abused. Shortly after The Great Depression, the population of the complex waned, as reports of mistreatment, violence, foul conditions, and overall neglect bubbled to the surface.
Farm operations ceased in 1958, and the psychiatric division began to slowly close its doors in 1977. The main hospital closed in 1986 and marked, for all intents and purposes, the shuttering of Eloise. Today, only a hospital and eight buildings exist and much of the original 900 acres have been sold and built upon.
There have been numerous investigations of the grounds by both professional paranormal investigators and, of course, amateur thrill seekers. One of the most-often reported phenomena is disembodied voices screaming, moaning, and even roaring all over the ground. Unsurprisingly, many believe this is the remnant of tortured patients.
One of the more professional crews was Detroit Paranormal Expeditions. They set up four infrared cameras in different locations throughout Eloise to see if they could document anything. The team recorded about three hours of video, which it streamed and narrated on its Facebook page, which you can watch here. Though nothing major happens at about 62 minutes in, you can see a strange light anomaly.
One of the most common apparitions is the full-bodied apparition of a woman who first appears as white vapor before manifesting into a human form. It is believed she usually says something like "help me" or other cries for help. Some believe she is a residual spirit, and that her suffering and her cry for help aren't active but something the building remembers and continues to project.
Other common haunting trademarks, like footsteps from nowhere and door slamming often occur and are reported. Perhaps the ghosts are willing to be seen and remembered, especially if they were ignored or mistreated in life.
Today, one of the buildings is used for a haunted house entertainment walk-through. The buildings are also sometimes open for ghost hunts, media, and, of course, the intrepid few who forgo the law and head there on their own (although we at AL never recommend that). Another part of the complex was purchased to become a mixed-use residential complex for low-income seniors and families as part of Wayne County's plan to rehab public property (which makes sense, as the state has owned much of what was left of Elosie since the 1980s).
The Eloise Asylum has a history that is hard to comprehend. While many people believe that the ghosts of the past still roam the place, it's important to acknowledge that it was a place of suffering for some, and solace for others. Today, Eloise Asylum remains a symbol of a haunted past, and the ghosts that may still linger there continue to draw visitors and ghost hunters who seek to explore the paranormal history of Michigan.
The feature blog image is of the Kay Beard Building, 30712 Michigan Avenue (U.S. 12), Westland Michigan. The building was formerly the Eloise Psychiatric Hospital. This image was taken by Dwight Burdette. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.
Thanks to mermaidmom.13 for this blogstonishing suggestion!