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| Philadelphia State Hospital at Byberry | |
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| Geography | |
| Location | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Organization | |
| Type | Specialist |
| Services | |
| Beds | 7,000 |
| Speciality | Psychiatric hospital |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | Philadelphia State Hospital, Byberry State Hospital, Byberry City Farms, Philadelphia Hospital for Mental Diseases |
| Construction started | 1906 |
| Opened | 1907 |
| Closed | June 1990 |
| Demolished | 14 June 2006 |
| Links | |
| Lists | Hospitals in Pennsylvania |
The Philadelphia State Hospital at Byberry was a psychiatric hospital located on either side of Roosevelt Boulevard, US Route 1, in Northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was located in the Somerton section of the city on the border with Bucks County. The name of the institution was changed several times during its history, being variously named Philadelphia State Hospital, Byberry State Hospital, Byberry City Farms, and the Philadelphia Hospital for Mental Diseases. It was home to people ranging from the mentally challenged to the criminally insane.
The primary buildings were constructed between 1907 and the mid-1920s. Newer buildings were constructed between 1940 and 1953. The facility included over fifty buildings such as male and female dormitories, an infirmary, kitchens, laundry, administration, a chapel, and a morgue. The hospital's population grew rapidly, quickly exceeding its capacity. The peak patient population was over 7,000 in 1960.
Several investigations into the conditions at the hospital at various points revealed that raw sewage lined the hallways, patients slept in the halls, and the staff mistreated and exploited patients.
The hospital has been featured in the paranormal television series Scared!.