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I'm in Buffalo, so in my very backyard is Hotel Henry (https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/bufhyqq-hotel-henry-buffalo/ https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/bufhyqq-ho
by BLO716 4y ago
I'm in Buffalo, so in my very backyard is Hotel Henry (https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/bufhyqq-hotel-henry-buffalo/ https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/bufhyqq-hotel-henry-buffalo...) - locally known as Richardson Complex (https://richardson-olmsted.com/ https://richardson-olmsted.com/). Bit boushy for me, to be honest and the experience never lived up to what it was supposed to be. Probably because well .. it's a mental institution, after all with a rather interesting past.
Currently our local celebrity billionaire, Jemal Douglas is continuing his storied Daddy Warbucks spending spree with the old Hotel Henry (
https://buffalonews.com/news/local/douglas-jemal-hoping-to-open-hotel-in-june-at-richardson-olmsted-campus/article_0313ec02-bce6-11ec-8ca1-2bf82a6ca4d7.html https://buffalonews.com/news/local/douglas-jemal-hoping-to-o...
). I work in his Seneca One Tower as part of the 43N (https://www.43north.org/ https://www.43north.org/) cohorts in startup land (my sole reason for being attached at the hip to YC news).
I've also had the distinct pleasure of being in MANY of the Kirkbrides over the years through a past hobby of Urbex (https://www.uer.ca https://www.uer.ca - some may know it, but mostly dead community now). I think I've been to 6-7 of them over the last 10-15 years of doing that, and as a photographer and a history dork, they are astounding to see in person (and on occasion from the inside).
Now, back to a psychology degree and wandering into tech ... the obvious departure of the federal system after Pennhurst discoveries (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1194153/ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1194153/ <- truly worth watching to gain a perspective on our failed mental health system) to the states, I know a lot about this stuff from the front end of photography to the backend of its history.
Being from Buffalo, and here for at least 25 years (most of my adult life) unique place to be on this particular topic.
Hoping this information helps this post alone, since it touches on so much of what I enjoy talking about when living here.
Also check out Henry Hobson Richardson and Fred Olmsted is a pretty interesting one.
Here are some more creepy things, for the more total black wardrobe folks out there (me included) - https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/abandoned-psychiatric-hospitals https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/abandoned-psychiatric-hos...
Enjoy!
- dont__panic 4y agoHotel Henry is very cool, great way to see a Kirkbride that's celebrated and maintained instead of just abandoned. A close friend was one of the first couples ever married there! As someone with very little intent to ever get married, I always thought there's a small bit of humor to getting married... in an asylum. Because it does sound a tad crazy to me.