I have had several people land on my blog while searching for Western Mental Health Institute so I figured I would add some information.
The grounds of WMHI were once populated by flying squirrels but they have disappeared in recent years. The main entrance leads to the Administration building. This building once had two large wings. They were condemned and removed in the 1980’s. Some of the locals said the wings were haunted but it really doesn’t matter since they no longer exist.
Some of the things I have read on the internet are simply untrue. One person stated that when lightening struck nearby you could see a man who hung himself swinging from the top of the Administration building. None of the employees, security guards or locals have ever seen this. It was also said that there were places in Luton Hall where there are no cameras and the patients use this spot to kill other patients. My mother works in Luton Hall now and did many years ago as well. First of all, there are cameras everywhere. Secondly, this unit is all men. The majority of these men will remain there for their entire lives. They have had patients murder other patients but they really don’t care if they are caught or not. Honestly, what are they going to do to them? Many years ago, one of the men strangled his room mate with a tube sock because his snoring kept him awake. It happens.
One rumor that swirled around at WMHI for awhile revolved around the tunnels beneath the buildings. It was said that patients had become lost in the maze of tunnels and died down there. Some have even went so far as to say that the tunnels are haunted by these patients who are still looking for a way out.
Let me say this now: It is illegal to trespass on state property. All employees have hangers on their rear view mirrors so anyone who isn’t supposed to be there is spotted very easily. Even if you did manage to gain illegal entry to the grounds, the tunnels can only be accessed via the units. If you attempt to enter a unit, you will be captured on camera and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. DO NOT trespass!
The reason I know all of this is because my mother, three aunts, two uncles, and several friends work or have worked at WMHI. Several of them have retired from there and others have worked there for several decades. My mother has worked in Luton Hall, the Clement Building and occasionally works the Timber Springs Unit. My aunt and uncle worked in Dietary. One uncle is a Security Guard. Two aunts worked in the Administration Building. One friend is a Security Guard, another retired from Dietary.
Most of what you are saying is True…But WMHI is very haunted. and they still have flying squirrels….they even have albino squirrels out there. I use to work there. I worked at Nat’T Winston, in dietary….all the trays were broght from the Admin. My mother worked there in Dietary sometimes in the Admin. but mostly at the Clemet building. My Step-dad still works there. He works in Housekeeping as a Supervisor. I have family there too. My step-dad has been there for 25 yrsor almost 25 yrs.Back in the day Luton Hall did not have cameras…..there are tunnels but you are right Don’t Tresspass…….the admin did have 2 wings that are not there now, but the upstairs is very haunted……I would LOVE for TAPPS to visit there.
You’re a TAPS fan? I love TAPS! I watch Ghost Hunters every week. I would like to see them investigate it as well, especially the area around the Administration building and the tunnels.
My grandmother worked in Nat T many, many years ago.
I didn’t know that about the upstairs of the Admin building. I had always heard the wings were so creepy that no one wanted to go in those parts of the building. Some said you could hear footsteps in the hallways there. Is that the same type of thing that goes on in the upstairs?
My mother said the squirrels were all gone. I’m guessing she just hasn’t seen any since she does the night shift. When I was a child we occasionally visited my grandmother over there while she was working and I always enjoyed watching the squirrels soar through the air from tree to tree. It’s nice to know they are still there.
Did you know that Luton Hall has a door on the third floor with a face in the wood grain? I have not seen it…I’ve only been told about it.
last time i was there, nothing unusual happened (nor did i see any flying squarrels)
I was a patient at western state in Bolivar, there were deffinately some odd things going on there.I Wittnessed a girl try to hang herself with her bra! I saw a few other things there , like faces in the tower for instance. The whole time I was there it was like being at a funeral.
Lol.. i was a patient too. it is very much like being at a funeral but i really dont think the part i stayed at was haunted at all.
i am doing a little research on the hospital hauntings, if any? does any one have any stories? i also heared they filmed a horror movie there. are there any famous patients? are the under ground tunnels still in use?
The tunnels have not been used in many, many years. There has never been any filming there, although they are supposed to place a webcam over the current construction area. New buildings are being built, which means that other buildings will no longer be used once the work is completed.
I do know of one patient who was in a film many years ago (not a leading role) and there is also a patient who was a famous madame several decades ago. There were some people who thought Mary Winkler would be sent to WMHI, but she was not.
As far as the “atmosphere” of Western, odd things happen simply because of what it is. While some of the patients do not have major mental illnesses, there are many who do and you can expect some odd behavior.
Does anybody want to spend a night in the place? Im willing to go to the most haunted wing in the place. I am not scared of the other side and what it brings. We just have to remember that they are not ghost just people who dont know to go home to the love of the Lord. We can help them go home. If you ever see a “ghost” tell it to go home and wish them the love that GOD gives us all.
These are not just ghosts or lonely spirits, these are torturesd souls sho have had terrible experiments done on them in the name of pre-medicine. There were no manuscripts to go by, no medicine books, this was one of the first mental hospitals in the south. My family has lived there forever, did you know there was a lot of patients that broke out in the early 70’s, I think, not sure of the years, I will check with my father not rumors, he remembers the entire sheriffs dept and city police telling everyone to stay inside. So if you think a soul who had been lobotamized with ancient medical tools will just give into the lord, think again.
I have lived in Bolivar all of my life and have many relatives who have worked at Western for decades (some still do). My uncle has worked as a security guard at Western for ages. I had a great aunt who was a patient at Western for the majority of her adult life. While the “ghost stories” and patient treatments at Western are rumors we enjoy discussing, these are the facts:
Patients were allowed to roam free on the grounds until the late 80’s. In fact, there used to be what looked like a bus stop right across the street from the gate and it was very common to drive by and see patients sitting there. They didn’t “break out”, they simply walked off. This happened quite a bit. Some were found wandering on the roadways and often people picked them up and drove them back without involving local law enforcement. Many were found inside empty trailers at Joe’s trailer park, which was less than two miles from Western.
People in the area always knew when a patient was missing for more than a few hours because local law enforcement searched for them and asked people in the area to keep an eye out for them, but it wasn’t like they placed the surrounding areas on lockdown. Law enforcement may have suggested that they stay inside but they weren’t ordered to. Don’t get me wrong. There were patients that people felt threatened by for good reason, but it wasn’t many, and those patients rarely had grounds privileges so they were not the ones walking off.
We will never know how the patients were treated decades ago. It’s a state facility and state secrets tend to stay that way. We know what typical treatment of psychiatric patients were in those days and we can only speculate about the horrors they endured. I am not trying to say that they didn’t endure terrible things because they most certainly did, but we can only guess at what they may have had done to them.
The majority of the patients at Western during the 70’s and into the 80’s were simply abandoned by their families who didn’t wish to take care of them. A great deal of them were cases of mental retardation who were dumped into state custody. My great aunt was locked up for postpartum depression and was there for nearly three decades–for postpartum depression, a temporary condition rarely requiring hospitalization today. Women were labeled “sex-crazed” and locked up for life when today they would simply be considered “promiscuous”. If you don’t believe that most of these patients were simply discarded by their families out of shame, take a look in Potter’s Field. There are many patients whose bodies are buried there because their families didn’t even bother to claim them when they passed away. Only a small percentage of them were violent. Most were simply the “unwanted” who were relinquished into state custody.
“Rumors” are discussed because we know so little about what goes on or has occurred at Western and people are fascinated with it because of its age, what it is, and its place in the history of Hardeman County.
I think it is important to accurately discuss the history of Western and how things really were if we’re now separating fact and fiction. I only know of one patient who “broke out” of Western and that was in the early 90’s. The rest simply walked off the property with no plans of a great escape. Western has been the home to many who didn’t deserve to be there. They were more victims than patients. In the past few years, the state has tried to correct this and has sent many of them to assisted living facilities. And that….is the rest of the story.
Hello,
I work at Western as well as some of my family (presently and retired) I have spoken to many older employees and they do report “odd”
things.Some include hearing voices and seeing people on units that are not in use. Murders have occurred on the grounds,on units, and inside the tunnels. Patients use to roam freely on the grounds and one young man was found hung in a tree. There are lots of things that have happen at Western that the public is not and will not ever know. Remember, this is a STATE run facility. What happens at Western STAYS at Western. You just have to ask the right people and most are reluctant to say too much. Not to mention it opened in the late 1890’s. Lots of History!!!!!!!!! I would love to know it all!!!!!!!!
Everyone that comes on the property MUST sign in with security. Not even the patient’s family can just walk in. So, don’t think you can just go snooping around. You will be arrested and it’s a federal offense.
We do house the criminally insane.Murderers etc. And yes they are truly mentally ill. And most will live out the rest of their lives there.
As far as the squirrels …….. I see a few every once in a while. They have probably moved out to less populated areas.
Thank you, AF. I have been noticing a lot of deer in front of the old Timber Springs building. During the summer, they were there a lot at night eating some sort of fruit from the trees. I can remember back when the grounds were covered in wildlife.
I also remember when patients roamed free and it was nothing unusual to have a patient wander off. More often than not, they were found hiding in an empty trailer in Joe’s Trailer Park off Lucy Black Road.
I think why so much of Western is kept secret is because the employees fear the trouble they would get into if they said anything. Regardless of the mental condition of the patients, they are still entitled to the same confidentiality in treatment as someone who is sane. There are also all sorts of rules that they must follow. For example, I would love to have a photo of the wooden door on the third floor of Luton. There is a face in the grain of the wood. However, cameras are forbidden on the units.
I used to work at Western a few years back and there are creepy and spirits that are there on the grounds!!! My mom and step-dad still work there!! And My mom told me some of the things that she has experienced!! But as for me myself YES I CAN SAY IT IS HAUNTED!!!! Back behind Luton hall were the employes park in the field that is fenced off is a cemetery!!! Of people that died there! I have seen a person around the old building behind clement!! And even if the place is old there have been unexplained voices, I remember doing rounds on third shift and the patients were sleep and there was an empty bed there and the first time that I passed it, it was empty but before I left the room I saw something sitting on that empty bed looking at me, scared me half to death!!!! So there are spirits and things that are not at rest! Western was all that they knew! So that is there home. And I hope that they did something about the deer population!
I worked at WMHI 14yrs ago and one evening I was on my lunch break and I heard some footsteps thenthe phone went dead.I was in the admin. building after closing I even said goodnight to the guard.Every night you can see the lights come on in the 4th floor which has been stutdown for close to 30yrs. Now i spottedghosts of a patient,nurse and of a doctors each in the admin and the building slightly to the left.And strange noises can be heard in the building to the far left that used to be the Timber Springs school house.And if you stand in the field in the back you can see and hear so strange things coming from the houses.Oh its on record for the albino squirrels.
Just ask the kitchen staff and the older employes + the towns people.Its raining on the hospital grounds and sunny across the street.Plus a cloud around the 4th floor.
I am trying to find anything on my ancestors and all I have on one gg-grandfather is that he was in a mental hospital in Bolivar Tennessee where he died and is buried nearby. Where do I look for records of his hospitalization and his death? I don’t even know his real name, he went by “Babe” Stonem.
The only mental hospital in Bolivar that housed patients was indeed Western Mental Health Institute. The records will not be accessible, as patient records are confidential and not public information.
There are several cemeteries nearby that are “state cemeteries”. These were where patients were buried when the family did not claim the body for private burial. Two of these cemeteries are at the corners of Nuckolls and Tate Road in Bolivar. I think there is also a third cemetery somewhere on state grounds, but I am not sure. Perhaps one of my readers could tell you for sure.
The only way I know to find any information would be to check the cemeteries. Maybe one of the genealogy sites has cemetery records for these places, although I could not tell you the name of any of them.
I just wanted to say that all of your post are interesting to read. they let me know that my son is right. He was a yooung patient at Timber Springs at a young age of 12 years and all because he had a seizure but his teacher thought he was throughing a fit? He tells of just how bad it was there and I know for at fact that some of the staff have a Mental Illness as well. I really think that they need to close the doors; but that’s just coming from the mother of an young X-patient who was drove to be crazy due to this place.
Do you have an email Newsletter?
I was visiting my parents lat weekend and went to Boliver to a gun store my husband wanted to see. We came across the Westerrn Mental Health Institute while looking for the store. I was fascinated by the ol building. I would lov to learn about the history and see pics of the place from years go. Can anyone suggest how to learn more about the place?
Hi, tamtation. I emailed you some information and photos.
I saw where you had sent someone some info and photos of western institute. I have always heard stories of this place growing up and have wanted to visit it but knew it was not open to public. I had a friend who was there for awhile and he said it was scarry and some of the workers looked scared to death when you asked them of the stories and refused to discuss it. I would love to know some of the history of this place and see photos as well if you could link me to any.
Hi, Kim! I sent you an email that details the history of Western State and includes photos of what the buildings looked like years ago–inside and out.
Can the hospital give any information about patients that were committed if they have passed away? My great grandmother, Lillian Dollahite, was committed to the hospital around 1940. She apparently had some sort of mental breakdown and couldn’t even remember her own name. She was there for about 16 years until one day she finally regained her memory and was released. If the hospital can’t give out any information to family members, could someone please direct me to a website where I can learn more about the facility-history, photos, etc. I’ve been doing some family history research and would really appreciate any info offered!
Has anyone thought about contacting Ghost Adventures to do a lockdown on Western State? Are the buildings abandoned or are patients still there?
This facility is still a working mental institution and there are several hundred patients at this time. They are currently constructing a new building on the property which will house patients. While some of the older buildings are abandoned, this is state owned property and they would never allow a film crew at Western–ever.
My company did some pipe insulation work down in the tunnels about 4 years ago. I am the delivery driver for my company here in Memphis. I made several deliveries to the property and even went down in the tunnels. It was very creepy to say the least. We went into a room where it was said was for performing surgury of some sort. The insulator on site lives nearby and told me the doctors would rape the female patients and sell the babies on the black market. Has anyone ever heard this ? As for deer, I drove around to the back of the property and counted 11 on one morning. They were around the baseball field area. This place has some history that I am sure is very interesting and incriminating as well. Joe
Living in the area, I have heard many stories about what goes on at Western. It’s really hard to say what is true and what is not, but I have also heard that. I think there have probably been a lot of babies born at Western over the decades. I know twenty years ago there was a female patient who would “sell” herself for cigarettes. It wasn’t unheard of for staff members to catch patients in the act. If you ask someone who has worked there for many years about the doctors, you would probably be met with silence. Employees don’t really talk about what goes on there. Their jobs depend on it.
I do enjoy seeing the deer there.
OMG! Me and my wife walked up to the old abandoned building today, the one with two wings and a crumbling porch. One of the windows was open and I stuck my head through. I didn’t know that we could have been arrested. It looked like a lot of furniture and even some old pool tables in one room, just a lot of old junk really, and the smell of a 100+ yr old building decaying, paint peeling off of the walls and ceilings. It was during the day, and I could have just crawled in if I wanted, but it was pretty scary.
There are a lot of buildings on the grounds but only one had two wings and the porch isn’t crumbling. Unfortunately, the wings were torn down sometime during the 80’s. THAT building is the administration building and you certainly wouldn’t be able to approach it as it is in use and there is always someone there.
The only building that is abandoned and has a porch would be the old Timber Springs unit, but I wouldn’t say it has wings. I would love to know where you parked and how you approached this building. It’s very likely that there are windows up on that building. Tell me where the building you are talking about is located and I will tell you which building it is and what is was used for.
Gosh, I don’t know. It was named after a man, it has some plastic netting around the porch, it’s very old, it has a courtyard with a basketball goal in the center, it is just north of the main building, it’s closer to 64, it also has a wonderful red ceramic roof. It’s been abandoned for some time, and it you were to look at aerialy, it looks like the letter H. One side of it is an obvious addon. It may be an old admin building? There are some old chairs on the front porch.
It’s the Polk building I think. Do you know what it was used as?
Polk building– Originally patients were housed in the wings of the administration building but eventually they needed more space. Polk and Winston Hall were both constructed and opened in 1932. Polk was one of the first two buildings used to house patients.
**For those interested in other buildings, Luton Hall was built in 1948, Clement Building in 1957 and Dunn Building in 1962. WMHI opened to patients on November 22, 1889.
I love reading this stuff…I am very interested in the history and photos of this place I live about 45mins away from it and have hurd alot about it…and have been trying to find a website with old photos and more to read on it could someone please tell me more or send me some more info on it…thanks would appreciate it
Hi, Tammy! I have a good bit of information (and links to photos) on my laptop that I will send to you as soon as I can get to it.
does it show you my email address or do I need to give it to you? thanks so much…
I have it. I wouldn’t dare post your email in a comment here. My email address posted on this site gets spammed like crazy and that address is only posted here. lol
Hopefully I will be able to get it sent once I get the kids off to church. That should be about another hour.
ok thanks! bless you for sending your children to church thats awesome! Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he wont depart from it! hope to talk to ya soon!
I emailed you the info!
Hi! My grandmother stayed at the Polk building and I would love someone to send me any info or pictures of the whole facility,
Email me tomorrow at tnhauntings@writersbeacon.com and remind me to send you the info. I tend to get busy and forget.
thanks I got it!
I went up to Bolivar one morning early, early , about 2 1/2 years ago..wanting to get sunrise pics. I wasn’t familiar with the area since that was my first trip up. Now I know it would be easier to get sunSET pics. In any case, I know what building the “kelly” girl was referring to. It is to the left of the main building and is facing the main building not the hwy although it is closer to the highway. I took some really good shots of it. VERY creepy building and I WOULD NOT stick my head in. I came right in the entrance and parked right in front of that building, got out and walked all around taking pics. There were plenty of cars coming and going but no one told me to leave although there were signs posted everywhere. What did you say that building was used for? I would love to see archive pics of the main building before the wings were removed. The main building looks like the Greystone Park Psychiatric hospital that they used in the season premiere of House MD. So do you know how to get old pics of Western Mental Health?
It is indeed the Polk Building. According to an employee (I inquired about the building over the weekend.), this building is now being used to store the personal belongings of patients. Anyone attempting entry can be charged with attempted burglary so I would avoid leaning into the windows.
You can see some of how the inside used to look on this page:
http://tnsos.org/tsla/imagesearch/index.php?resultpage=5&find=bolivar%20asylum
Ahh yes…the Polk Building. I cannot tell you when or why, but I was recently granted complete access to this and other buildings onsite. It is indeed one of the creapiest buildings that I have ever been in…and I have been in a lot. I saw every area from top to bottom, including the basement and steam tunnels.
A word to the wise, do not try to be an “urban adventurer” and illegally enter. I have never “seen” a ghost, but some sights and sounds were encountered inside the Polk Building that could not be readily explained.
I am curious, though, about the history of that building. It appeared that it housed children, at least in one wing, and the building contained questionable facilities.
Drove from North MS today just to see mental hospital. A friend saw it several years ago on a route with a previous job. We drove around but we were uneasy. If it is off limits why isn’t there a gate or something? Also there was a series of gravel roads (not too well traveled) what are these? I would love any info including pix you could give me about the institute. We found the whole thing fascinating!! Do they ever let any one in the abandoned buildings? Will these be torn down when the new one is complete? Thanks!!
1. Installing a gate would cost money and the state isn’t willing to do that.
2. There are so many employees that it would be a hassle.
If you enter the property, you are trespassing and you are taking a chance. At this time, they have someone wandering around the grounds that they are trying to catch. A former patient has been seen masturbating on the grounds after making obscene phone calls to the office. Now there’s a tourist attraction that I really don’t want to see.
The property at Western is very large. It was once self contained. They had a farm and grew and raised all of their own food. They had their own post office for a while. The roads wind through what is now unused portions of the property.
The abandoned buildings are off limits. Some are unstable and unsafe and some are used for storage. I do not think there are any plans to tear down the buildings at this time.
I do have some pictures and info. Email me at tnhauntings@writersbeacon.com and I will try to send it to you tomorrow.
Wow, this looks like a gorgeous facility. It’s a little bit unsettling to hear that a Kirkbride building is still being in use though. Honestly if I had mental issues and were brought to a place with that style of architecture, I could only see my problems being exacerbated by my surroundings! I would love to see the pictures you have though, feel free to e-mail me the history and those photos!