Central Indiana Hospital for the Insane - Central State

Movie poster

Fire 1969

Dispatch call, June 7, 1969, 7:07 PM This is a digitized recording of a dictabelt, which the Indianapolis Fire Department used to record dispatch calls during the 1960s and 1970s. Following are the calls on this dictabelt: All 800 automobiles at Central State Hospital, dispatched at 7:07pm; Wagner for Fire Station 17 calling, dispatch....

Photos of Bolton building by agnisflugen2

Older pictures by agnisflugen2

1845 Bolton Family farm is purchased for the purpose of housing a "Lunatic Asylum."

*1846 Construction begins on the central portion of the "Old Main" (Men's Department Building).

*1848 First five patients admitted.

*1855 Patient population reaches 235.

*1857 Patient population reaches 303. Hospital is closed from April through October due to lack of funding from legislature and patients are sent home.

*1866 Construction begins on the north wing of the "Old Main" Building

*1876 Construction begins on the Women's Department Building (Seven Steeples).

*1885 Stores Building opens.

*1886 Central Boiler House and Plant are completed.

*1892 Power House and Electric Plan are completed.

*1894 Carpenter's Shop, Mechanical Engineer's Department, and Fire Department are completed.

*1895 Pathological Department is completed.

*1897 Kitchen and Women's Department Buildings are completed.

*1899 Men's and Women's Congregate Dining Rooms and the Greenhouse are completed.

*1901 Hospital for the Sick Insane and Cold Storage buildings are completed.

*1911 Upholstery Department opens.

*1912 Amusement Hall and Chapel are completed (Mayer Hall).

*1926 names changes from "Central Indiana Hospital for the Insane" to "Central State Hospital'

*1928 Construction begins on the first of five men's cottages while demolition begins on the South Wing of the Men's Department.

*1930s WPA finishes the five men's cottages.

*1937 The new Carpentry Shop is constructed.

*1939 The Employees Building is completed (Administration Building).

*1940 Patient population reaches 1,935.

*1941 Demolition of the Men's Department Building is completed.

*1942 Central State Hospital opens annex at Fort Harrison.

*1943 Steeples are removed from the Women's Department Building (Seven Steeples)

*1944 Superintendent's Residence and single family/duplex residences are constructed.

*1950 Patient population reaches 2,528.

*1951 Fort Harrison annex is closed.

*1953 A new store house is constructed (Central Stores Building).

*1958 Construction starts on Bahr Treatment Center.

*1953-63 The old store house is demolished and the new Kitchen Building opens.

*1960 Motel Building opens.

*1961 Patient population reaches 2,200.

*1968 Central State Farm Colony along Tibbs Avenue is closed.

*1973 Evans and Bolton Buildings open.

*1974 Women's Department Building (Seven Steeples) is demolished.

*1976 Exit house is opened to aid in patient's transition back into the community.

*1982 Miniature golf course is constructed in front of Evans Building by volunteers.

*1982-84 Amusement Building and Chapel are demolished.

*1984 Patient population declines to 656.

*1989 New Power House goes online and the old Power House is partially decommissioned.

*1991 Smokestacks are removed from old Power House, while life safety project upgrades fire safety in Bahr, Bolton and Evans buildings.

*1992 Governor Bayh announces Central State closure as patient population declines to 389.

*1994 Central State Hospital closes amidst allegations of abuse, and controversy over funding.

*1996 State of Indiana begins use of property with renovation of Laundry Building for use by the Indiana State Motor Pool

*2003 City of Indianapolis purchases Central State property from the State of Indiana for $400,000.

Entrance in 1946

Old video before so much was torn down.

Central State Insane Asylum Indianapolis Tour | Summer 2013

https://youtu.be/ezwrEKd0nLg?si=8MZBHMB2FgtW3RQ6

Not-So-Modern Medicine | Classic Across Indiana The Indiana Medical History Museum on the grounds of Central State Hospital in Indianapolis, is as much a museum of attitude as it is of technical achievemen...