Resting atop Market Street in the historic river town of Maysville, Kentucky, the former Hayswood Hospital overlooks the central business district and affords beautiful views of the Ohio River and the Simon Kenton Bridge. It was constructed in the 1800s originally as the Wilson Infirmary, operated by May Peale Wilson, until 1908 (2). Soon after May Wilson's death in 1908, the Infirmary closed and was subsequently demolished. Construction began on the new hospital, then known as the Hayswood Seminary, in 1915 (4). In 1923, it was renamed to the Hayswood Hospital, a more conventional title to what became a full-service facility. Two additions in 1925 and 1971 expanded the operations along the hillside to a total of 87 patient beds (4). The landlocked and geographically-challenged hospital closed in 1983 after Meadowview Regional Medical Center opened on the outskirts of the city (1)(6).

Post closure

In 1994, the Hayswood Hospital complex was purchased by Ester Johnson of Classic Properties (3)(10) at public auction (1). Classic Properties was originally established solely to oversee the building and its redevelopment. In 1999, Johnson announced plans for renovations through Classic Properties, although financing troubles kept any renovation project at bay.(10) During this time, another Classic Property, the former Maysville High School, was renovated into apartments. The school renovation is often cited as a model for what the former hospital could be given enough funding. In 2000, Classic Properties attempted to sell the property to the city for $55,000, but the city declined based upon the estimated one million dollars in cleanup costs.(8)

Of course, the former hospital site has been the host of numerous ghostly tales (2) since its closure, hosting paranormal group gatherings where the spiritual seek out the ghosts of the institution. According to several accounts, a woman carrying a baby was seen walking through the nursery area of the hospital. The woman, having died in labor, was soon followed by the newborn (4). Others have reported seeing doctors in the hallways and hearing the cries of its former patients, along with spotting lights in the windows. And the few have reported seeing strange markings in the basement that bestow a threatening hostility on whoever walks or drives by.



More recently, unfortunately, the Hayswood Hospital has been the target of copper thieves (3) who have stripped the building of most of its piping. In September 2005, Maysville Mayor David Cartmell testified before a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee that was investigating the issue of brownfields; more specifically, on ways that brownfields could be redeveloped into active uses. The city is currently exploring the possibility of converting the hospital into a residential reuse or a mixed residential and commercial site that would compliment the surrounding neighborhoods (7). Others are not for certain that converting the property into another use would be a great idea. Marti Insko, owner of the Moon River Bed and Breakfast on Market Street, an earshot from the abandoned property, stated that "having that be a parking lot, a nice parking lot" would be more beneficial as the hospital is "not of enough historical importance." (3)

On February 9, 2006 (9), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency conducted a preliminary survey of the hospital as part of Phase I of the Hayswood Hospital environmental assessment (5). Later on July 26 (7), the organizations scoured the building, collecting samples and testing for various contaminants as part of Phase II (4). The assessment stated that it would take an estimated $5 million to remedy the building site.(10)

In mid 2008, a $23,000 geological survey was conducted on the Hayswood Hospital property.(10) The purpose of the survey was to determine the effects of demolishing the hospital would have on the hillside and locations behind it. It also determined what recommendations can be done to the hillside if it is demolished and what can be done to stabilize the locations behind it. The results will be made available in January 2009.

Later in the year, the Maysville City Commission applied for a $200,000 brownfield grant from the state of Kentucky; if awarded, the city would be required to match 20% of the grant funding.(10) The money would be used to remove asbestos from the building. The application of the grant, and other future funding sources, could lower the demolition costs to just over $1 million.(10)

Links

1. Hayswood Hospital at Adsagsona Paranormal Society

Sources