DANVERS, Mass. – Seven buildings at former the Danvers State Hospital were destroyed April 7 by a four-alarm fire.
The fire led to a temporary shut down of nearby Route 1 and led state police to evacuate 20 people living in neighboring buildings. Six firefighters were treated for minor injuries.
The empty buildings of the former insane asylum were being renovated into apartments and condominiums.
Danvers State Hospital was erected in 1878 but had been abandoned since 1992 due to accusations of patient overcrowding, abuse and neglect. Since then, many people have explored the grounds for supernatural activity. Rampant trespassing led to 24-hour security being put in place to keep out intruders.
According to the Boston Globe, the Danvers State Hospital was one of a growing trend of renovations of facilities abandoned since the 1980s when mental health care was de-institutionalized.
