This Creepy Asylum Near Pittsburgh Is Still Standing...And Still Disturbing
By Beth Price-Williams|Published September 27, 2016
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Beth Price-Williams
Author
A professional writer for more than two decades, Beth has lived in nearly a dozen states – from Missouri and Virginia to Connecticut and Vermont – and Toronto, Canada. In addition to traveling extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., she has a BA in Journalism from Point Park University (PA), a MA in Holocaust & Genocide Studies from Stockton University (NJ), and a Master of Professional Writing from Chatham University (PA). A writer and editor for Only In Your State since 2016, Beth grew up in and currently lives outside of Pittsburgh and when she’s not writing or hanging out with her bunnies, budgies, and chinchilla, she and her daughter are out chasing waterfalls.
High atop a grassy hill in New Castle, overlooking Route 65, sits a sprawling set of buildings that once housed the area’s poor, mentally ill, and elderly who were otherwise alone in the world. Dating back to the early 20th century, Hill View Manor, an asylum near Pittsburgh, has been shuttered since 2004 but visitors still make the trek to the home, a hotbed of paranormal activity.
Hill View Manor first opened its doors in 1926 as a safe haven for the mentally ill, the destitute, and the elderly with no family. Referred to as "inmates" at the time, the majority of the residents were court-ordered to live at the facility.
The asylum was originally run by the Snyders, a married couple who in 1944 were forced to retire after complaints of poor conditions at the home surfaced. Within 20 years, the former Lawrence County Home for the Aged changed its name to Hill View Manor and began focusing predominately on elderly patients.
Financial difficulties permanently shuttered Hill View Manor in 2004, although some of its former residents - or their spirits, to be more accurate - are said to remain.
Death was commonplace during Hill View Manor's history with countless residents dying in the home (approximately 100 of whom who were buried on the property) and several committing suicide. Once abandoned and now a popular attraction, Hill View Manor has drawn ghost hunters ever since.
Numerous spirits are said to remain at Hill View Manor, including several rambunctious souls, such as Mary Virginia who had a love of dolls. (The bed below is said to be Mary's with dolls left by recent visitors.) A little boy is also said to haunt the room in which he died.
One of the most active spots at Hill View Manor is the third floor hospital. In fact, the paranormal presence is so strong at Hill View Manor that it is has gained national attention, appearing on Ghost Detectives and Ghost Adventures.
Today, ghost hunters can tour the Haunted Hill View Manor. Every visitor must sign a waiver before embarking on one of the tours, which include a 1.5 hour tour, a three hour tour, and a photography-only tour.
Elevate your Halloween experience with a visit to Hill View Manor for Ghosts 'N At's Paranormal Adventure on October 29. Visitors will embark on a ghost hunt and view some of the world's most haunted objects, including the crying portrait of a boy.
Do you dare to visit this haunted former asylum near Pittsburgh? If you’re a ghost hunter, you’ll find plenty of places to explore the paranormal in the Pittsburgh area.
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