Some time back, January 2020, to be exact, I was engaged in one of my regular time-killing activities, following rail lines on Google Maps.
As I was doing this, near Goldsboro, NC, I ran across a large complex of buildings that looked rundown, and had almost no traffic.
My curiosity captured, I tried Street View, which showed similar evidence of disuse. I didn't have any idea what the facility was at this point, but it looked like medical facilities and was abandoned, so I marked it for future investigation, and went about my business.
It lingered in my "Future Research" log for a couple years, as it was fairly far from home, and my skills and interest in abandoned building research were nonexistent and average, respectively. Eventually I had enough other destinations planned en route and in the area of this location to justify the trip, so in September 2022, off we went.
What we found was the old Cherry Hospital (there's a new one elsewhere).
I'll give a short history: in 1877, the NC General Assembly appointed a committee to select a site for the State's mental health facility.
On April 11, 1878, 171 acres 2 miles to the west of Goldboro were purchased. In 1880 the first patient was admitted.
On March 5, 1881, the Eastern North Carolina Insane Asylum, as it was then known, was officially incorporated with a board of 9 directors appointed.
At some point, presumably around the turn of the century, a separate building for tuberculosis patients was built, and in 1924 a building for the criminally insane was opened. Eventually the hospital became the central mental facility for the Eastern Region of NC, which consists of 33 counties. As with many other mental facilities of the period, the hospital had its own farm, Cherry Farm, which provide much of the food for the residents of the complex.
Early treatments were the common ones of the time; I won't go into that, as it's a fairly well known list, and nothing groundbreaking or new was developed here.
There are 2 cemeteries on the grounds (I didn't see them, so no pics), with around 700 marked graves. It is estimated there may be as many as 3,000 actual burials, however. A monument to the interred patients was erected on June 3, 2004.
The old hospital was closed in 2016, and replaced by a new one by the same name nearby.
Also, the name "Cherry" comes from NC Governor Robert Gregg Cherry (in office 1/4/45 - 1/6/49), who made improvements to the State's mental health system.
The Linville Building.
Note the NFPA diamond - you'll see this on many of the buildings.
I'll explain the meaning of each one, and I'll explain the key here. I'll list the hazards in the order explained below.
Blue = Health Hazard
Red = Flammability
Yellow = Instability
White = Special Hazards
3 = Short exposure could cause serious temporary or residual injury even though prompt medical attention was given.
3 = Liquids and solids that can be ignited under almost all ambient conditions.
1 = Normally stable, but can become unstable at elevated temps and pressures or may react with water with some release of energy, but not violently
Blank = No special hazards
3 = Short exposure could cause serious temporary or residual injury even though prompt medical attention was given.
4 = Will rapidly or completely vaporize at normal pressure and temps, or is readily dispersed in air and will burn readily
3 = Capable of detonation or explosive reaction, but requires a strong initiating source or must be heated under confinement before initiation, or reacts explosively with water.
OXY = not an official NFPA symbol. Possibly stands for Oxidizer, OX officially, which is a chemical that can greatly increase the rate of combustion/fire.
The green sign reads
CHERRY HOSPITAL GARAGE
GAS PUMPS
<------------
Note the chainlink over the stairwells.
Also, those trees are growing on the roof, and there's another in the top stairwell.
Woodard Building.
2 = Intense or continued exposure could cause temporary incapacitation or possible residual injury unless prompt medical attention is given.
3 = Liquids and solids that can be ignited under almost all ambient conditions.
1 = Normally stable, but can become unstable at elevated temps and pressures or may may react with water with some release of energy, but not violently
OXY = not an official NFPA symbol. Possibly stands for Oxidizer, OX officially, which is a chemical that can greatly increase the rate of combustion/fire.
This was the Special Services building, which became the museum. It suffered enough damage from Hurricane Matthew in 2016 that it was closed on January 13, 2017, with the artifacts moved to storage. Plans are to display some of them in the "Founders Gallery" in the new hospital, with an electronic presentation also offered.
2 = Intense or continued exposure could cause temporary incapacitation or possible residual injury unless prompt medical attention is given.
3 = Liquids and solids that can be ignited under almost all ambient conditions.
0 = Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and are not reactive with water.
Blank = No special hazards.
These last few are all single, normal looking houses on the grounds.
Possibly for doctors, nurses, and/or other employees?
1 = Exposure could cause irritation but only minor residual injury even if no treatment is given.
3 = Liquids and solids that can be ignited under almost all ambient conditions.
0 = Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and are not reactive with water.
Blank = No special hazards.
Diamond info same as above.
Environmental Service building
2 = Intense or continued exposure could cause temporary incapacitation or possible residual injury unless prompt medical attention is given.
3 = Liquids and solids that can be ignited under almost all ambient conditions.
0 = Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and are not reactive with water.
Blank = No special hazards.
Some of these buildings look worse than others, though they all are rough. But, there's a noticeable lack of vandalism; looks like mostly natural decay. Weird seeing the landscaping kept fairly nice, but the buildings apparently left to rot. No plans are known for the buildings, so I guess they'll continue to decay until most likely demolished.
Even with all the warning signs, I'd love to be able to go in these buildings (properly prepared, of course), or even just look in through the windows up close - with permission!
Thanks for looking!
Super interesting and creepy