Allentown State Hospital: Former employees reflect on it's history

Original airdate: 2/25/2019 & 2/26/2019 | View a photo gallery of pictures taken an the former Allentown State Hospital at WFMZ.com: http://www.wfmz.com/news/lehigh-valley/former-employees-reflect-on-allentown-state-hospital-s-history/1039412869

More than a century after opening and a decade after it last housed patients, Hollywood recently gave the Allentown State Hospital a final curtain call.

Its 200 acres was the setting for M. Night Shyamalan's blockbuster movie Glass. Leftover upgrades remain. Stepping away from the movie spotlight it's easy to see time has proven to be the building's antagonist.

John McDevitt worked at the hospital for 35 years.

"The main building has beautiful marble floors, marble walls, marble columns, things you couldn't afford today," he said.

The former hospital has a marble-covered entryway, a now crumbling kitchen, and a dining hall.

In January 69 News' cameras captured perhaps the last images inside, which included underground tunnels.

"In any given weather you can go anywhere and not be outside. That is how different things would get to storeroom and different food truck would come that way," long-time employee Bill Hirschman said.

However, his favorite memories happened above ground in the Auditorium. He talked about how the stage hosted vaudeville-style shows put on by staff for patients.

"I would do more of the grunt work in the background to help because I can't sing. hahaha. Some of the docs thought they were Frank Sinatra or Elvis Presley. They did a great job, and everyone had fun," he said.

McDevitt found his fun not on stage but on the farm.

"Largest component would have been the dairy herd. Had a milking herd of Halstein cattle," he said.

The hospital had its own 850-acre farm in Weaverville. McDevitt was the assistant manager at the farm from 1967 until it closed in 1981.

It provided not only milk and food for several state hospitals but also a form of therapy for patients.

"Farm was designed with that in mind. Would provide an environment where patients could find something useful to do and many enjoyed it," he said.

Former employees reflect on Allentown State Hospital's history:
http://www.wfmz.com/news/lehigh-valley/former-employees-reflect-on-allentown-state-hospital-s-history/1039412869

How former Allentown State Hospital became national leader in treating patients:
http://www.wfmz.com/news/lehigh-valley/how-former-allentown-state-hospital-became-national-leader-in-treating-patients/1041700493

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