Dixmont State hospital closed since 1984 is scheduled to be torn down in June to make way for a Super Wal-mart....
Dixmont State Hospital, PA about to be torn down
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 hillie16 |
Dixmont State Hospital, PA about to be torn down |
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Posts: 18 (04/08/02 06:19:28) |
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Unregistered(d) |
Dixmont | ||
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Posts: 0 (04/15/02 06:40:29) |
Dear hillie -
The fate of Dixmont is not yet written in stone. Tomorrow night is a meeting in the Kilbuck Twp municipal bldg. where they are planning on voting it in. (In spite of the 54 amendments the engineer outlined in the original plans). I see that you are listed as a law enforcement officer. I have spoken with an officer that works in Emsworth and Kilbuck who is against this development because he feels that is going to be more work for the police without much additional help/compensation. If you know any officers who live in Kilbuck who are opposed please urge them to be at the meeting tomorrow night at 7:30 and speak their mind to the commissioners. If this demolition/development is stopped then hopefully we can find a way to preserve a piece of history and develop this beautiful property for something other than a Wal-Mart. The state sale of the property without notifying the PA historic society was actually illegal. If they had been notified they could have put a covenant in place that would have required preservation of at least part of the main building. They probably ignored their own law because they were afraid they could never sell the land. However, in all of the years they owned it they did nothing to preserve/develop. The entire process has been a very discouraging look at state and local politics. |
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hillie16 |
Dixmont | ||
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Posts: 18 (04/15/02 08:22:22) |
Someone should bring the illegal sale up at the meeting, and alert some type of media beforehand...lots of media attention on it could at least slow the process. I don't know any of the officers in Kilbuck, but in most towns the police dept. is the buttcrack of the town govt. and they don't care what officers have to say at all unless it is something that will make the politicians look good.
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Unregistered(d) |
Dixmont | ||
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Posts: 0 (04/16/02 07:52:29) |
That issue has been brought up to media several times but no one has chosen to print/report it. Unfortunately that point probably cannot stop anything. There are several news stations covering the meeting tonight, it will be interesting to see what they choose to air. We may at least be able to slow the process as you suggested. Sorry to hear that the police get such lack of support from the politicians. In this case it seems that the politicians are looking out for ONLY themselves.
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Unregistered(d) |
WAL MART PLEASEEE!!!!!!!!! | ||
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Posts: 0 (04/29/02 08:53:39) |
I am a resident of Kilbuck Township, and I cannot think of one current RESIDENT that is againt the Dixmont development with Wal Mart. This development will substantially reduct our property taxes-without adding one student to our school system! The Dixmont property has been rotting away since 1984...it's about time someone took the risk of purchasing it and developing it.
The building that you refer to as being on the historical register has been gutted by a tremendous fire, the roof is caving in, and the floors are not safe to walk on. Vandals have spray painted it, and there are no windows left from all of the rocks thrown at them. It seems like the neighboring communities are simply jealous that Kilbuck is finally getting something that they aren't. So, in conclusion- SHUT UP AND WORRY ABOUT YOUR OWN COMMUNITY!!!!! Wal Mart Supporter and KILBUCK CITIZEN |
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Unregistered(d) |
Dixmont/Wal-Mart | ||
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Posts: 0 (04/29/02 10:15:08) |
Dear Hillie,
I'm not sure who the police officer is that works for Emsworth and Kilbuck Township but I'm sure the police department is 100% for the Wal-Mart Development. The chief attended Glenfield Borough's council meeting and defended Wal-Mart. The Kilbuck Township Police have no crime in Kilbuck and have a hard time trying to justify their existance. Wal-Mart will give them a place to cruze. The major problem in Kilbuck Township IS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT!!! There are over 15 police officers for a township of 700 residents and not one is a resident of Kilbuck Township. The chief doesn't even live there. As a result the police are only interested in what they can get for themselves and the turnover will attest to that. They take what they can and run. The chief is a good example. He is making more then $20,000.00 per year over scale and only works 4 days a week. When he takes early retirement he will get an unusually high pension and he will get free medical insurance for he and his family for life! He has his officers run speed traps on the Ohio River Blvd and there are no residents of Kilbuck that live within one mile of the Ohio River Blvd. The chief gets several calls a day from his friends trying to get speeders tickets fixed. The chief fixes them and therefore these people owe him a favor. It's like money in the bank. When the chief has a problem he calls in some of his favors and gets his way. The state sale of Dixmont without notifying the PA historic socity was not illegal. The property was for sale for 15 years and was clearly advertized in many public publications. |
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Unregistered(d) |
Dixmont/Wal-Mart | ||
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Posts: 0 (04/30/02 04:33:33) |
People, Whoever wrote the article about the police officer working for both Emsworth and Kilbuck Township not being in favor of the Wal-Mart development is misinformed. Why? Because although Kilbuck Township has an unusually large police force Emsworth does not have a Police Department. Emsworth is policed by Ohio Township and the Ohio Township Chief, Chief Beaver, does not get along with the Kilbuck Township chief, Jack Lennon. For either of those chiefs to allow one of there officers to work for the other chief would be like having a soldier working for both Israel and Palestine. NEVER HAPPEN!!!! |
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Unregistered(d) |
Photo Shoot | ||
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Posts: 0 (05/06/02 16:19:07) |
I am interested in doing a photo shoot of Dixmont especially being as it is possibly due for demolition. Who might I contact to at least attempt to set something up?
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Unregistered(d) |
Re: Photo Shoot | ||
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Posts: 0 (05/07/02 05:27:12) |
Rich,
e-mail me: motox57@aol.com |
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Unregistered(d) |
Photoes of the hospital | ||
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Posts: 0 (05/13/02 06:33:34) |
To anyone it may interest, my girlfriend and I have been working on a photo book of Dixmont. At this point we have over 100 photos and very little historical information. If anyone would like to donate pictures, stories, or historical background for the book, we would greatly appreciate it. E-mail us at shaggy250@aol.com with any ideas or donations.
Paul Street |
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Unregistered(d) |
RE:Wal Mart Pleaseee!!!(most adults spell please with one e) | ||
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Posts: 0 (05/13/02 06:56:25) |
To the Kilbuck Citizen who wrote Build The Wal Mart Please!!!
Is this the behavior and attitude we all should expect from a Kilbuck Citizen? I found your post to be immature at best. "SHUT UP AND WORRY ABOUT YOUR OWN COMMUNITY!" Wow, what wisdom you hold. What unending understanding you must have. Are you in fifth grade? You say that you don't know anyone who is against the Wal Mart, but yet the news and articles about the citizens who are against it are out there. That is what the big deal is right now...there are people in Kilbuck who do not want it and it's only fair to let them speak their voice. The Kilbuck council and the owner of the land want money, that's it. I don't think the proper homework was done concerning Wal Mart. If you look at other Wal Marts being built, they (Wal Mart) find a way to screw the area out of money...but, why look at that info when Kilbuck could have it's very own retail/social status strip of it's own. Anything for a buck and attention. I live in Kilbuck, so before you start in on me, I want you to know that. I'm not saying the hosital can be saved, but it could have over the past years. While the owners of that land begged for money, the hospital rotted. There is still a cemetary there and I would like to know what Wal Mart has in store for that? I'm sure they will treat it like local business....build there own cemetary next to it and lower rates until the original local goes away. I say no Wal Mart....but, maybe another more local business. Oh, and why would anyone in the area be jealous of Kilbuck? Get off your high horse! Citizen of Kilbuck |
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Unregistered(d) |
Ah, Welcome to the modern world. | ||
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Posts: 0 (05/16/02 12:03:25) |
I always love the de-culturalizing of america. Lets bulldoze history and erect a walmart ... comsumerism consumerism consumerism, welcome to the US of A.
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asylums |
Wal-Mart | ||
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Posts: 11 (05/16/02 18:42:51) |
See
darkspire.org/asylums/spe...index.html for an example of a historic asylum building torn down in the mid 1990s to make way for a Wal-Mart. |
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Unregistered(d) |
RE: Unknown Citizen | ||
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Posts: 0 (05/21/02 08:57:43) |
There are people that are against the Wal Mart, but 99% of them are MISINFORMED citizens from other communites. The owners of the land took a substancial gamble in purchasing the property. Remember that the hospital has been vacant since 1984-the hospital was well beyond repair when the property was purchased. The cemetary is owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The owners of Dixmont don't own it and the Wal Mart will be approximately 1/2 mile from it. The closest Kilbuck citizen to the Wal Mart would be the OWNERS of the property, and they live about 1/2 mile from where the Wal Mart will be. The only access to the Wal Mart will be from Rt 65, so no one in Emsworth has to worry about an access from Huntington Road. There will be a culdesac at the end of Huntington.
Finally, the property has been vacant for many years, and now that someone is putting it to good use, people find ways to complain. As the earlier post stated before, there are almost no Kilbuck residents against the Wal Mart--only people from distant neighborhoods. You are in a small minority. |
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Unregistered(d) |
History vs Wal-Mart | ||
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Posts: 0 (05/21/02 12:25:10) |
If you sold low-quality junk, would you like your kids to see how well our grandparents used to build?
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Unregistered(d) |
Walmart Progress | ||
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Posts: 0 (06/18/02 15:08:51) |
Does anyone officially know if the Wal-Mart is definitely coming? If so, when is the projection date??
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nemrel |
Re: Walmart Progress | ||
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Posts: 1 (06/20/02 14:33:48) |
I have been to Dixmont recently and I would just like to add that the buildings are an enviromental and danger hazard. I have seen several rooms that had rolls of asbestos in them to the ceiling. The place has lead paint covering the floor and it has been ravaged by fire.
The place is not able to be saved. To look at what could have been and what is, is a feble attempt. Dixmont is gone! Nothing anyone can do, can save the buildings. Luckily we do have tons of historical documents, pictures and videos from the place. As for what to do with the property. I ask does anyone have any better ideas? No one has had any since the place closed in the 80's. I'm not saying Wal-Mart should or shouldn't get into the property, but I am saying that it looks like the only option for the area and property at this time. If anyone has the money to do it right it would be Wal-Mart. The state isn't going to put something in there. With the right amount of pressure and force from the EPA and other organizations we can have property, revenue and a use from a place that would just be overgrown and a major hazard for the area. I know of countless individuals who enter the property to drink, party and explore for fun. I know from being there that isn't the best thing for the place. Some teenager is going to fall through the burned out floors and get hurt. Then everyone is going to look around and say how did this happen. It happened because when everyone was trying to make up their minds and decide to do something with the property they forgot what kind of hazard it is just sitting there empty. As for the politics of it all I say politics got the hospital closed. Politics got the hospital sold to the current owner. Politics will have the building turned into a Wal-Mart. It can't be saved and this whole arguement of what to do to keep the history and preserve the building is for nothing. Just my two sense. Paul M. Hughes ~ "What happens when you take movie producers, mediums and ordinary poeple into real real places?" ~ www.RawFear.com
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Unregistered(d) |
Eyes Wide Shut? | ||
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Posts: 0 (06/21/02 22:28:17) |
Just a strange little footnote to the very sad story of Dixmont's demise: I went to try and view the grounds of Dixmont last week, before I had found this site and read about the WalMart plans (although I was duly informed of these plans by a gentleman in a tan sedan who was lurking suspiciously (like me, I guess) near the Emsworth entrance to the grounds)--so I tried to find a view from Tom's Run Road, and ended up being tailed by a minivan that had been idling on the shoulder of the road. This minivan seemed to pursue me all the way up to Route 79. For a little while I was convinced I'd fallen into some sort of dangerous intrigue. O well. In any case, I'm an out-of-towner but I wish your community luck in figuring out a right solution.
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MeIissa |
Re: Dixmont | ||
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Posts: 2 (06/28/02 02:28:01) |
There is nothing more unsightly than another Walmart, Super KMart or any other ugly form of modern convenience. It baffles me that anyone would find this less an eyesore than a piece of history.
I may not be a resident of Kilbuck, but I am a resident of Western Pennsylvania. The old hospital itself just happens to be located there, though it was a hospital of W. PA. I honestly can't say I know what physical condition the place is in. It doesn't appear to be open for anyone to just go take a look at it. (and if one tries to sneak an outside peek illegally, there are four cop cars and four flattened tires to take care of that along with a nice fine... I should know LoL. But I never got to feast my eyes on it.) I like the one idea a person had about using the land (if the building is unsalvagable) for local business owners. I am also concerned about the cemetary as well. Though, like the hospital, it is located where it is yet is not anyone elses problem but the Commonwealth of PA? How sick. Where do I sign on to get on the bandwagon to help anyway I can. If anything the cemetary should be cleaned (i'm guessing since I'm unable to see myself) and given a proper resting spot in history. It's amazing that I haven't heard of any of this going on till I ran across this board. Now I have heartburn and am rambling. Melissa |
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Unregistered(d) |
Just got back from Dixmont | ||
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Posts: 0 (07/01/02 14:37:32) |
Dixmont is almost gone ! We went there this weekend during the night and walked around. It seems like the paranormal activity has diminished, if not altogether left. I've heard that "Spirit free'ers" have been in there to release the "spirits." Last time I was there was in March, and it was full of action then. Now it's really not. Except for the dog that follows us. It's a small dog, and he pants. We hear him, but only see his shadow from time to time. He's harmless. In fact, it's like he's watching us, making sure we aren't harmed. We saw a few flashing lights, not really human. But the paranormal activity there is definately missing now. I think it's a sad state of affairs when we have to pardon the spirits to erect more buildings. But it's all about money, right? Times like this make me wonder where I belong in this world. How do I raise children or even dare to have them, when humans can't do anything except destroy history, all in the name of capitalism? It doesn't make sense to me, and it's not fair. Wal-Mart is just doing what they do-and I understand that people need to make a living... but why tear down such an important part of history in the meantime? It's not right. We should preserve Asylums, and walk our children through them, and let it be a lesson on how NOT to treat people. What's Wal-Mart going to teach them? To whore yourself to corporate America.... And it's so sad.... Someone needs to do something... Maybe it's irrational to think that we could save Dixmont, but it's all I can do lately is think about what we could do! Any suggestions/comments, email Taber@antisocial.com
Thanks- Taber |
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Unregistered(d) |
me too | ||
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Posts: 0 (07/15/02 00:54:17) |
i just got back from my first time up there,,, my buddy took some pictures in what looked to be the cafeteria or something,, there were these really weird spots that showed up in the picture,, and then when the flash went off if you looked close, you could see them, bright vibrant colors blue green purple red,,, they looked like cristmas lights.... then he took a picture of the window and you could see their reflection,,, it was crazy,, we were there for about an hour,, and we heard a big crash like someone threw something or knocked somethin over,, its scaring me just thinkin about it still
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