I remember this place. I went there every Saturday to teach swimming as an Eagle scout project. This was in the early 70s. It was new then, of course. I remember the modern architecture of the atrium and the graduated pool.
Sad to see it in such a state. I used to work for ARC and frequently the patients I took care of would go there for therapy, etc. Even took a state test to work there back in the early 2000s. (even though it was technically closed as the SDC in 1998, they were still using it for other things)
I went to preschool there in the mid/late 70's. Some of my aunts worked there too. It was a nice place then... I remember they had a bunch of different styled play grounds in the back outside... we didn't get to use them all... but I remember that. I also remember the place was dark in some areas... that it had a lot of natural lighting from sky lights so on dark days it was dark.
My mother used to work in the little store in there when I was a child. I spent a good chunk of years hanging out after school there. There were some places I used to check out of the same floor but I would never leave the floor as it felt creepy. Same as outside. There used to be 3 or 4 huge playgrounds and some of them creeped me out if I stayed at them to long. Not all scary memories though!
It's strange hearing the word "idiots" used in a non-derogitory manner LOL West Seneca has the same type of place, also now abandoned; was so in 2014, from what I read. I was just scrolling google maps for a new town to move to, and saw the West Seneca campus, and doesn't look like anyone could get in without a squad of officers tackling you out of nowhere. It's locked up pretty tight, but seems they don't mind people walking around, tho.
I don’t think it’s explorable anymore I went the other day and it was fenced off and there was a bunch of construction equipment and workers I think they are going to demolish it
I took my kids to the zoo recently and it looks like it’s been mostly demolished. There was some bad energy there. Hopefully it doesn’t travel into the new apartments 🙃
With this place in the mess it's in, just to rid it of all the dibris,the ceiling panels from the drop ceiling,along with the old electric panels and everything else along with the removal of the grafitti,and everything in relation with the mess of this place,including, but not limited to the broken windows of which just about every single pane of glass is broken,especially given the enormous size of this place,to give it a good thorough cleaning which goes without saying,before a rehabilitation of any kind could ever begin,that alone,considering the present condition of this building,would just be scratching the surface,just to do that much alone would easily run into the millions of dollars.Needless to say,it would be so much cheaper to demolish the place and start over from scratch.John M Guinto
It should have never been closed! Thanks to 'Inclusion' our tax dollars bought 19 houses (and a Van for EACH). As a result, overworked and understaffed now serve the clients. SDC had a pool, bowling alley, theater, etc and more intensified care! Once again, the politicians made a HUGE mistake...at the taxpayers expense of course!
Despite the sensationalist narration, back in the 19th century this was considered a very advanced and compassionate institution for these children who wouldn’t have received any attention or development otherwise. The emphasis was on mainstreaming them into society if possible.
It's on Wilber ave,on the west end of the city of syracuse.I've been by the place quite a few times,but have never been in it,and I would not be brave enough to attempt it,especially alone,I'd have to have at least 5 of my close friends,safety in numbers.Just watching this video as it is, creeps me out!,so I wouldn't recommend exploring it alone.If you must look it over,bring some friends along.John M Guinto
I remember driving all the way around the back. It is made of 3" or 4" thick metal wall panels. 1 room for test subject. 1 room for audiologist. With a window between the rooms.
