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HENRYTON CENTER |
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Very late one night, along the railroad that meanders through the wooded expanse of Patapsco Valley State Park on the Howard/Carroll County line, a party of three hikes by an old couple that appear to be carrying a loaf of bread in a grocery bag. As peculiar as this sight was for the group, it wouldn't even begin to compare to what they would find just around the bend. Henryton, MD is home to a train tunnel that was constructed in 1850, making it the third-oldest train tunnel in the country still in active use. Directly beyond this tunnel, heading west, is another landmark for the quiet city: The Henryton Center. The Center was originally a single-building tuberculosis hospital constructed in 1922.
In the 50s and 60s, as the threat of tuberculosis subsided, Henryton Center was converted into a clinic for the mentally disabled. Several other buildings were erected on the grounds during this decade, such as the boiler house obscured by the inexplicable mist in the photograph below.
The haunted history of this medical complex, which officially shut down operation in 1985, is minimal. But there is no denying the creepy ambiance of the area. Pictured below is the main entrance for the original hospital building. There is very little evidence of previous habitation inside this decaying building, as the loud crunch of footsteps on paint chips echoes throughout the empty rooms that span each long hallway.
The other buildings in the medical complex appeared to be residences and school buildings. These buildings were as rundown and barren as the hospital, but the architecture was much more fascinating. One of the highlights was in the basement of the school, where supplies were left abandoned, scattered amongst the dirt floors and stone walls and crawl spaces.
On the way out of the school building, between asbestos-triggered coughs, we noticed a terrible smell. The culprit turned out to be a fox that had passed away. Its eyeballs were completely absent even though it could not have been dead for very long. We could not conclude the exact cause of death but we were hoping that it was not some sort of eyeball-eating monster.
While exploring the facility, there were times where we could sense some strange phenomena. I recall that in the gymnasium of the school, there was a faint hum that almost resembled the chatter of children at play. Also, none of us can identify the objects that developed in the photograph below.
The Henryton Center is currently being monitored by the police as the state of Maryland continues to try and find a buyer for the land on which the hospital sits. For now, it is merely an intriguing relic of the past that makes for a fun night if you are curious and careful. |
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