At the heart of this story is a place that was once an abode of madness and despair. The walls of Agnews Insane Asylum have seen unspeakable horrors, and the cries of the mentally ill still echo in its halls.
The Old Agnews Hospital in Santa Clara, California, has been a part of the community for over a century, serving as a hospital for patients with mental illnesses and later, as a rehabilitation center for those with brain injuries.
But The Old Agnews Hospital has long been shrouded in mystery and fear. Once a place of healing, it long stood dilapidated and abandoned, evoking feelings of apprehension and unease in those who dare to venture inside.
Location and History
The asylum’s history is riddled with tragedy, including the devastating 1906 earthquake that killed over 100 patients and prompted the institution’s redesign in cottage plan. Despite being the first modern mental hospital in California, Agnews was eventually closed due to new approaches to treatment after WWII and the Laterman Act in 1971.
But the asylum’s dark history lives on, with the small, low-scale buildings designed to bring light and air to patients now standing eerily empty. The Clock Tower Building, once the center of the complex, now stands as a haunting monument to the horrors that once took place within these walls.
Architecture and Buildings
The hospital’s architecture plays a role in creating an eerie atmosphere that even in daylight, makes people feel on edge. The building is known to evoke apprehension, and no one has spent the night since it closed down.
Located on a campus-like setting, the former Agnews Insane Asylum’s Mediterranean Revival style buildings are constructed of reinforced concrete, brick, stucco, and tile, with rustic wooden balconies and porch columns. The buildings’ design aimed to bring light and air to the patients. Small, low-scale buildings scattered throughout the complex achieved this goal.
However, the buildings’ grandeur and intricate details only served to mask the horrors that occurred within its walls. Bands of decorative tile patterns reflecting the Hispanic influence added to the buildings’ charm.
The Clock Tower Building, formerly the Treatment Building, stands tall at the center of the complex as a constant reminder of the institution’s dark past. The other buildings, including the outstanding Auditorium built in 1913, are now restored and available for cultural and social events.
Small residential buildings that were once part of the original Agnews Hospital complex have been relocated for an affordable housing project. Perhaps, these buildings will be occupied by those who have been haunted by the asylum’s legacy.
Reported Hauntings
Even before the redevelopment, reports from the caretaker and his wife suggest that there may be mysterious happenings after sundown. So, before it was due to be redeveloped into the Sun Microsystems campus, an investigative team arrived to explore the dusty hallways and climb the creaky stairs. As they delved deeper into the building, the team began to experience inexplicable occurrences that defied all rational explanations.
Faint whispers and disembodied voices echoed through the halls, while icy cold spots seemed to follow them wherever they went. Even more eerie were the orbs and EVP recordings that they captured in one particular room, seeming to suggest that there were otherworldly forces at work within the walls of the Old Agnews Hospital.
In this article, we will delve deeper into the team’s investigation of this haunted landmark, exploring the history and experiences that have made it one of the most feared locations in all of California.
Experiences of the Investigative Team
During their investigation of the abandoned Santa Clara landmark, the team of investigators reported experiencing a variety of unexplained phenomena that left them feeling uneasy and on edge. The building’s unusual architecture and neglected state seemed to have a psychological effect on the team, even in broad daylight.
The team used a variety of equipment to document their experiences, including digital cameras, audio recorders, and EMF detectors.
One investigator felt a strange tingling sensation moving up his legs while in one room, and another investigator captured pictures of orbs and EVP (electronic voice phenomena) in the same room. Despite checking and double-checking their readings, pictures, and video from that evening, the team was unable to explain these unexplained phenomena.
Despite the lack of scientific explanations, the team remained objective and continued their investigation. They noticed an unusual way the building made people feel on edge even in daylight, and one room, in particular, had a door that slammed shut on its own and opened again later.
These unexplained phenomena added to the eerie atmosphere of the Old Agnews Hospital, leaving the team wondering what other mysteries the building held. The investigation also left them with many questions about what could be causing these strange occurrences within the Old Agnews Hospital.