The year was 1773. The nation's first mental hospital was established in Williamsburg under the name of The Public Hospital. As you might imagine, shockingly little was known about the nature of mental illness and the treatment of issues ranging from anxiety and depression to more severe cases. While the intentions of the hospital were to treat and help those who stayed there, patients were nevertheless subject to unthinkable living conditions. Today, the reconstructed building stands as an informative exhibit where visitors can learn about its history.

In October of 1773, the Public Hospital for Persons of Insane and Disordered Minds was founded under the request of Governor Francis Fauquier. As the Governor stated, he hoped to give patients a place where they could have "restore[d] to them their lost reason." Several years of planning went into the design and construction of the building. A contractor by the name of Benjamin Powell was responsible for the creation of the building, which was approximately 100 ft long and 38 ft wide. Despite the planning and the specially-imported weather vane from England, Thomas Jefferson stated that the building was no more than a "rude misshapen pile." And this didn't even begin to describe its interior.

The hospital was made up of 24 cells, where patients were kept in severe isolation, much like inmates of a prison. The cells were each guarded by a locked door and barred window, so there were no chances of escape. The photograph above shows the dimly-lit hallway (which has since been renovated) that the patients would have seen outside of their cells.

Also attached to each cell were iron rings, which would keep patients chained to their confines and restrained if they were seen as particularly hysterical.

Other forms of restraint included straight jackets and restrainment chairs. According to theories of that day, those who suffered from mental illness actually chose to act the way they did. Therefore, treatments such as potent drugs, shock therapy, and bleeding were seen to be the only solutions. In some cases, patients were dunked into cold water while their hands and feet were tied to remove the negative energies.

By 1841, conditions began to drastically improve. Under the watch of the hospital's new superintendent, Dr. John Minson Galt II, patients were given more freedoms and treated less like criminals. Dr. Galt believed in the fair treatment of these individuals. Patients were motivated to interact with others and engage in healing activities such as games and music.

After over 21 years of Dr. Galt's tireless work to improve hospital conditions, the Civil War interrupted progress with the Battle of Williamsburg in 1862. The superintendent was so devastated by the Union takeover and the effect on his hospital that he committed suicide. Blood stains left in the floorboards were impossible to remove, and the new tenants who moved into his room said that the stains mysteriously reappeared even after the boards had been completely replaced.

It's no surprise that there have been countless tales of hauntings and paranormal phenomena at the Public Hospital, even as it stands today as a museum and entrance to art galleries.

The Public Hospital of 1773 is not an inherently evil building, and its preservation serves as an important part of Virginia's history. The real tragedies of the hospital were its lack of knowledge, and the unfortunate timing of the Civil War. As we look back on the treatment of mental disease, we can feel grateful for improvements while never forgetting what patients of the past must have endured.