In addition to having a rich history and legacy, Massachusetts is home to a variety of fascinating abandoned locations. Every location provides a spooky window into a bygone era that is lost to time and only waiting to be found again.
These places, with their tales of bygone eras, entice the inquisitive, from the spooky hallways of abandoned institutions to the silent tunnels of abandoned transportation routes.
These five deserted locations in Massachusetts evoke a sense of melancholy beauty while bearing historical whispers:
Medfield State Hospital
Built in the late 1800s, Medfield State Hospital was a campus consisting of 58 buildings. Originally known as the Medfield Insane Asylum, the facility specialized in providing mental care. Architects created the buildings in the New Cottage style, deviating from the traditional Kirkbride pattern.
This design decision did away with the little cubicles of earlier designs in favor of larger open spaces for group work. At its busiest, the hospital had 2,200 beds available. Because the facility was self-sufficient, it employed its residents.
The building was demolished in 2003 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.
Just three buildings have been removed, leaving most of the site intact. Regular patrols by police check the area for intruders.
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Clinton Tunnel
The tunnel was constructed as part of a four-mile track expansion from West Berlin in the early 1900s. Both freight and passenger transportation took place on the rail line.
Businesses for the train line declined as vehicles gained popularity and trucking emerged as a superior mode of transportation. Most of the railroad’s traffic was disappeared by 1930. 1958 saw the end of passenger service, and the railroad was eventually abandoned.
Residents are familiar with the Clinton Tunnel, which is a favorite location for children to tag. Even though there are more fascinating deserted locations in Massachusetts, the Clinton Tunnel is nonetheless an interesting place to see if you’re around.
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Whittenton Mills Complex
Constructed in 1805, the Whittenton Mills Complex is a historic textile factory. The region had been utilized for industry from 1670, even before the mill was built. Throughout its existence, the mill would mostly produce cotton items.
The factory grew to around 400,000 square feet by 1883 and was run by five electric motors as well as several water wheels that were turned by the Mill River’s current. The plant employed 1,640 looms and more than 45,000 spindles in 1917.
Filmed in large part at the Whittenton Mills Complex was the setting of the concentration camp scenario. The building’s structure is in excellent condition considering its antiquity. The majority of the windows and doorways are closed.
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Abandoned Fire Control Tower
To be fair, there’s not a lot of information available online regarding this Fire Control Tower. We do know, however, that these towers were a part of the coastal defense system that guarded Boston Harbor in World War II.
The tower network stretches 75 miles down the coast of Massachusetts. These towers were designed to detect enemy vessels and to guide nearby batteries’ artillery fire.
There are now just 27 people standing. Since it was recently acquired, the one on display here is regarded as private property. A fence encloses the tower, and it’s probable that someone currently resides there.
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Steinert Hall
Sometime in the late 1800s, Boston’s Teather District needed a lavish theater, so the city built Steinert Hall. The structure is a striking example of Beaux Arts design, with striking limestone arches that are visible from the street.
The concert hall, where classical musicians would perform in the early 1900s, is located four levels below ground. The fire regulations forced the theater’s closure in 1942. The owners concluded that the expense of updating to code would be prohibitive.
The theater’s new owners declared in 2015 that they wanted to renovate it, but not much has changed since then. The theater closed in 1942 and hasn’t been utilized since. Now, trash and other relics from the past flood the stage.
Final Words
With its unique combination of history and eerie beauty in its abandoned locales, Massachusetts draws adventurers. Every location provides a window into a bygone age, from the eerie hallways of Medfield State Hospital to the abandoned railroad artery of the Clinton Tunnel.
These deserted locations offer an opportunity to engage with the echoes of Massachusetts’ rich and complicated past, whether you’re enthralled by ghost stories or just want to have a creepy adventure.
Always remember to show consideration for private property and proceed with caution when visiting these deserted locations.
