The Seaside Sanatorium has a long and interesting history. Originally built in the early 1930’s by Cass Gilbert, the building was created with the intent to treat children with tuberculosis. As the pandemic decreased with time, the program was closed in 1958. In 1959, they reopened the facility as Seaside Geriatric Hospital with the hope of treating and helping elderly patients who required special care. The program only lasted two years before changing again.
Updated to the Seaside Regional Center for the Mentally Retarded, the building was used to treat the mentally handicapped, but rumors say that this quickly changed. Legends say that a select few state workers abused their power and incorrectly handled a few patients, resulting in a high mortality rate. Realistically, the building probably ran out of funds and was forced to close. It has remained closed and abandoned since 1996.
Rumors state that the death toll of Seaside Sanatorium summed up to the low hundreds. This is mostly due to the high mortality rate of tuberculosis and of course, the elderly. This has left an imprint on the building which is said to still exist to today. Users who worked in the building claim they would feel cold spots, hear footsteps and strange sounds even while alone. Multiple paranormal groups have searched the grounds and recovered EVP’s (Electronic Voice Phenomena) of childrens laughter and other strange sounds. Objects within the building are said to move on their own. Other claim to see the playground equipment outside (swings etc) in use although nobody is there. It leaves an uneasy feeling, for a place with so much dread and illness in its history.
Picture by Victor Solanoy
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Try to Scare me is NOT intended as a guide to trespassing. We present these sites, locations and stories as local unwritten history and the legends surrounding it that are told to us while traveling. Although we provide locations, and some directions, these articles are intended to be read with the knowledge that some places cannot be visited. We do not encourage trespassing onto private property and do not encourage trespassing to obtain articles, videos, pictures and other evidence to be submitted. Trespassing is illegal and those who disregard this advice will (in most cases) be arrested and charged.