Basic Facts About the Ridges

Athens Lunatic Asylum opened between January and February 1874 from land purchased from Coate's farm
Architect: L.T. Scofield
Buildings High Victorian Italianate with surrounding lakes
Hospital thought of as scenic and people from the community visit the grounds frequently
Financier: Henry O'Bleness
Grounds constructed by Herman Haelin in 1870
By 1874, there are 544 rooms
First patient is Thomas Armstrongfrom Belmont County
Second patient is Daniel Ferman who believed he was the second Christ
1911: Cottages are added for patient use at the hospital, then renamed the Athens Asylum for the Insane
By 1926 there are 1500 inmates
1944: The hospital's name is changed to the Athens State Hospital
Patients reach their peak in the 1950's numbering almost 2000
1966: Began doing drug treatment and recreation as therapy
In 1968, the name is changed to the Southeastern Ohio Mental Health Center
The Hocking River is rerouted and the lakes at the hospital are destroyed in 1968-1972
1969: Name is changed to the Athens Mental Health Center. Major changes in care occur. There is 24-hour care for inpatients and outpatient care
1973: Patients must be paid minimum wage for work. dooms the farm, dairy, orchard, and any outdoor chores
In 1975, the hospital is renamed the Southeastern Ohio Mental Health and Retardation Center
1980: Name changed to the Athens Mental Health Center. There are 300 patients
671 acres of hospital land is transferred to Ohio University in 1982-1986
1993: New facility is opened called Southeast Psychiatric Hospital relocated at 100 Hospital Drive
1984: The hospital is renamed the Ridges

Building Facts:

Hospital expanded to cover 600,000 sq. feet
1924: special building built for mentally ill suffering from tuberculosis
1st floor: offices, reception, dining, entrance
2nd floor: apartments for superintendent, asst. superintendent, the amusement/concert room
basement: kitchen, domestic rooms, railway to carry food to dining rooms in wings
cellar: heating, lighting, mechanical

Patient Quarters:

single rooms- 9x11' or 12x15'
dormatories- 10x20' or 20x20'

Graveyards:

three graveyards are on the grounds
some graves are marked with numbers
book at SE Psychiatric Hospital matches names to numbers on these gravestones
numbers were used to protect families
last person buried around 1967
direct descendants of a patient can petition the State archives to see patient's records