This Insane hospital started out as a county poor house. On September 29, 1938 the State of PA took control of the hospital as part of the "Full State Care Act". The legislature assumed responsibility for eight of the thirteen existing county public mental hospitals; the other five hospitals were closed. In 1971 a juvenile detention center took over a couple buildings at the hospital for six years before moving on to better accommodations. By 1979, the total statewide state hospital census was reduced to 10,573 patients and resulted in the closure of several state hospitals; This Insane Hospital was closed in 1980.
