46. Whispers in the Walls: The Dark History of Western State Hospital

Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: Pacific Northwest History and Humor

Whispers in the Walls: The Dark History of Western State Hospital
💬 Show Notes
Western State Hospital: Madness, Mystery, and Misery
Welcome to another spine-chilling episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes, where we unravel the dark and eerie history of Western State Hospital in Washington. Join Shea and Jody as they explore the institution's haunted past, its infamous scandals, and the tragic tales of its most notorious patients. From shocking treatments to mysterious disappearances, this episode is a deep dive into one of the Pacific Northwest's most infamous landmarks.
In this episode:
- The founding and early days of Western State Hospital
- Gruesome treatments and the dark side of mental health care
- Scandals and mysteries: Disappearing patients and embezzlement
- Famous patients: The tragic tales of Mary L. Leonard and Dr. William Chester Minor
- The eerie Fort Steilacoom Cemetery and its forgotten souls
- Ghost stories and paranormal activities reported at the hospital
- Modern-day challenges and ongoing efforts to reform Western State Hospital
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00:00 " Western State Hospital is where some of Washington state's darkest stories unfolded
04:51 " Do it for science. Not the getting weed suppositories
05:12 " Western State Hospital opened its doors in 1871 before Washington became estate
07:59 " Western state hospital was built during a time when mental health care was experimental
11:16 " Western state Hospital became the largest mental institution in Washington state during 20th century
13:59 " If you would like to listen to our episodes ad free, consider joining Patreon
14:48 " Western State hospital made headlines in 1950s for embezzling funds
15:59 " Western State Hospital had some famous and infamous patients
20:33 " Actress Frances Farmer spent time at Western State Hospital
21:14 " Fort Steilacoom cemetery was used to bury patients at Winston State
26:14 " You have this gorgeous backyard full of plants. And now I'm kind of concerned that you actually do have a poison garden
27:10 " Only a fraction of unmarked graves in Fort Steilacoom cemetery are marked
30:04 " Laura Lemke started a mission to remark the graves with names and dates
32:46 " Grave concerns has completed most of their work at Western State Hospital
33:29 " This episode on western State hospital includes talk of ghosts
34:02 " We should head out for a night over at western State hospital
36:46 " The hospital's eerie atmosphere has given rise to countless ghost stories and legends
39:25 " Western State Hospital has struggled to shake off its troubled past
44:15 " Western state hospital remains a symbol of ongoing struggles within mental health care system
46:07 " There is so much more to tell about Western State hospital
Show notes created by https://headliner.app
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