Investigation September 2010
Trans-Allegheny Asylum
71 Asylum Dr.
Weston, WV 26452
The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum was built between 1858 & 1881, and is the second largest hand-cut masonry building in North America. The original hospital was designed to house 250 people; it was opened in 1864 and reached its peak in the 1950s with 2,400 patients. It was over crowded with generally poor conditions. The asylum was forced to close in 1994 due to changes in the treatment of mental illness and the deterioration of the building.
It is not surprising that this facility would be haunted, the so called cures that were practiced here included frontal lobotomies, and electro-shock therapy. There are documented deaths that number in the thousands with many buried on site. The last couple decades at the hospital were extremely violent. There are reports of patients killing patients, female employees being violated and killed (including a nurse that was missing nearly two months until she was found death at the bottom of an unused stairwell). Paranormal events include: the sound of gurneys being pushed, screams, appearance of full body apparitions, voices that range from giggling to warnings to leave the building.
It is not surprising that this facility would be haunted, the so called cures that were practiced here included frontal lobotomies, and electro-shock therapy. There are documented deaths that number in the thousands with many buried on site. The last couple decades at the hospital were extremely violent. There are reports of patients killing patients, female employees being violated and killed (including a nurse that was missing nearly two months until she was found death at the bottom of an unused stairwell). Paranormal events include: the sound of gurneys being pushed, screams, appearance of full body apparitions, voices that range from giggling to warnings to leave the building.
Below is a video taken at TALA. It shows part a a flashlight session we had there. The flashlight turned off and on seemingly in response to our questions.
This is another clip from the flashlight session at TALA.
Click on audio file to hear EVP
'I'm sorry' is heard at 28 sec.
'No' can be heard at 19 sec. and two more unclear whispers at 21 and 27 sec.
NOPSS experimented with a ghost box in the Civil War section of TALA when the box turned on in Donna's bag. It sounds like 'were here to talk'
The ghost box seems to answer our question ' two and more'
NOPSS personal experiences included; a flashlight turning off and on in response to questions, equipment turning on by itself, and some members report seeing a shadow move across a doorway.