Aerial view of Bryce Hospital, circa 1940

brice-(bryce)-hospital-1930-1945_f949e37d75.jpg

Title

Aerial view of Bryce Hospital, circa 1940

Subject

Mental health facilities

Description

The building built for the Alabama Insane Hospital, later named Bryce Hospital, was designed by psychiatrist Thomas Kirkbride and architect Samuel Sloan, famed architect of the time. With three wings set in echelon formation, the hospital was an impressive sight. Over the years, extensions were added piecemeal. Ultimately, the hospital was said to have the longest roof line in the world, according to Ripley's Believe It or Not.

The hospital owned 177 acres along the Black Warrior River. The land behind the hospital was used for fields that the patients worked, growing vegetables that help feed the patients.

The Bryce Hospital property was sold to the University of Alabama in 2010. A new 268-bed hospital was constructed at the location of the former W.D. Partlow Developmental Center.

Read more about the history of Bryce Hospital at http://www.mh.alabama.gov/brycehospitalproject/History/BriefHistoryOfBryceHospital.pdf

Source

Personal Collection of Jason Townsend

Date

Circa 1930-1945

Contributor

Jason Townsend (Description)

Type

Postcard

Identifier

98

Coverage

Tuscaloosa (AL)