As soon as you get off highway 81 in Staunton the DeJarnette Center (formerly known as the DeJarnette Sanitorium or Asylum) are some of the first buildings you’ll see. The architecture of the buildings was designed in part by Thomas Blackburn, a protege of Thomas Jefferson. These architecturally amazing buildings sit on the property of The Frontier Culture Museum. The building were the premises of the adolescent psychiatric hospital until the early 1970s, then transitioned into The Commonwealth Center for Children & Adolescents and moved locations in 1996. Controversy seems to surround the decision over what should be done with the buildings because of DeJarnette’s controversial practice of involuntary sterilization that went on at this location.
Asbestos signs are placed around the property to ward off trespassers, but I’m not sure how much good the signs do. Looking through archives the buildings seem to be badly vandalized on the inside with bullet holes and spray paint. I’d like to see the property turned into some type of museum because of the beauty of the structures. There are several blogs and articles about the property but I couldn’t find any links to current plans for the structures. Right now (as of Sunday July 12th) two small bobcats sit in the front of the property and there are piles of brush that have been cleared. WHSV reported that The Department of General Services has provided the financial means to clear away heavy shrubbery and debris from the front of the buildings (the overgrowth has built up over the past 15 years.) After the clearing has taken place, the structure will be boarded up to prevent break-ins, white boards will be used to cover the windows to maintain the aesthetic beauty of the building.
I’m glad that The Department of General Services seems to be stepping up and making some changes to the property since The Hook reported in July of 2006 that The Virginia Department of General Services would have the final say in whether DeJarnette is demolished (according to spokesperson Susan Pollard.)
What do you think should happen to these historic buildings?
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve always been so intrigued by this place. One of my friends had special permission to do a photo shoot there, but that’s the only other person I’ve known to mention it. I hope it becomes something cool so we can check out the inside!
Are you crazy? Have you not seen a movie in the last 30 years? If we, as a society, can learn anything from Hollywood (and we can learn a lot), it’s that we should never ever ever ever have anything to do with old creepy abandoned mental asylums. Especially not ones for children.
Here’s an idea: Maybe, you know, just as a joke, me and several friends (many of whom happen to be young, attractive and promiscuous) will go camp out there for a night. We’ll break in, create a campfire, drink some beer and generally disrespect the facility in an effort to prove to each other that we aren’t scared. Maybe I’ll even lock one of my friends in an old room to freak her out a bit. If one of us goes missing, we’ll all agree the best course of action will be to split up to look for him. If one of us notices a quiet, vacant looking child standing at the end of a dark hallway, we’ll assume it is a neighborhood kid that has become lost and would like us to lead her on search for her missing mother. It will be a night full of excitement, adventure and exploring. In the morning, we’ll all walk out and upload the pictures we took to Facebook. Who wants to go with me?
Can anyone tell me what the old building is that is on the hill in from of the current commonwealth center location? I gathered that it is not the original sit of either western state or comm. center. So, what was it?
dejarnette…i went there when i was a teenager.i didnt know the history of it.theres all kinds of videos on youtube about it.i didnt know there was a morgue in there.i was in the perry building.with the caged porch.they had these heavy ass chairs on there i guess so you couldnt throw them at people.i remember going into the quiet room.ive seen a few people i knew from there.i guess you make your own ay in life but like me they were told they were different they were crazy so most are either in prison or on drugs.sad.i used to sit on the proch and watch the groundhogs that was cool.they shouldnt tear it down they should make it into a muesum and fix it up…get the community together…
Laurie, That’s interesting, I did see the cagelike metal surrounding the porch, I bet it wasn’t very enjoyable to sit outside when you still felt confined. I’m glad you don’t feel like they should tear the buildings down. I wonder how bad the asbestos is in the buildings because I know that getting the asbestos out would be the expensive part of the renovation.
The building is falling apart. All the windows are boarded up now and it looks nice. But seriously, someone should write a script about the place, make it into a big budget horror movie like the ring or something, get some up and coming teen actors to star in it, kill off a couple, just make it into the typical horror flic. staunton could really use the publicity it would bring to the town, with the possibility of a secqual. Otherwise, the old thing is gonna sit there for another 10 years or so with nothing being done about it.
I agree the exterior of the building is amazing. I would however imaging the inside is very utilitarian. Much like similar buildings of its kind. There are other structures the residents of Staunton should invest time and money into rather than this creepy old building.
Thomas Blackburn is my GGGG Grandfather. I am trying to get as much info I can on him. I have been searching for a pic of him for 8 years. If anyone knows anyone who is related to Thomas Rolander Blackburn who would like to get in touch with me please have them e-mail me at nettech_00@yahoo.com Thanks
i love this building and i know that is weird to say but it is so intresting.I have seen a few movies about Asylums and i found them kinda freak but i love scary stuff.And i am in love with scary stuff.