Pictured here is the main hospital building on the grounds.

While deciding which of the many haunted sites in Connecticut to write about first, I thought it was necessary to start off with a bang. The Mansfield training school is by far the closest to a horror film in real life. With decaying hallways and falling ceilings, this is the perfect spot to scare any friend or foe. I strongly urge anyone to not go alone unless you have the desire to take a different presence home with you.

Let me give you a brief history lesson. The school was introduced during the year of 1860 with the originally name of “Connecticut School for Imbeciles”. The name was later changed to “Connecticut School for Feebleminded”. From 1860 to 1993 the school “treated” patients with a range of mental illnesses, there were many reports of poor treatment and cruel techniques to treat the patients. Despite this there were about 1,800 patients at the facility and around 50 buildings in use. The children would be told to mold and build the concrete blocks, that would then make up new buildings for the facility. In times they were malnourished and physically harmed. It is even believed that the patients who had epileptic seizures would have to tend to the farm. After one too many lawsuits most famously CARC v. Thorne, with the death of a student, the school shutdown and the property fell into the hands of the state.

As you drive up to the facility, the first thing you see is an array of ivy covered brick buildings. It’s appears almost beautiful from the outside, like a town lost in time. As you move closer though, you can see broken windows and half open doors. After walking through one of the entrances you can feel the temperature drop down twenty degrees, but that has nothing in comparison to the scarily frigid basement in the middle of summer. The hallways appear pitch black in the middle of the afternoon, and the sun beams coming from the windows are laced with dust and debris. There is an overwhelming smell of decay and the mold has crawled down the sides of the wall.

Abandoned mental institution on UConn property a state attraction - New Haven Register

One of the rooms in one of the girls dormitories.

While walking through one room, there were test tubes strewn on the floor with an open book placed on a table. The writing in it had faded like a memory, just like the buildings themselves. In the next room over there is the remnants of a giant sunflower painted on the wall, the smiley face decaying away. Walking around through the rooms was chilling, you feel the absence of what used to be there. I personally didn’t feel a presence until going into the basement of the second building. Maybe it was the freezing temperature, or the potential asbestos, but while down there you do not feel alone. I felt the continued need to turn around and look where I came from. In anticipation of events in horror movies, I expected the basement door to slam while I was down there, forever stuck in the darkness. My heart rate had never been that quickly paced. I could feel the hair on my neck stand straight up. I only felt like I could let out a breath once I had completely left the building.

Mansfield Training School and Hospital, 1860-1993. Mansfield, CT | lostinnewenglanddotcom

One of the basements at the many buildings at the site.

My favorite room by far was in one of the last buildings I explored. I could tell that this was one of the treatment buildings as shown by the oddly sectioned off rooms with double mirrors and restraining chairs. This building was also drenched in graffiti and some of the curtains remained; disheveled and flowing in the open air. It could have been the overwhelming amount of adrenaline, but I could feel all the nerves in my body itching.

If you’re an adrenaline junky or just someone who wants a little scare, this is a perfect destination. It isn’t too widely known so you won’t run into the tourist crowd. You should make sure to bring water, a snack, a flashlight, and most importantly keep your wits about you.