Springfield State Hospital: Historical Society

08/08/2026

🚗 A little road trip + a lot of inspiration!

Today we took a bit of a road trip out to the former Weston State Hospital, officially known today as the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston, West Virginia!

Construction on the hospital started in the 1850s, Trans-Allegheny is a great example of the Kirkbride hospital design — a massive, singular linear building designed around the idea that architecture and the surrounding environment could play a role in patient treatment.

Today happened to be their flea market, so of course we had to check it out! 👀 We spent the day exploring, checking out the vendors, seeing how they utilize their historic grounds, and, naturally, taking a few notes. 📝

One of the things we love about historic preservation is being able to visit other sites and see what works, what doesn't, and what ideas we can bring back home. There were definitely a few things we saw today that we’d love to incorporate into future events at Springfield — hopefully sooner rather than later!

It was a great day of history, exploring, and getting some inspiration for what’s ahead. 🏛️❤️

Who knows… maybe you’ll see some of these ideas make their way to Springfield in the near future! 👀

08/05/2026

🤝 When two historical societies collide! 🏛️

We had a fantastic time today welcoming members from the Historical Society of Carroll County to Springfield's historic Men's Group. Together, we explored the campus, shared its rich history, and discussed exciting opportunities for future events, preservation efforts, and collaboration.

Building partnerships like these is essential to preserving our shared heritage, and we're excited about what the future holds. 🌿📜

We look forward to working together on many projects to come! 😊

08/02/2026

🌳It's incredible what a difference a little dedication can make.

This fantastic satellite comparison showcases the cleanup project at Springfield's Men's Group. The first image, captured in 2023, reveals just how heavily overgrown the historic campus had become. The second, taken earlier this year before the Administration Building fire, highlights the remarkable transformation after months of hard work done by Springfield’s maintenance department🪏

Images like this truly illustrate the progress that's been made to preserve and showcase the beauty of Springfield's historic campus. Every cleared pathway, every uncovered building, and every restored view helps ensure this remarkable place can continue to be appreciated for generations to come.

We're proud of how far things have come—and we're just getting started🤗

07/29/2026

A remarkable photograph showing several of Springfield’s staff members feeding a baby lion! 🦁

While the exact date of this image is unknown, it appears to have been taken sometime in the late 1940s or early 1950s. One interesting detail is the man dressed as Santa Claus, which suggests this may have been taken during a Christmas celebration at the hospital. 🎅🎄

07/27/2026

Springfield's Women's Group (now known as Warfield) as it appeared in 1918.

One of the biggest changes visible in this photo is Cottage F, the building on the far right. Its open porch has since been enclosed with a full brick façade, giving it a noticeably different appearance today.

Other than that, it's remarkable just how much of this historic campus has remained unchanged.

More than a century later, most of the buildings pictured here still look much as they did in 1918—a testament to the enduring architecture and history of Springfield. 🏛️📸

07/25/2026

A fascinating glimpse back in time! 📸

This incredible 1918 photograph captures the John Hubner Psychopathic Building and Springfield's Men’s Group during the hospital's early years.

Later that same year, Springfield would face one of the deadliest events in its history. During the fall of 1918, the Spanish Flu pandemic reached the hospital, with the outbreak believed to have begun in the Hubner Building before spreading rapidly across the campus. The epidemic claimed the lives of 38 men and 4 women—all patients, many of them only in their 20s and 30s.

One of the most striking details in this photo is just how open and barren the campus appears. The towering trees and mature landscape that define Springfield today had yet to grow, leaving the buildings standing prominently against an almost empty landscape.

History preserved in a single photograph. ❤️

07/20/2026

Tomorrow, Tuesday, July 21 is our next Box Lunch Talk "What the Dickens? A Look at Maryland's Almshouses & Asylums" presented by Adrienne Smith at noon at HSCC (210 E. Main Street). Thank you to this month's sponsors Joan & Tom Noplock and an anonymous person.

Join Adrienne Smith as she discusses Carroll County’s Poor Farm and Springfield Hospital Center as examples of how the State of Maryland cared for its indigent citizens.

As always, there is no registration for Box Lunch Talks. You bring your lunch, and we provide the drinks and desserts (thanks to our volunteers and staff). The cost is $3 for HSCC members and $5 for nonmembers.

Questions? Please contact Laura Bankard, Outreach & Events Director at [email protected] or 410.848.6494 ext. 200.

07/19/2026

🎉 History in the making! 🎉

We had an incredible day today at the historical society! It was our very first meeting with our amazing volunteers.

We took a walk around the Men’s Group, talked about our nonprofit’s goals, celebrated what we’ve accomplished so far, mapped out where we are right now and where we are heading next.

Seeing everyone come together to share stories, ask great questions, and connect over our love for Springfield was truly inspiring. This is just the first of many great meetings to come! 🙌

Want to be part of the team? We’d love to have you!
If you’re interested in volunteering, please reach out to:
✉️ [email protected].

Let’s preserve Springfield’s history together! 🏛️✨

07/13/2026

History is officially live! 📣

We are thrilled to announce that the oral history project, led by our founder Brennan VanderVeer and SHC Executive Project Manager Nicole Holsey, is now available online!

There is nothing quite like hearing history described by the people who lived it. Click the link below to watch Springfield’s very own alumni share their unique stories, memories, and experiences at the hospital.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.