Rolling Hills Asylum
Bethany, NY
Rolling Hills Asylum c.2014
Miami Ghost Chronicles made an unofficial paranormal investigation in 2014, and we didn't come truly prepared to capture any evidence with the exception of a 35mm camera. Later Sharon and Jason from the Asylum graciously came along with 4 of the participants of that night's walk through with some equipment and pointed out hot spots, including communication with the spirits using a flashlight.
In one of the pictures below, my husband Henry (ex-cop from NJ) stares at me with wide eyes (yes...he was very startled), later he explained the reason was that he had seen the doll move, which can be seen in the same picture behind him next to the organ. In another picture he smiles nervously as he sits in the barber chair. He thought that his hair had been touched, and the same thing happened to another participant about an hour later as we sat in the hallway of the 3rd floor right outside the double doors of the sun-room.
In another picture Henry stands next to a child's play stroller and again he claimed he saw this doll move, and if you notice you will see a stuffed "Pluto" doll in the stroller. Later in the night we mentioned the event to Sharon and Jason from the asylum, who both laughed and said now they understood why their ovilus had kept repeating over the word "Pluto" various time throughout the day, however they kept thinking of the planet not the Disney cartoon. No doubt an entity wanted to bring attention to something.
We came by again the next morning, and even then this location is very remote, so when this location started as the Genesee County Poor Farm in the early 1800s, it was meant to isolate those who lived there and keep them on the fringes of society both figuratively and literally.
In one of the pictures below, my husband Henry (ex-cop from NJ) stares at me with wide eyes (yes...he was very startled), later he explained the reason was that he had seen the doll move, which can be seen in the same picture behind him next to the organ. In another picture he smiles nervously as he sits in the barber chair. He thought that his hair had been touched, and the same thing happened to another participant about an hour later as we sat in the hallway of the 3rd floor right outside the double doors of the sun-room.
In another picture Henry stands next to a child's play stroller and again he claimed he saw this doll move, and if you notice you will see a stuffed "Pluto" doll in the stroller. Later in the night we mentioned the event to Sharon and Jason from the asylum, who both laughed and said now they understood why their ovilus had kept repeating over the word "Pluto" various time throughout the day, however they kept thinking of the planet not the Disney cartoon. No doubt an entity wanted to bring attention to something.
We came by again the next morning, and even then this location is very remote, so when this location started as the Genesee County Poor Farm in the early 1800s, it was meant to isolate those who lived there and keep them on the fringes of society both figuratively and literally.
History
Genesee County Poor Farm while it housed inmates
This was a place where the insane, criminal and destitute were taken. It was known as the Genesee County Poor Farm or the Old County Home. Like many of the larger asylums constructed post Civil War, the intentions were that able-bodied inmates would work the grounds like a farm, since they had to be self-sufficient. Support from the government was minimal. Prior to this local governments established what were known as alms house or poor houses.
Paupers as the needy were known in those years were picked up and taken to this place along with their belongings.
In 1826, the Genesee County government took over a stagecoach tavern and established a poorhouse. This was at the corner of Bethany Center Road and Raymond Road. The farm sat on 200 acres.
The doors were open for: "Habitual drunkards, lunatics (one who by disease, grief or accident lost the use of reason or from old age, sickness or weakness was so weak of mind as to be incapable of governing or managing their affairs), paupers (a person with no means of income), state paupers (one who is blind, lame, old or disabled with no income source) or a vagrant."
Paupers as the needy were known in those years were picked up and taken to this place along with their belongings.
In 1826, the Genesee County government took over a stagecoach tavern and established a poorhouse. This was at the corner of Bethany Center Road and Raymond Road. The farm sat on 200 acres.
The doors were open for: "Habitual drunkards, lunatics (one who by disease, grief or accident lost the use of reason or from old age, sickness or weakness was so weak of mind as to be incapable of governing or managing their affairs), paupers (a person with no means of income), state paupers (one who is blind, lame, old or disabled with no income source) or a vagrant."
Review of cemetery costs for the asylum c.1935
Within a couple of years an additional stone building was added to the brick farmhouse in order to house lunatics. Eventually the violently insane were sent elsewhere in the state in 1887.
There were many who had no families, or who would not be picked up after dying leaving the county to bury them. Records indicate there was once a cemetery on the property. An entry from 1886 reads: “The burying ground we have improved by building a fence in front and grading and leveling the ground as much as could be done without injury to the graves.” The location of the cemetery has disappeared.
In 1912, electricity was added to the building.
The home closed in 1974, and the residents were sent to a different facility in Batavia.
There were many who had no families, or who would not be picked up after dying leaving the county to bury them. Records indicate there was once a cemetery on the property. An entry from 1886 reads: “The burying ground we have improved by building a fence in front and grading and leveling the ground as much as could be done without injury to the graves.” The location of the cemetery has disappeared.
In 1912, electricity was added to the building.
The home closed in 1974, and the residents were sent to a different facility in Batavia.
