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Asylums, Catherine Cavendish, Flame Tree Press, ghosts, Haunted Asylums, Horror, Michigan, New horror book, the Eloise Complex
‘The Unquiet Spirits of the Eloise Complex‘
BY CATHERINE CAVENDISH.
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Image: Detroit Free Press
What can be scarier than an old abandoned asylum?
Not much in my book. And if you’re looking for a place with a freakish amount of scares, then the Eloise Complex would be right up your street. A few years ago, if you had the cash, you might even have wanted to make a purchase. That’s if you had a million or so dollars lying around in your attic. Of course, that money would have bought you a place that was once big enough have its own zip code.
The complex certainly has a history. It all started in 1839 when Wayne County, Michigan established a farm and poorhouse which expanded until it eventually covered 902 acres and encompassed some 70 buildings.
In 1913, there were three divisions – The Eloise Hospital (the mental hospital), Eloise Sanitorium (TB hospital), and the Eloise Infirmary (the Poorhouse). In 1945, it was renamed the Wayne County General Hospital and Infirmary at Eloise Michigan.
Back when it was at its height, during the Great Depression, around 10,000 patients and 2000 workers lived there in a self-contained city that included a bakery, slaughterhouse, fire department, post office, amusement hall, cannery, tobacco field, cemetery and police department. It was in these days that it earned its own zip code.
Image – Edward Pevos MLive
Eloise was at the forefront of pioneering psychiatric treatment. Now, today, we might laud this as a Good Thing. At the time we are talking, back in the first half of the 20th century, we are talking straitjackets and electroshock therapy, lobotomies that rendered the patient into a permanent vegetative state.
In Eloise’s case, there was also massive overcrowding. 10,000 patients there may well have been – maybe even more. But the facility was only built -even at its largest – to house 8.300. Patients slept on floors, were left unattended and neglected. Some inmates spent their entire adult lives there and, when they died, their burials were usually anonymous. The more disruptive patients could find themselves physically restrained – bound by hands and feet and, at one time, it has been reported, they could be chained to the roof of the asylum barn, above the pigs who dwelt beneath.
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Image – Bill Bresler https://eu.hometownlife.com/
By 1974 it had two divisions: the Wayne County General Hospital and the Wayne County Psychiatric Hospital (there being no further need for a TB hospital following the development of the life-saving streptomycin drug). The psychiatric division closed in 1982.
By 2019, just 5 of the buildings remained (firehouse, bakery, power plant, commissary and ‘D’ building) along with the cemetery. The complex was redeveloped into a strip mall, golf course and condominiums. ‘D’ building is now called the Kay Beard building and the old commissary is now a homeless shelter. The firehouse (which became the psychiatric facility laundry) and the power plant are still standing but the bakery was severely damaged by arson in 2016. The entire complex was sold in 2019 for the princely sum of $1, as it was at that time costing $375,000 per year simply to maintain it. Its purpose is to provide affordable housing for senior citizens in a minimum of 106 units.
But what of the ghosts?
In December 2019, members of the group Detroit Paranormal Expeditions visited the long closed-off basement of a building on the complex. It had been flooded for decades but had recently been drained.
They reported the eerie stillness, the total, unnatural quiet and the strong sense of someone else being down there with them. They heard the sound of dripping water (perhaps not so surprising) and shuffling footsteps (more disquieting). Their videos captured orange and white lights, and an orb.
The group have paid a number of visits to the Eloise complex – with terrifying results. They describe being chased out of the place by ghostly phenomena, describing it as so haunted as to have almost daily supernatural occurrences – shadows, unexplained noises, objects moving of their own accord, disembodied voices, unexplained footsteps.
Other visitors to the complex have described a so-called ‘flying ghost’.
With so much spirit activity, we can only wish the new residents well in their brand-new homes. Given the philanthropic nature of the current enterprise, maybe that will go some way towards placating those who, as yet, cannot leave.
A few years ago, a horror film – Eloise – was shot on location in the ruined buildings, making for a highly atmospheric setting.
You’re next…
Carol and Nessa are strangers but not for much longer.
In a luxury apartment and in the walls of a modern hospital, the evil that was done continues to thrive. They are in the hands of an entity that knows no boundaries and crosses dimensions – bending and twisting time itself – and where danger waits in every shadow. The battle is on for their bodies and souls and the line between reality and nightmare is hard to define.
Through it all, the words of Lydia Warren Carmody haunt them. But who was she? And why have Carol and Nessa been chosen?
The answer lies deep in the darkness…
About The Author
Following a varied career in sales, advertising and career guidance, Catherine Cavendish is now the full-time author of a number of paranormal, ghostly and Gothic horror novels, novellas and short stories. In addition to In Darkness, Shadows Breathe, Cat’s novels include The Garden of Bewitchment. The Haunting of Henderson Close, the Nemesis of the Gods trilogy – Wrath of the Ancients, Waking the Ancients and Damned by the Ancients, plus The Devil’s Serenade, The Pendle Curse and Saving Grace Devine.
Her novellas include: The Malan Witch, The Darkest Veil, Linden Manor, Cold Revenge, Miss Abigail’s Room, The Demons of Cambian Street, Dark Avenging Angel, The Devil Inside Her, and The Second Wife
She lives by the sea in Southport, England with her long-suffering husband, and a black cat called Serafina who has never forgotten that her species used to be worshipped in ancient Egypt. She sees no reason why that practice should not continue.
You can connect with Cat here:
Relevant links for this article:
Detroit Free Press: https://eu.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/wayne/2018/06/21/eloise-asylum-hospital-michigan/720896002/
The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/nov/11/eloise-hospital-haunted-michigan-mental-asylum
Detroit Paranormal Expeditions:
Dawn Ziegler:
Hometown Life
Well that sounds truly intriguing, Ms S. I’d say Ms Catherine is on a proverbial roll. Good luck to you both fine gals. Regards,The Old Fool
Thank you, Mike. Much appreciated 🙂
Now then Mike, you are anything but old or a fool. I think Ms Catherine is indeed doing mighty fine. And deservedly so too. I am looking forward to reading this latest. Got in on my kindle. Nice to see you xxxxxxxxx
This is just totally delightfully scary and intriguing. Hats off to C.Cavendish and to you dear Shey, fantastic writers of novels! xxxxx
Many thanks!
It’s my pleasure!
Awww, lovely to see you my friend. And kind as ever xxx I thought it was a fascinating post. The sort of horror actually that didn’t need screaming banshees.
‘‘Twas perfect my dear! xxxx
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“A Clockwork Orange”, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” I guess it all started with Eloise. Sounds like an interesting book. I really like “Eloise: The Asylum That Started the Whole Mess.” The ghost hunter video was interesting, also. Our old State Penitentiary is a popular place for paranormal activity after the 1980 riot which was the most violent prison riot in US history. It also is used for movie sets these days.
That sounds like a fascinating place. Many thanks!
Good material for one of your stories.
Great to see you Timothy. I bet that indeed where you are there’s ghosts.
We have kleptomaniac ghosts at the house. Alsway stealing things. The cats can see them, we only hear them and smell them and notice when they take things. The ones are the old prison are dangerous, I’m sure.
Oh our last house most certainly had a presence.
Excellent presentation, Shehanne! All that history and spookiness is great fodder for a book, and all that hamster-twee and goofiness is great fodder for (the start of) a post. 🙂
Thank you for dropping by, Dave. Yep, the hammies and I go back a long way… 😉
You’re welcome, Catherine! Wonderful that you have a long history with the hamsters. 🙂 The best of luck with sales of your book!
Alas the dudes have named poor, lovely Cat, dude enemy number one….All she did was say they couldn’t spell……… but there Hamster Dickens whining there near the start , had thought she was going to offer him a publishing contract for his excretable works of fiction.
Ha, Shehanne! Didn’t realize the extent of the feud. 🙂 “The War of the Roses,” “The War of the Rodents”…
Ha ha. Lol Brilliant. Oh they have had it in for Cat for years now!!
Indeed. I have learned over the years that, when dealing with hamsters, it is safest to wear full protective armour
I know and you do very well against them, I must say x
Catherine – I applaud your writing for I know it takes a special understanding of the mysteries that surround us to be able to write in this genre. While science has taken great pains to discount ghostly encounters, they have difficulty with the anecdotal evidence of individuals who have experienced something out of the ordinary. My family lived in a house that we think was haunted. We talk about it years after we moved. Each of us had different experiences that cannot be explained, from hearing voices, steps, our name being called out. I had a light switch turned on after it had been turned off. And then there was story my grandfather told me of the ghostly woman wearing pilgrims cloths that came the night his brother died in the 1918 pandemic. My grandfather’s sister tried to hug her but woman disappeared in her arms. Shehanne – love those dudes! Catherine – exciting! Loved the post and the videos…. Hugs and more hugs from across the pond.
Totally agree Rebecca. Every time I think there’s nothing out there I also remind myself of the years we lived with an unexplained presence in our house. Our last one. And we were not the only ones to see this either. In fact there were those who would set foot in it. I must email you about something recent. Poor Cat gets a terrible flack from the dudes. She is their number one enemy but she is very stoic re it!
Thank you so much, Rebecca. Your experiences strike a chord with me. I used to live in a haunted apartment in a much haunted building dating from the 18th century. The resident entity used to switch lights on, turn the TV on, and kitchen utensils would mysteriously disappear – never to be seen again. My husband heard her speak to him, and he heard her footsteps on a number of occasions. Local legend had i that she was the ghost of a lady who used to have a haberdashery on the premises in the early years of the 20th century – a certain Miss Edwards. – always benevolent though.
I am so glad that we connected. Life is indeed best when shared with kindred spirits.
They do stay about these spirits, don’t they. I remember you talking about the ones you’ve lived with.
A mad house worthy of the name…
Alas Michael, they have a long running feud with poor Catherine. Lovely to see you.
Indeed, Michael. Thank you for stopping by. Great to see you!
Wow! Incredibly scary and rich with stories. I couldn’t believe that bit about the patients strapped to the barn roof above the pigs. The fact that they place was filled over capacity and the fact that it was sold for $1 in 2019. Everything about this now ghostly zip code is fascinating. No wonder the dudes gulp. Better insert those photos! Lol 😂. This looks like Cat here did a marvelous job to have her story weaved in here.
Places like that..places as dreadful as this will certainly have left something behind. Just sounded dreadful. But so many fascinating bits like the $1 dollar sale. Cat did a wonderful job. The dudes have always had it in for her xxxx
Thank you, Ka Malana. The say the truth is stranger than fiction and that certainly applies to the Eloise Complex
Gosh this sounds so scary, so interesting, so fascinating. It’s sad when we look back and see how our distressed minds were dealt with, within institutions with no hope of release. I’m sure those walls have many stories to tell xx
it’s awful how distressed minds were made even more distressed actually. I think the true horror in Cat’s blog post is that. And also it is what makes is so interesting. For me there’s no doubt that that kind of suffering leaves echoes…..
I expect they do, Dawn – and horrific ones at that. Many thanks for stopping by
So scary, Cat! It reminds me of Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, PA. There was so much cruelty; it’s no wonder it’s haunted. Thanks for sharing, ladies.
Just awful how vulnerable people were treated. Gives me the shivers. x
Yes and the buildings have retained the energy/spirits of all that suffering You can feel it when you’re there. 😟 😳 Eastern State Penitentiary had people locked up in solitary confinement for years. Sure way to make someone go mad.
Thank you, Pam. Sadly there are many places like this – and not just in the US either
I know, Pam and Cat. It’s just beyond belief. And the places will have that’ good, old’ term, an atmosphere about them which as you say Pam, you can feel. .
I know, right?!😳😳😳
Some years ago when we visited Bodmin Jail in Cornwall, the vibe of the whole place was most unsettling. I swear buildings absorb trauma – don’t ask me how – but it;s tangible
You are absolutely right Cat. Areas of ground too. There’s things that are absorbed.
Wow, that is powerful stuff, Catherine. Terrible the suffering inflicted under the guise of medicine and pastoral care on these poor vulnerable victims. I wish your new book success and I must say respect to you for facing down the dudes! Thanks, Shey – always fascinating posts! xx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx for being here Kate. The suffering inflicted was something else. And yes here’s poor Cat having the dudes eat her alive again xxxxx
Thank you so much, Kate.
This gave me the heebie – jeebies and the book looks awesomely chilly. About 25 years ago I worked in the NHS and office was in an old mental asylum. That place never felt right at all.
I think these places soaked up pain and spat it out.
I can imagine the weird vibes there must have been there.
I love the answers that lie deep in the darkness 😉 Best of luck with the book, Catherine!
Wonderful to see you Inese. xxxx
Thank you so much, Inese
You are welcome:)
thank you so much🎶 I am really grateful for you🐬
Toshiyu, thank you and for visiting my blog. Very kind. Keep up with the great rock music blogs x
Thank you, Toshiyu