Name This Peoria Landmark

The Bowen Building on the old Peoria State Hospital Grounds in Bartonville.

The original building was a grand disaster. It was octogonal in shape with wings extending out from the center octogon capable of ‘indefinite expansion’. Unfortunately it was rife with problems- shoddy planning and shoddy workmanship, not to mention being built on top of a sinking coal mine shaft. It was torn down. (check out this photo of the original building, though!)

This institution was founded in 1895 and named the “Illinois Asylum for the Incurable Insane.” It officially opened in 1902 with Dr. George A. Zeller as it’s superintendent. In 1907, at Dr. Zeller’s urging, it was renamed the “Illinois General Asylum for the Insane”, removing the word “Incurable”. Two years later, all state asylums were renamed and this received the name “Peoria State Hospital”.

Though the Bowen Building did house some patients, its primary purpose was that of nurses housing.

The Peoria State Hospital closed in 1973. The city of Bartonville acquired all of the property in 1983 and redeveloped it into the industrial park that exists today, though only a handful of the over 60 original buildings still stand. The Bowen Building is the most obvious testament to what used to be.

For more information on Dr. Zeller and the Peoria State Hospital, I highly recommend the book “Asylum Light: Stories From The Dr. George A. Zeller Era and Beyond.” I picked mine up at Barnes & Noble. Dr. Zeller was an amazing man, and the great work that went on here, as documented in this book, is truly inspiring.

Some of the better references available on the web:

[ecology of absence]
[Save The Bowen]
[IlExploration] – alot of photos, including the inside of the Bowen (for those who want to relive some of their daring teenage years)
[WIU Library] – type “Peoria State Hospital” into the search window for digitized scans of historic photos.
[Historic Peoria]
[Prairie Ghosts] 

Commonly, but mistakenly, known as the nurses housing, these were actually the patients housing. It was known as the “cottage plan” which consisted of many small dormatory style houses, with the over-riding theme of making the “insane” feel comfortable and at home instead of the prevailing thought of the time of chaining, whipping and beating the insane into submission. These were orignally built with wrought iron fences and gating covering the windows, which Dr. Zeller ordered removed per his compassionate style of freedom (aside- they were later used to build an on premises zoo covering over an acre).

Commenter Tony says these buildings were collectively called the ‘E’ buildings because of their shape. I believe this is cottage D-1.

Vonster says it looks like a Balkin Prison Exercise Yard. As I walked around, I felt like I was staring at the remnants of a WWII allied bombing raid…

This is across the street and directly north of the Bowen Building. I am standing on the red tiled floor of the ‘dining room’ and to the right is what I believe are the kitchen and bakery. From looking at an old map, this area also held the laundry house (which should be the building on the left-hand side) and the sewing room (possibly the building on the right-hand side, though it seems slightly large)… unfortunately, matching up old maps with today’s reality is not always easy or accurate.

More insight to this fascinating place is welcome and encouraged.