Stone by stone, pillar by pillar, Greystone is vanishing

Column top is removed from the Kirkbride Building at the former Greystone psychiatric hospital. Photo by Kenneth Hoffman
Column top is removed from the Kirkbride Building at the former Greystone psychiatric hospital. Photo by Kenneth Hoffman
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Column top is removed from the Kirkbride Building at the former Greystone psychiatric hospital. Photo by Kenneth Hoffman
Column top is removed from the Kirkbride Building at the former Greystone psychiatric hospital. Photo by Kenneth Hoffman

If a picture is worth a thousand words, how many tears will these shots elicit from historic preservationists?

Kenneth Hoffman documented this week’s demolition of the Kirkbride Building at the former Greystone Park State Psychiatric Hospital.

The state anticipates this immense, 139-year-old structure — with a footprint once second only to the Pentagon’s — will be history by Christmas.

Preserve Greystone, a grassroots organization, lobbied hard to spare the hospital, where legendary folksinger Woody Guthrie spent some of his final days.

(The “Magiky Tree,” as Guthrie called an old beech tree where his kids Arlo and Nora played during visits, will be among the handful of features to be preserved, a Treasury Department spokesman  told The Daily Record.)

Seven developers submitted proposals, but the state deemed renovations too costly to pursue.

The site is slated to become a park.

Video of demolition by Louise Karger, July 8, 2015.

MORE ABOUT ‘PRESERVE GREYSTONE’

The Northstar Contracting Group continues $34 million demolition at the former Greystone psychiatric campus. Photo by Kenneth Hoffman
The Northstar Contracting Group continues $34 million demolition at the former Greystone psychiatric campus. Photo by Kenneth Hoffman
Ruins of a once-magnificent edifice at the former Greystone Park State Psychiatric Hospital. Photo by Kenneth Hoffman
Ruins of a once-magnificent edifice at the former Greystone Park State Psychiatric Hospital. Photo by Kenneth Hoffman
Demolition contractor prepares to lower part of a pillar at the former Greystone psychiatric hospital. Photo by Kenneth Hoffman
Demolition contractor prepares to lower part of a pillar at the former Greystone psychiatric hospital. Photo by Kenneth Hoffman
Column from the Kirkbride Building is lowered to ground. Photo by Kenneth Hoffman
Column from the Kirkbride Building is lowered to ground. Photo by Kenneth Hoffman
Kirkbride Building awaits its fate. Photo by Kenneth Hoffman
Kirkbride Building awaits its fate. Photo by Kenneth Hoffman
Bystanders pilot drones around demolition of the Kirkbride Building. Photo by Kenneth Hoffman
Bystanders pilot drones around demolition of the Kirkbride Building. Photo by Kenneth Hoffman
EYEWITNESS: Drone surveys demolition of the Kirkbride Building. Photo by Kenneth Hoffman
EYEWITNESS: Drone surveys demolition of the Kirkbride Building. Photo by Kenneth Hoffman
STEADY AS SHE GOES: Column is lowered from the Kirkbride Building. Photo by Kenneth Hoffman
STEADY AS SHE GOES: Column is lowered from the Kirkbride Building. Photo by Kenneth Hoffman
Demolition worker at Greystone. Photo by Kenneth Hoffman
Demolition worker at Greystone. Photo by Kenneth Hoffman
Drone peers over shoulder of demolition man at Greystone. Photo by Kenneth Hoffman
Drone peers over shoulder of demolition man at Greystone. Photo by Kenneth Hoffman
Demolition proceeds at the Kirkbride Building. Photo by Kenneth Hoffman
Demolition proceeds at the Kirkbride Building; a drone records the proceedings. Photo by Kenneth Hoffman
Drone follows a chunk of concrete to its doom. Photo by Kenneth Hoffman
Drone follows a chunk of concrete to its doom. Photo by Kenneth Hoffman
One day soon, photos are all that will remain of the massive Kirkbride Building and its 139-year history. Photo by Kenneth Hoffman
One day soon, photos are all that will remain of the massive Kirkbride Building and its 139-year history. Photo by Kenneth Hoffman

4 COMMENTS

  1. Brian Everswick,
    Wow- you hit the nail on the head. i just mailed letters to various individuals asking the same questions. Why was access allowed for individuals who had no connection to the souls who lived and died in this ‘institution’. Any why is Greystone “memorabilia” now turning up all over the place if the demolition was handled in a ‘sensitive manner’?? A travesty. Atrocious treatment for hallowed ground.

  2. Sure seems like the Freeholders are fixing something that doesn’t need fixing, while adding an additional, unnecessary layer of expensive government.

  3. This is a tragedy. Yes, it was huge and yes, restoration would have cost a fortune, but there were several proposals. The state didn’t look carefully enough. Kirkbride was effectively Kusared. Too much storm damage was left untouched until there was no other choice.

  4. Quite obvious the contracting company is attempting to look good by handing over a mere pittance of the true secondary market value of the building materials. First of all…who made all the money by allowing the contractor to get paid for the demolition and KEEP the valuable materials. The state of New Jersey could have had the building torn down for free. Walking off with the materials value would have been enough payment for the contractor to do the job. This FIASCO of PAYING to have the FINEST building in the state torn down…while letting the contractor sell off the booty is sickening. Why was this FAST tracked?…why did the state refuse purchase offers?…..Why create the illusion of asbestos contamination. Why the PHONY STATEMENT of a serious mold problem…….ANSWERS: The mold could have been power washed easily, as the building is concrete and stone. IF THE ASBESTOS WAS A PROBLEM, why was the building re-mediated with all the windows removed, and no plastic barrier put in place, (the contractor should be fined 30 million for damages if asbestos was as the state claimed). Then there is materials issue, if they just added 1 line to the demolition contract, stating N.J. retains all rights to the materials, N.J. could have reaped a fortune. Now the building is gone, and instead of the state selling it to several legitimate buyers, we are harnessed with paying with TAX dollars for removal. Making taxpayers SUCKERS to those few who benefited behind closed doors. DO NOT be fooled by the Sucker offer of 1,000 lineal feet of stone, some columns and existing trees………What about all the other columns?, what about other 800,00 stones that would line up over 1 & 1/2 MILLION linear feet?. I will not forget this deal, and I hope all others concerned do also.

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