[In 1902, the hospital would reopen with Dr. George A. Zeller, a pioneer in mental health, at the helm. The new hospital implemented the "cottage system" and 33 different buildings were used to house patients. There was also a nurse's home, a store, a power house, and a domestic building with a laundry, bakery and kitchen. Zeller also implemented a system with no window bars or restraints, something that was unheard of in those days. Dr. Zeller also realized that a system was needed for the burial of the dead at the hospital. He decided that the asylum would take care of the burials of the unclaimed, but that all other deceased persons would be shipped home to their relatives. The hospital's burial ground eventually grew to include four cemeteries, which were located behind the main buildings. The older cemeteries are marked with stones that only bear numbers, as many of the patients came there without names. The newer cemeteries have stones bearing names, birth and death dates, and patient numbers upon them. © Copyright 2006 by Troy Taylor. All Rights Reserved.]

Elgin State Hospital for the Insane has been Demolished. The grave sites are mostly numbered and the log for (person ID to number) has been lost. [Elgin State Hospital Annex The original name of the Elgin Mental Health Facility (its current name) was The Northern Illinois Hospital and Asylum for the Insane. The door opened in 1872, however, construction of additional buildings continued until 1874. A rumor circulated for year, and still exists that the State of Illinois approached the City of Elgin with plans to construct a mental institution and a college and offered Elgin one or the other. As the rumor goes, Elgin took the mental institution, De Kalb took Northern Illinois University. As Elgin Historian and celebrated Elgin History author, Bill Briska points out the rumor, "...is totally false" He goes on to state that, "The state hospital was founded in 1869 and the college in 1892. (there are ) No connection between the events". The man-made lake in the foreground of this photo was added in 1886. It was 400 by 500 feet in area and was designed to create a tranquil atmosphere for the patients and employees. The building shown above was build in 1891 and was designed to increase the hospital's capacity by some 300 patients. Within a short time, it would become the home of over 1,000 additional patients. It was closed in 1960 and razed in 1972. © Copyright 2006 by Troy Taylor. All Rights Reserved.]

taken summer 2005

Hedgerow taking over (backside is the sport complex)

Many others are overgrown with brush.

Taken Summer 2005

Grown over stones with 'orange construction stake' close by. Major construction was going on very close to this cemetery.

Hillside Cemetery