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The Ridges - Ohio University, Athens
The Ridges, currently a part of Ohio University, was once a massive Mental Health facility, supported by the state and servicing all of
Southeastern Ohio. Built during the mid-19th century, the facility underwent many name changes, but none-the-less flourished, eventually growing to be
almost entirely self-sustaining. During the Reagan administration, however, the Ridges found its time growing short, and by the first Bush administration,
the area belonged to Ohio University. Currently, every building on the property has been refurbished, save for the old Tuberculosis ward. Each building
is used by the University for everything from office space, to classrooms, to storage.
On July 6, 2004, my good friend Chris and I made a trip to the Ridges in Athens and managed to find all three cemeteries with practically no effort.
Below they are in the order in which they were used, which is the reverse of how we explored them.
To find the oldest of the cemeteries, once in Athens turn on to Richland Street from SR 682. Turn right onto Dairy Lane and turn Right onto Ridge Road (East, I believe.) Follow the road up to the stop sign, and turn left up the hill
near the city park, which will be Water Tower Drive. When you're going up that hill, look to the right and you will see the oldest of the Ridges cemeteries. Across the street to the left of this cemetery
is the old TB Building, which remains abandoned. I would recommend not staying around here long, as it is University property, and they may tow you away.
The other two cemeteries are located on Dairy Lane, across from the Dairy Barn. Like above, take 682 to Richland Avenue, and turn onto Dairy Lane.
This time, stay on Dairy Lane (veer to the left) and follow it to the Dairy Barn, which will be on the left side. On the right side, you'll see a fence
made of old pipes, that has a large opening marked with two stone pillars and you'll see a set of stairs going up a hill amongst the trees. Park at the Dairy Barn
and walk across the street, and up the stairs. At the very top of the stairs is the newest of the Ridges cemeteries, and if you cut across the field all the way to the
farthest back trees, you'll be in the middle section of the Cemeteries. In the newest section, all of the stones have names as well as dates and patient numbers.
The two oldest sections are eerie, as they are almost entirely stones in military-style rows with nothing but a patient number engraved on them.
Some families have obviously paid for better stones, but there are maybe a dozen total in either of the two oldest sections.
Something interesting about the oldest of the Ridges Cemeteries is the notorious circle of graves, which include the patients 6 and 8, and then a group of
half a dozen graves off of the main section across a bridge. The numbers on the 5 with numbers are in the 360s, and are very out of place in the little cove
of woods. One grave back there, Sarah's grave, is a nice old stone, but it is still perplexing as to why these six are isolated. They are pictured below.
The last set of pictures are a few from the back of the TB ward, and a couple from the front of the main Ridges building. It is my intention to have this section grow over time, especially considering I'm going to be attending Ohio University, and that the Ridges has been a fascination of mine since I was 13 years old.
As always, click a picture for a better view, and click "Info" for some specifics about what you're seeing. **NOTE: The caption links are pop-ups!
THE BEGINNING:
THE MIDDLE ERA:
THE END OF AN ERA:
THE REMNANTS: MODERNIZATION AHOY!
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