Fractured Spirits: Hauntings at the Peoria State Hospital

by Sylvia Shults

During the first half of the twentieth century, the Peoria State Hospital was the premiere mental health facility of its day. Dr. George Zeller instituted the eight-hour workday for his staff, removed patient restraints, and made the asylum into a model for the care of the mentally ill. Today, there are only a few buildings of the hospital left. Some of them are still in use, others are inhabited only by ghosts. Our guide to these ghosts -- and the history they represent -- is Sylvia Shults. In Fractured Spirits: Hauntings at the Peoria State Hospital, she brings a passion for paranormal investigation to her adventures at this haunted hotspot. The spirits come to life once more as Shults explores their former home. Other voices help her tell the story: this is a collection of people's experiences at the Peoria State Hospital. Ghost hunting groups, sensitives, former nurses, and ordinary people share their stories with us, their voices resonating to create a panoramic view to rival the vista of the Illinois River. To visit the remaining buildings of the Peoria State Hospital today is to visit a small piece of history. A ghost story over a hundred years in the making, Fractured Spirits is narrative nonfiction at its finest.

Genres: Nonfiction, Horror, Paranormal

222 pages, Paperback

First published January 19, 2013

About the author

Sylvia Shults has worked as a librarian, Bookmobile driver, flower seller, dancer, and art model. Her hobbies include baking, making wines and cordials, and reading (it's an addiction). She firmly believes there is no such thing as too many projects. She lives in Illinois with her husband, a certifiably insane Husky, a Belgian Malinois with no impulse control, and a whole bunch of books.

Reviews

[♥ Sandi ❣ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book hones in on the ghosts and spirits said to be haunting the Peoria State Hospital in Bartonville Illinois. Written in a narrative of gathered stories, rumors and innuendos, this non-fiction book relates to all the remaining building left on the grounds of the hospital - a hot spot for paranormal activity. These historical investigations, by many current prominent ghost chasing companies, include the four cemeteries on the grounds home to over 4000 residents of the asylum. The Peoria State Hospital is said to be one of the most haunted places in the United States.
Easy read. All collaborated by the author, an Illinois historian and paranormal investigator.

[Carrie Clevenger · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unexpectedly deep journey into the depths of the insane asylum, Fractured Spirits was an easy read. I love non-fiction, as I'm always eager to learn. The writing is smooth, descriptive and concise without the usual fact-tsunami boredom. Although there was a few instances of repetition, I didn't feel they took away from the experience of reading. Anyone fascinated in hauntings, ghosts in general or the old insane asylums now long-since closed will enjoy. The author educates on people who lived and died in the rooms, the buildings and their current state and recounts both personal experiences and those of others who believe they've been witness to supernatural events. Whether you believe at the end or not, the book will bring to light years of forgotten history and introduce you to some memorable patients and staff of Peoria State Hospital.

One of the better-written ghost books.

[Lynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book. The ghost sightings by various people are described and are varied. Many people who research paranormal activities have spent time at the Peoria State Hospital and used various devices to document sightings and sounds that presumably verify supernatural personages. Some of the apparitions are named because they seem to be people who were patients or staff at the hospital. The book would not have been as interesting to read without the author's inclusion of history of the hospital and Dr. Zeller, who envisioned and developed this treatment facility. We have come a long way in humanely treating people with mental difficulties.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked how it wasn't just ghost stories, but it was also a history lesson. I enjoyed learning how Dr. Zeller was basically ahead of his times with his treatment methods, and also just the way he is described as respecting all human life, no matter the mental state, and it wasn't out of pity, it was kindness. It is cool to learn that at one time Peoria, Illinois was a leader amongst treatment of mental illness.

[timj26 · Rating 5 out of 5]

As entertaining as it is informative
The author does a good job presenting firsthand encounters as well as folklore
Well narrated and highly recommended to anyone interested in old asylums or ghost hunting
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review

[Micheale Potter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read

[Dena Atchley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great collection of stories! Spooky encounters told by the people who experienced them. Quite a bit of fascinating history also. A pretty intriguing read!

[Debbie Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very well written book about the hauntings at the Peoria State Hospital for the mentally ill. I worked at the mental health center in Galesburg, Il, about 50 miles from Peoria State Hospital. The stories were very interesting, especially when you have a job-related link to the material presented. I actually drove to the Peoria State Hospital after I finished the book....only to discover that it has been torn down. I need to follow up on the haunted tours that take place in the fall. Very interesting.

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming and compelling book; Fractured Spirits, A Haunting at the Peoria State Hospital by Sylvia Shults is a collection of ghost stories centered around the now defunct insane asylum in Bartonville, Illinois. More than that, it’s a wonderful guided tour of the history and haunting of what was once the pinnacle of mental health care in the United States.

Shults, a long time paranormal investigator herself, and an accomplished author, pulls the reader in with a well researched telling of the laudable history of the hospital, which was, for a time, a small village of doctors, nurses and patients suffering from all manner of mental health issues. Led by Dr. George Zeller, the Peoria State Hospital was revolutionary in its approach to caring for the insane, a field that used to simply lock people away, creating an environment that was ripe for abuse and violence. Shults skilfully illustrates the sanctuary that was called an asylum, a place that contrasted the typical idea of an insane asylum, where patients were treated with dignity and compassion.

Shults characterises herself as a die-hard sceptic, but her love of the paranormal shines through in her telling of the many ghostly stories shared with her (and the reader) by locals, other paranormal investigators and ghost hunters, and general curiosity seekers over the years.

To my personal chagrin, Shults clearly buys into the idea that ghosts are the product of an afterlife, many times speculating on the identity and history of certain characters that are thought to haunt the many buildings and cemeteries that make up the hospital. Much as I’d enjoy it this is neither the time nor the place to start such a theological discussion, however.

For the casual reader, Fractured Spirits is just enough to whet the appetite, and I’m not too proud to admit that a few of the featured stories gave me goose bumps. In addition to the rich history and the anecdotal evidence, Shults also offers a multimedia experience in the accompanying website, where you can find many of the EVP’s, photographs and videos mentioned in the book. A wonderful enhancement to the book, the webpage serves to draw the reader into the story, giving them a genuine experience of the haunting of the asylum.

Perhaps the only thing that exceeds Shults’ knowledge of the hospital, its history and its haunting is her passion for the preservation of the remaining grounds, and her interest in promoting the site for further paranormal investigation. The site has hosted hundreds of fright-seekers, investigators and the generally curious through both planned events and independent (and often illegal) excursions into the darkness over the years. The reputations of the Bowen Building and the Pollack Hospital (a former tuberculosis ward) have travelled around the world and the Peoria State Hospital is considered to be one of the most haunted locations in North America.

Whatever your particular bent regarding the nature of ghosts, Fractured Spirits is a journey worth taking, and I give it four out of five stars.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm always glad when books on local ghost stories take care to impart the history of the area, too. It gives the stories more weight and meaning.

Reading about the investigations into ghosts at the hospital was also enjoyable.

Did I believe every story I read in this book? No. But I don't need to. I can enjoy those stories for what they are. Sylvia Shults isn't out to convince every reader that ghosts exist - she's instead sharing her love of the asylum and its stories and hoping someone else will feel the same.

[Hallie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was good for the information but doesn't really give you the scare factor. Considering that I am from the 'Peoria' area it was neat to read about something that is less than an hours drive to get there. The only problem I had with the book is she repeated herself a lot.

[Liz Yost · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book---although it probably helps that I'm in it! A lot of the things they talk about are things I have experienced during my times when I've ghost hunted in the Peoria State hospital various sites.

[Kelly Horn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting read that makes me want to go exploring. There is some repetition throughout the book, but still a great read.

[Hannah Lucille · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loveee the insane asylum

[Ht · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it. lots of history that I never heard about. learned alot about bowens true history. looking forward to now doing my own research on a couple of patients that were housed there.

[Emma Maples · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the historical parts of this book. She made the descriptions really easy to follow.