Most Haunted Places in America: Christian Church Hospital

On Halloween in 1914, the Christian Church Hospital was opened in Kansas City, MO. During the flu pandemic of 1919, hundreds of citizens flocked to the doors seeking cures. Many of the patients were World War I vets. With little understanding of the flu in those days, more patients died than survived. Over the years there have been many reports that has raised the question is the Christian Church Hospital haunted?

Sometime later, the federal government bought the hospital. It was abandoned for years, until Dr. Robert Patterson, a renowned psychiatrist, finally bought it in 1927. This European-trained doctor used questionable methods to treat patients. In those days, advanced psychiatry included chains, wet sheets, cages, and, according to some legends, the ice pick technique of frontal lobotomies.

Doctor Patterson continued using these controversial methods for three decades. In the late 50s, he suddenly developed mental health issues himself. According to local legend, he became a victim of ice pick lobotomy himself. The building was abandoned again after his death. The city eventually stepped in and converted it to an asylum to hold the criminally insane.

Unfortunately, the city continued using the same techniques that Doctor Patterson used for another two decades, despite them being cruel and inefficient. Finally, in 1975, the city decided it did not want to keep paying for the upkeep of the building, and moved out of it.

It was left vacant for more than three decades until Hoffman Cortes Restoration, a local group, transformed it into The Residences of West Paseo. Although many of the neighbors in the area have reportedly seen ghostly figures over the years, none of the new residences have reported anything unusual.

During the renovation, all the terra-cotta features and exterior masonry were restored. The casement security windows, which were installed in the 1930s, were removed and replaced with reproductions. The waiting rooms and entrance lobby on the second floor have been renovated with new marble walls.

Overall, the financing sources of the project cost $11.5 million. In 2007, The Residences of West Paseo, formerly known as the Christian Church Hospital, won the Preservation Award from the Historic City Foundation.

Over the years some of the paranormal experiences being reported were doors opening and closing, sounds coming from different places, and tools being hid or even thrown at the workers during the renovation. Some of the workers left the project and never returned. It seems that after all was finished however, things seem to calm down.

President of the Hoffman Cortes Restoration, Charles Scammel, believes that the ghostly inhabitants, if ever there were any, have moved on since the restoration process. With that much money invested, that is exactly what should be said. I wonder if the residents have had any paranormal experiences and can tell us is the Christian Church Hospital haunted still today.

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4. Haunted Places: The Puget Sound Mental Hospital
5. The Haunted Traverse City State Hospital