The Peoria State Hospital was, from the very beginning, built to be an institution unlike anything else of its kind. Opened in 1902, the Peoria State Hospital was initiated by the work of the Peoria Women’s League, who had seen the kinds of “treatments” that were being used to treat the mentally ill at the time. They knew there had to be a better way to house and help these people. Joining me to explore the haunting history of the hospital is Sylvia Shults as we explore the hospital, some of the paranormal reports and the story of Rhoda Derry whose grave epitaph reads: “They built this place of asylum so that no other human would suffer as you. You taught us to love and feel compassion toward the less fortunate. May you find peace and warmth in God’s arms.”

My Special Guest Is Sylvia Shults

Sylvia Shults is the author of several books of paranormal nonfiction, including Gone on Vacation: Haunted Zoos, Museums, and Amusement Parks, the award-winning Days of the Dead: A Year of True Ghost Stories, and Grave Deeds And Dead Plots. She sits in dark, spooky, haunted places so you don't have to. She has spent the last twenty-five years working at a public library, slowly smuggling out enough words in her pockets week after week to build a book of her own.

She is the writer, narrator, director, and producer of the true ghost story podcast Lights Out With Sylvia Shults, available on any podcast platform, and on YouTube.

Sylvia loves hearing from her readers, especially when they have spooky stories of their own to share with her. She can be found at ⁠www.sylviashults.wordpress.com⁠, and on Facebook at the pages for Fractured Spirits, Lights Out, and Ghosts of the Illinois River.

Doctor Zeller

Opened under the name “Illinois Asylum for the Incurable Insane,” Dr. Zeller petitioned to have the name changed to "Illinois General Hospital" and later changed to “Peoria State Hospital” as he did not believe anyone to be “incurable.” Dr. Zeller wanted to run a new kind of institution which treated people with mental illnesses humanely. He took all of the bars off the doors and windows, removed all types of restraint, and instituted new, holistic types of therapies. Dr. Zeller was considered mad for refusing to lock his patients up or tie them to beds, but his open-door policy meant his patients were treated with human kindness and empathy.

 

In this episode, you will be able to:

1. Explore the history of Peoria State Hospital.

2. Explore some of the paranormal reports experienced at the hospital.

3. Discover the story of Rhoda Derry.

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Guest Links:

⁠⁠⁠www.sylviashults.wordpress.com⁠

Link to books: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sylvia-Shults/author/B00QOCDMJ4?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true