"Building 50" - Description of Sections (Northern Michigan Asylum)
Northern Michigan Asylum (Traverse City State Hospital)

Building 50 - Description of Sections

"Building 50" is the centerpiece of the former Northern Michigan Asylum (Traverse City State Hospital). Designed by Midwestern church architect Gordon W. Lloyd, this large, mostly three story building was built on what is known as the "Kirkbride plan" of institution design for housing mental patients.

The building consists of twelve sections, eleven of which are labelled in the photograph. The three-tiered Section labels refer to the three stories of the building (for example, for "Section 18 12 6", 18 is the third floor, 12 is the second floor, and 6 is the first floor). Each of the numbers for the floors in a section referred to a "hall".
Reproduction courtesey of Anderson Aerial Photograph. Click on the photo to view an unmarked version.

Southern Sections

Most of the southern section was built in 1885. This section housed male patients. The male cottages, starting with Cottage 40 extend to the south from near Section 20.

Section 18 12 6 - Extreme male patients. Built in 1885 as a two-story wing, but expanded to three stories on the southern end in 1910.
Section 16 10 4 - Intermediate male patients. Built in 1885.
Section 14 8 2 - Convalescent male patients. Built in 1885.
Section 20 - This separate building was constructed in 1890. It was designated as an infirmary.
Fry Wing - Built in 1924, the reddish brick on this section does not match the rest of Building 50. Named for a state architect, this wing was employee housing. This wing connects Section 20 with Section 16 10 4.

Center Sections

Old Center - not in photograph. Demolished in the early 1960s
Canteen (50a) - This flat-roof mismatched section was built in the late 1960s/early 1970s. This section is in active use at this time.
Old Chapel (Library) - This was the old chapel, but was later converted to a patient library and other offices.

Northern Sections

Most of the northern part was built in 1885. This section housed male patients. The female cottage buildings, starting with Cottage 21 extend from the north of Section 17 11 5. The most recent public tours of Building 50 have taken place on the first floor: halls 1, 3, and 5.

Section 13 7 1 - Extreme female patients. Built in 1885 as a two-story wing, but expanded to three stories on the northern end in 1910.
Section 15 9 3 - Intermediate female patients. Built in 1885.
Section 17 11 5 - Convalescent female patients. Built in 1885.
Section 19 - This separate building was constructed in 1890. It was designated as an infirmary. A later one-story addition connected this building into Section 15 9 3, corresponding to the Fry Wing in the southern section.

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