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A Brief History of Molly Stark Sanatorium
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Molly Stark Sanatorium is a historical landmark in Louisville, Ohio. It may not be around for as long as you think, so I figured a nice history on the place would be worth posting. I'm not dwelling on whether it is haunted or not, because I know it is - from people who went in and from law enforcement who used to have offices in the building. Let's dive into the history.
Courtesy of architecturalafterlife.com
What I know of Molly Stark is not good. Let me dump it all here, just so you know my starting point. My Great Grandfather came here for Tuberculosis and never discussed his experiences. One of my extended family (according to my mother) worked there briefly, noting that the vibe was not positive and that several people had been in comas for years in the building. On top of all that, I worked with and made friends with many people who went in (well, snuck in) and can prove it is haunted. Even law enforcement, who briefly had offices there, can confirm it is haunted. I won't tell you it's not. It is also dangerous to be in the building, as asbestos is not good for anyone's lungs and the building is not in good shape. I ran into people who used to work in Molly Stark at my evening job - literally down the road from Molly Stark.
With all that bad energy I just word-vomited, I also want to say that it is a beloved landmark. Strange as it is, the place and its history are part of Louisville and Stark County. Many are not happy that it will be demolished. In 2023, it was announced that it would be demolished, despite promises that it'd be restored. It's just too expensive and the place has become a liability and a danger to the public, who's curiousity has led to breaking into the dangerous building.
The History
It began in 1929 as one of the 25 Tuberculosis hospitals in Ohio. 1956 was the year it became Molly Stark Hospital after admitting other medical illnesses. In 1975, multiple people resigned at once, and its finances were not good. Fewer patients and bad infrastructure led to its end in 1995. That's the timeline for you. What's left is part of Stark Parks and won't be around forever. They closed the park when an incident occurred, an incident where someone's child was lost in the abandoned structure and had to be found.
It was constructed because many thought that sunlight and fresh air are good for patient recovery. In the end, while some recovered (my great grandfather included), it became "a waiting room for death". The building was named after General John Stark's wife. The complex also included a children's hospital, nurses' home, a superintendent's residence, and a power plant. There is a tunnel system connecting all of it.
Because medical advances made the hospital's original intention less needed, they accepted different ailments into the complex. Eventually, the staff leaving and the money problems ended the whole place. The removal of asbestos has discouraged any restoration processes - because it would cost too much. The estimated renovation cost came to 10 million dollars.
According to the Stark Parks website that park is closed until further notice. I think the building may come down sooner rather than later. They used to do tours of the exterior buildings, but I've heard they are tearing it down very soon.
A Word of Caution
I do not want to encourage people to break in, just to get a better view. Honestly, so many people have videos posted online that you don't have to. You can look at it from your couch. Now you can't even walk the grounds because someone lost their child in the building they broke into. Also, the neighbors and rangers are hypervigilant. Please don't break in. Just look up the videos of the people who already did. This has been my firm warning.
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