by Sheri Tkacz, Marketing Manager
If you google “most haunted places in Connecticut”, the first link that pops up lists the six most haunted spots in our storied New England state. Several of these places seemed oddly familiar to me – and not in a past life or bad dream kind of way. Why did these places send both a shiver down my spine and a prick of recognition in my brain? Because the brave professionals at Fuss & O’Neill powered up their proton packs, swapped out their traditional safety goggles for ecto-goggles, and charged head first to these sinister spots.
The Fairfield Hills State Hospital in Newtown has a dark history. Home to more than 4,000 patients at its peak, the defunct psychiatric hospital is now 16 abandoned buildings in varying forms of disrepair (as featured in the 1996 movie “Sleepers”). Disembodied voices, screams, and cries have been reported, rumored to be the spirits of souls subjected to full frontal lobotomies or electroconvulsive therapy. Ghostly figures in white have been seen on the grounds and the hospital is connected by a series of now-sealed tunnels that once served to transport corpses to the on-campus morgue. While some come to search for ectoplasm, our intrepid investigators were there to search for other materials – hazardous ones. We provided hazardous building material inspection services and testing for asbestos, lead, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). We also helped with water improvements and a sewer trunk line that bisects the facility. Did we see anything otherworldly while we were there? Let’s just say no one was volunteering to do any nighttime sampling…
Portions of the former Remington Arms manufacturing plant in Bridgeport were demolished in recent years. Our stouthearted structural engineers provided demolition assistance in the form of structural assessments, permitting, and demolition plans/specifications. However, while they were out on site, other things may have been as well. Shadowy figures were often seen on the factory floor, thought to be the troubled souls of those who perished in a 1942 explosion. There have been reports of unexplained cold spots, spirit orbs, and eerie mists. Many who have visited the site have heard unearthly voices and have experienced a general feeling of dread. When we asked our structural team if they had seen or heard anything, they suddenly all had a meeting to go to…
Norwich State Hospital in Preston closed in 1996, but had been home to more than 700 criminally insane patients in its nearly 100-year existence. While our environmental teams checked for hazardous building materials, mold, and fuel oil, as well as performed a Phase II subsurface investigation, there is a whole ‘lot more at this site worth investigating. Doors slam without human aid, sounds from now-defunct operating rooms have been heard, and spectral children have been seen running through the halls. The most active paranormal site is the Salmon Building, which was where the criminally insane patients were, essentially, locked up and tortured. It’s no wonder why this hospital tops nearly every list as the most haunted place in Connecticut!
We salute our brave engineers, scientists, planners, surveyors, and environmental professionals, and wish you all a very happy, and spooky, Halloween! 🎃👻🎃
Sheri Tkacz has degrees in English and International Pastry and is happy to be employed. She would like to thank our engineers and scientists for a look into these spooky project sites!
