“ | "I bet she escaped from Pennhurst . . . the nuthouse in Kerley County." | ” |
Pennhurst Mental Hospital was a hospital located in Kerley County, Indiana. It housed patients with a wide variety of mental illnesses, including the supposed murderer, Victor Creel. The hospital's warden was Anthony Hatch.
History[]
1959[]
On March 25, 1959, Victor Creel was arrested for the murders of his wife and daughter, which were actually committed by his son, Henry. In court, Creel claimed that a demonic entity was responsible for the deaths, but he was declared legally insane and incarcerated at Pennhurst. Once imprisoned at the mental hospital, Creel attempted to commit suicide by gouging out his own eyes, but was stopped by the warden of the hospital.
1983[]
On the night of November 7, 1983, Lucas Sinclair theorized that Eleven was an escapee from the mental hospital, Pennhurst, after the boys found her on Mirkwood when searching for Will Byers. Dustin Henderson joked that Lucas had family at Pennhurst, which caused Lucas to say, "Bite me!".
1986[]
Robin Buckley and Nancy Wheeler visited Pennhurst to interview Victor Creel. They pretended to be female psychology students, wanting some insight into his psyche. Warden Anthony Hatch, the pretentious and smug head of a psychiatric hospital, initially denied them access to Creel.[2] However, Robin was able to convince him that, had they been male psychology students, they would have been granted access. Hatch relented and allowed them an interview. On the way to Creel's cell, they passed through a room containing patients who were listening to music. Hatch explained that music was sometimes very beneficial for psychiatric cases.
As they approached Creel's cell, however, Robin misstated the name of their college professor, which caused Hatch to become suspicious.
Robin and Nancy were left alone outside Creel's cell. Creel told Robin and Nancy that his family had been murdered by a demon, which caused horrific visions of disturbing events in his past. He was called back from his vision, and saved, by hearing "the voice of an angel". Creel began to hum a song. Just then, Warden Hatch returned - he had contacted the college professor and verified that Robin and Nancy were impostors. Hatch, with several guards, led Robin and Nancy back towards the warden's office, where they would await the arrival of the police.
On the way, Robin and Nancy realized that the "voice of an angel" was music that Creel had heard -- music that provided him with a mental lifeline back to reality. They broke away from their guards, fled to the Wheeler's station wagon, and then escaped. They radioed Dustin the information that music seemed to be the key to resisting Vecna.
Behind the scenes[]
Filming for Pennhurst Mental Hospital commenced in early March of 2020 on the campus of Berry College in Georgia, where Natalia Dyer (Nancy Wheeler) and Maya Hawke (Robin Buckley) were spotted filming.[3] A sign for the hospital was also placed on the campus while filming.[4]
Trivia[]
- The town of Hawkins is fictional, but the basis for Pennhurst comes from a state hospital located in Pennsylvania. Originally called the Eastern State Institution for the Feeble-Minded and Epileptic, the facility eventually became Pennhurst State School and Hospital. It served as a home for mentally and physically disabled patients until it closed in 1987.
- The hospital's sordid history of patient abuse and neglect ultimately resulted in its closure. However, a man named Richard Chakejian reopened the building as a Halloween attraction for thrill-seekers.
References[]
Cities & Towns | Bloomington • Chicago • Hawkins • Kyrzran • Lenora Hills • New York City • Pittsburgh • Ruth • Salt Lake City |
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States & Regions | |
Buildings, Local Areas and Facilities | Benny's Burgers • Bradley's Big Buy • Brimborn Steel Works • Enzo's • Family Video • Forest Hills Trailer Park • Fun Fair • Hawk Theater • Hawkins Community Pool • Hawkins High School • Hawkins Junkyard • Hawkins Middle School • Hawkins Memorial Hospital • Hawkins National Laboratory • Hawkins Police Station • The Hawkins Post • Hawkins Town Hall • Hess Farm • Kamchatka Facility • Lenora Hills Airport • Lenora Hills High School • Lenora Junkyard • Lover's Lake • McCorkle farm • Melvald's General Store • Merrill Wright's farm • The Nina Project • Palace Arcade • Pennhurst Mental Hospital • Hawkins Public Library • Roane Hill Cemetery • Rink-O-Mania • Sattler Quarry • Scoops Ahoy • Starcourt Base • Starcourt Mall • Surfer Boy Pizza • The War Zone • Weathertop |
Homes & Residences | |
Countries | |
Upside Down & Miscellaneous |