Building 27 at Willowbrook State School was built in 1941 and completed in 1943. The building was designed to be a male infirmary and is a one-story structure constructed out of brick. This building along with Building 25 and Building 29 were designed to be for non-ambulatory patients. (Ref: https://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/arch_reports/689.pdf)
Many of its patients were nonverbal and required continuous care. Many could not walk or speak. Building 27 housed 140 profoundly retarded (IQs under 20) adolescents of both sexes. Only a few were toilet trained which is why the building reeked of urine and feces.
(Ref: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1972-pt5/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1972-pt5-1-1.pdf)
(Ref: https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1973/10/5/for-a-friend-in-the-snakepit/)
Building 27 was featured in the 1972 documentary Willowbrook : The Last Great Disgrace recorded by Geraldo Riviera for his news exposé. These patients did have clothes on. But the one thing that couldn’t be hidden is that there were no training programs. That all these patients did was sit during the day.
(Ref: http://index.geraldo.com/folio/willowbrook)
Today Building 27 is now a part of CUNY College of Staten Island. The perimeter is fenced off with a chain link fence. Building 27 is now being used for storage along with Building 25. The abandoned former Willowbrook State School buildings are owned by the College of Staten Island.
Students who attend CUNY College of Staten Island claim they hear voices coming from these building as they believe the campus is haunted. Some students and local residents have claimed to hear voices coming from Building 27 and Building 25.
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