Preservationists and Government Officials Once Again Consider Greystone's Future

The Preserve Greystone committee, a group of local residents that came together about three years ago to consider what, if anything, should be done to the buildings and property that comprised the enormous state psychiatric institution since the late 1800s, will hold its annual meeting Thursday night to discuss what options may be available for preserving the land and buildings.

It’s a conundrum that involves the state, Morris County and the five municipalities, including Parsippany and Morris Plains, that have an interest in Greystone’s future.

The property and structures are of paramount concern to preservationists who don’t want to see part of New Jersey’s history, and its link with mental health issues, lost through neglect. However, since many of the buildings were closed as recently as 2005, not much, other than some demolition, has been done to them.

“All I know is that the history that exists in those buildings would do enormous good by being rehabilitated and preserving the building and grounds," said Sen. Richard Codey (D-Roseland). “We can show future generations how we mistreated the mentally ill and those with cystic fibrosis and Alzheimers [and other diseases]. It’s a learning experience [for future generations]."

Originally called the State Lunatic Asylum, the name was changed to Greystone Park Psychiatric Center in 1924. While it was initially intended to house the mentally ill in a “humane” way, with a population in the hundreds, by the early 1950s, some 7,000 people were housed there.

As time went on, its reputation was sullied by stories of patient abuse, even rape and the occasional escaped patient. By 2000, Gov. Christine Todd Whitman ordered the old Greystone closed and construction begin on a new, smaller building on the property.

Codey admits the state is not in a position to spend money on such a project today but “maybe in three years it might be possible to help facilitate some preservation efforts," the former governor said. Demolition of the buildings will cost several million dollars.

Greystone has a storied past, including a stay by Dust Bowl-era folk singer and songwriter Woody Guthrie who suffered with Huntington’s disease, an incurable neuro-degenerative disease. In the 1960s, Guthrie was visited by upcoming folk singer and performer Bob Dylan. Around the same time, Beat generation poet Allen Ginsberg's mother, Naomi, was hospitalized there. His poem, "Kadish" is said to have been written in her memory.

Of primary concern is the iconic Kirkbride building, the enormous, hulking structure that most recently housed administration offices, an elegant chapel complete with an organ and irreplaceable stained glass. The roof, however, is leaking and water is running down the walls.

“One of our main points is that the building should be sealed and stabilized,” said Adam McGovern, a Mount Tabor resident who serves as secretary to the committee. McGovern and his wife, Lynn Brunskill, have been leading the charge to preserve Greystone.

Denville mayor Ted Hussa is a proponent of saving the Kirkbride building at the very least. “The building is too good to knock it over," he said. "If we start piecemeal, and fix it bit by bit,” with state grant money for historic preservation, that might at least be a stop-gap method to prevent the entire property from falling into further decay.

Hussa was encouraged when Wayne Hasenbalg, deputy chief of staff for policy and planning in Gov. Chris Christie’s office, and his assistant, Regina Egea, sat down with some members of Preserve Greystone and listened and seemed to take their concerns about the state of Greystone seriously.

Hussa provided Patch with a March letter that was sent to him from Hasenbalg. The letter stated that Hasenbalg and his staff "have been working since we last met to see whether a plan could be developed that balances the interests in preserving portions of the Greystone property while also dealing with the public safety and health concerns associated with the buildings.”

Hasenbalg said they are reviewing “financial models to see whether funding can be made available to accomplish these purposes.” He promised to reach out again “when we have recommendations to advance.”

In recent years, the state sold about 300 acres of its property to Morris County for a token $1 amount to use as open space. To date, that land has been turned into a dog park, some walking paths, two skating rinks and a Challenger ball field designed for use by handicapped individuals.

That land has been named Central Park Morris because it is off Central Avenue in Morris Plains. But off in the distance is the Kirkbride building, which is closed and under the protection of Department of Human Services police.

Greystone largely resides in Parsippany but touches or affects the nearby municipalities of Morris Plains, Morris Township, Randolph and Denville, further complicating its future.

Some, like Hussa, believe parts of it should be saved for historic purposes. Others, like Morris Plains Mayor Frank Druetzler, a former freeholder, believe it will be difficult, if not impossible, to coordinate its preservation though grants applied for by five different municipalities.

“I applaud their efforts but we don’t own the property,” said Druetzler, who feels the first step should be to get the state to turn the remaining 285 acres over to the county. “If you don’t own the property, there’s nothing you can do. Most of the buildings are not worth preserving.”

Finally, there are the on-again, off-again interests of real estate developers who have at times expressed interest in securing some of the property for development. Their interests waned several years ago with the current economic recession.

The Preserve Greystone annual meeting will be held Thursday at the Morris Plains Community Center at 7 p.m. 

In addition to the regular meeting, Mary Reilly, of the Sustainable Leadership Forum, will speak about how Greystone preservation fits into “green” reuse of valuable resources. The meeting is open to the public. For more information, visit Preserve Greystone's website. 

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated Allen Ginsberg was a patient at Greystone. However, Ginberg's mother, Naomi, was a patient.