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Hayswood: Any change would be appreciated
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By MISTY MAYNARD Staff Writer
Though hailed as one of Maysville's historic buildings, many who live in the area near the long-vacant Hayswood Hospital feel it ought to be demolished.
"I think it needs to be torn down," said Marti Insko, owner of Moon River Bed and Breakfast on Market Street. Moon River has been in operation since 2002.
Insko said the building is not of enough historical significance to warrant saving the hospital, and emphasizes the need for parking in the area.
"I have a vision," she said. "Have that be a parking lot, a nice parking lot."
Insko said that parking is sometimes difficult along the streets, with all the downtown apartments and businesses. If the building were torn down, she said it could easily provide enough parking for the surrounding residents and business owners, as well as provide some green space with benches and landscaping. She also said that with the high bank behind it, a roof line could jut out and offer covered parking, or even a place for a Farmers' Market.
Insko said that with many people taking the old U.S. 68 hill home in the evenings, they could stop and buy groceries on their way. In addition, if an elevated platform of some kind was constructed, she said it might be a nice place for concerts. People could bring lawn chairs or sit on benches to listen to the music.
Insko is not alone in her desire to see additional parking in the area along Fourth and Market streets.
"I don't care what they do to the hospital," said 86-year-old Anita Blakefield. "But we have no parking on Fourth Street."
Blakefield, who has lived on Fourth Street since 1962, said she lived in the area when the hospital was still open, and remembers fighting for parking places then. The problem lingers as people move into apartments or homes in the area, or work in businesses in the area. She said the opening of the Underground Railroad museum has also compounded the problem.
Blakefield does not seem optimistic about the idea of apartments in the abandoned building because it is so large, and could accommodate many families. She worries the parking problem will grow even more out of hand.
With the current parking problem, Blakefield said she has difficulty getting her groceries home.
At least two other residents in the area agree the building ought to be razed, including Marti Insko's husband, Mike Insko.
Mike Insko said Hayswood should be torn down, but is not against the idea of condominiums in the area. He said if condos are designed right, it would also address the parking problem so residents in the condos would not increase the burden.
Melissa Redmond, who owns Redmond Photography with her husband, Lee, said they purchased the 112-year-old building where their business currently is located about a year ago. They live in the upstairs of the building, and work from the downstairs. She said locating their business at the corner of Fourth and Market streets was never really a concern because they knew, eventually, something would be done with Hayswood Hospital.
"It was just a great location, great house," she said.
Redmond said the building where they are located was on the market for about two years, and said Hayswood may have been a reason why it was not sold earlier.
For her part, Redmond said she would not be opposed to seeing the building torn down, and expresses the hope that a nice, well-maintained park could take its place.
Tom Griffiths, whose residence is located on Fourth Street near the hospital, said the area has seen a remarkable transformation lately.
Griffiths said he has lived in his current residence for about two years, and purchased it before renovations were even complete, and before it even went on the market.
"It's a beautiful old house," he said. "Regardless of the hospital, I still think it's a great location."
With a new baby, Griffiths said his only concern is regarding any toxins in the old hospital building that could potentially be released into the air. He said he keeps an eye out when representatives from the EPA are working over there.
Griffiths said the entire area has been "getting better and better," with more people investing in the buildings and fixing them up. As for the hospital, he would not be opposed to it being renovated and used.
"I think that inside the hospital are the bones of a beautiful building," he said. "It has a lot of charm."
However, Griffiths added, if in five years in the place of Hayswood was beautiful hillside, "that'd be OK too."
Hayswood Hospital operated as a full service hospital for about 60 years. Prior to that, it served as Hayswood Seminary, followed by the old Hayswood/Wilson hospital.
At its peak, the hospital had 87 beds available for patient care. The building has stood vacant since Meadowview Regional Medical Hospital was built and became operational in 1983.
Individuals from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency were at the location recently collecting samples and testing for various contaminants as part of Phase II of Hayswood's environmental assessment.
Maysville City Engineer Sam Baker said the information could be used to write a good grant application, and to decide the future of the building. The building could potentially be used for residential or mixed residential/commercial uses. Or, Baker has said, it may be determined that it is not feasible to reuse the building.
A public meeting will be held once the results are available.
In addition to its history in the area, Hayswood Hospital has gained some public interest, as well as the interest of individuals from outside the area, due to some rumors concerning ghosts.
According to 14-year-old Rebecca Insko, her friend has witnessed a woman carrying a baby walking through the nursery area of the hospital. The woman is rumored to have died in labor, and the baby died with her.
"You can see her walking through halls with a dead baby in her hands," she said. "It freaks me out."
Griffiths said that he has not witnessed any strange sights in the building, but has seen people coming to the area who are interested in the ghosts.
"People look for ghosts all the time," he said.
The house is actually listed on several Web sites, including theshadowlands.net, which lists haunted sites in Kentucky. On the site, it said people have reported seeing doctors in the halls and hearing the cries of past patients, as well as seen lights in the windows and heard an infant crying.
On the site paranormalmagazine.com, a report of strange incidences or sights in the area lists not only Hayswood Hospital's woman ghost and infant cries, it also said that in the basement and other areas of the building there are strange markings that bestow a threatening hostility on whoever walks past or drives by.
Other sites also list Hayswood Hospital.
Griffiths said that though the hospital is an abandoned building, "it has a strange life of its own."
Contact Misty Maynard at 606-564-9091, ext. 274.
"It's a beautiful old house," he said. "Regardless of the hospital, I still think it's a great location."
With a new baby, Griffiths said his only concern is regarding any toxins in the old hospital building that could potentially be released into the air. He said he keeps an eye out when representatives from the EPA are working over there.
Griffiths said the entire area has been "getting better and better," with more people investing in the buildings and fixing them up. As for the hospital, he would not be opposed to it being renovated and used.
"I think that inside the hospital are the bones of a beautiful building," he said. "It has a lot of charm."
However, Griffiths added, if in five years in the place of Hayswood was beautiful hillside, "that'd be OK too."
Hayswood Hospital operated as a full service hospital for about 60 years. Prior to that, it served as Hayswood Seminary, followed by the old Hayswood/Wilson hospital.
At its peak, the hospital had 87 beds available for patient care. The building has stood vacant since Meadowview Regional Medical Hospital was built and became operational in 1983.
Individuals from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency were at the location recently collecting samples and testing for various contaminants as part of Phase II of Hayswood's environmental assessment.
Maysville City Engineer Sam Baker said the information could be used to write a good grant application, and to decide the future of the building. The building could potentially be used for residential or mixed residential/commercial uses. Or, Baker has said, it may be determined that it is not feasible to reuse the building.
A public meeting will be held once the results are available.
In addition to its history in the area, Hayswood Hospital has gained some public interest, as well as the interest of individuals from outside the area, due to some rumors concerning ghosts.
According to 14-year-old Rebecca Insko, her friend has witnessed a woman carrying a baby walking through the nursery area of the hospital. The woman is rumored to have died in labor, and the baby died with her.
"You can see her walking through halls with a dead baby in her hands," she said. "It freaks me out."
Griffiths said that he has not witnessed any strange sights in the building, but has seen people coming to the area who are interested in the ghosts.
"People look for ghosts all the time," he said.
The house is actually listed on several Web sites, including theshadowlands.net, which lists haunted sites in Kentucky. On the site, it said people have reported seeing doctors in the halls and hearing the cries of past patients, as well as seen lights in the windows and heard an infant crying.
On the site paranormalmagazine.com, a report of strange incidences or sites in the area list not only Hayswood Hospital's woman ghost and infant cries, it also said that in the basement and other areas of the building there are strange markings that whoever walks past or drives by experiences a threatening hostility.
Other sites also list Hayswood Hospital.
Griffiths said that though the hospital is an abandoned building, "it has a strange life of its own."
Contact Misty Maynard at 606-564-9091, ext. 274.
"I think it needs to be torn down," said Marti Insko, owner of Moon River Bed and Breakfast on Market Street. Moon River has been in operation since 2002.
Insko said the building is not of enough historical significance to warrant saving the hospital, and emphasizes the need for parking in the area.
"I have a vision," she said. "Have that be a parking lot, a nice parking lot."
Insko said that parking is sometimes difficult along the streets, with all the downtown apartments and businesses. If the building were torn down, she said it could easily provide enough parking for the surrounding residents and business owners, as well as provide some green space with benches and landscaping. She also said that with the high bank behind it, a roof line could jut out and offer covered parking, or even a place for a Farmers' Market.
Insko said that with many people taking the old U.S. 68 hill home in the evenings, they could stop and buy groceries on their way. In addition, if an elevated platform of some kind was constructed, she said it might be a nice place for concerts. People could bring lawn chairs or sit on benches to listen to the music.
Insko is not alone in her desire to see additional parking in the area along Fourth and Market streets.
"I don't care what they do to the hospital," said 86-year-old Anita Blakefield. "But we have no parking on Fourth Street."
Blakefield, who has lived on Fourth Street since 1962, said she lived in the area when the hospital was still open, and remembers fighting for parking places then. The problem lingers as people move into apartments or homes in the area, or work in businesses in the area. She said the opening of the Underground Railroad museum has also compounded the problem.
Blakefield does not seem optimistic about the idea of apartments in the abandoned building because it is so large, and could accommodate many families. She worries the parking problem will grow even more out of hand.
With the current parking problem, Blakefield said she has difficulty getting her groceries home.
At least two other residents in the area agree the building ought to be razed, including Marti Insko's husband, Mike Insko.
Mike Insko said Hayswood should be torn down, but is not against the idea of condominiums in the area. He said if condos are designed right, it would also address the parking problem so residents in the condos would not increase the burden.
Melissa Redmond, who owns Redmond Photography with her husband, Lee, said they purchased the 112-year-old building where their business currently is located about a year ago. They live in the upstairs of the building, and work from the downstairs. She said locating their business at the corner of Fourth and Market streets was never really a concern because they knew, eventually, something would be done with Hayswood Hospital.
"It was just a great location, great house," she said.
Redmond said the building where they are located was on the market for about two years, and said Hayswood may have been a reason why it was not sold earlier.
For her part, Redmond said she would not be opposed to seeing the building torn down, and expresses the hope that a nice, well-maintained park could take its place.
Tom Griffiths, whose residence is located on Fourth Street near the hospital, said the area has seen a remarkable transformation lately.
Griffiths said he has lived in his current residence for about two years, and purchased it before renovations were even complete, and before it even went on the market.
"It's a beautiful old house," he said. "Regardless of the hospital, I still think it's a great location."
With a new baby, Griffiths said his only concern is regarding any toxins in the old hospital building that could potentially be released into the air. He said he keeps an eye out when representatives from the EPA are working over there.
Griffiths said the entire area has been "getting better and better," with more people investing in the buildings and fixing them up. As for the hospital, he would not be opposed to it being renovated and used.
"I think that inside the hospital are the bones of a beautiful building," he said. "It has a lot of charm."
However, Griffiths added, if in five years in the place of Hayswood was beautiful hillside, "that'd be OK too."
Hayswood Hospital operated as a full service hospital for about 60 years. Prior to that, it served as Hayswood Seminary, followed by the old Hayswood/Wilson hospital.
At its peak, the hospital had 87 beds available for patient care. The building has stood vacant since Meadowview Regional Medical Hospital was built and became operational in 1983.
Individuals from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency were at the location recently collecting samples and testing for various contaminants as part of Phase II of Hayswood's environmental assessment.
Maysville City Engineer Sam Baker said the information could be used to write a good grant application, and to decide the future of the building. The building could potentially be used for residential or mixed residential/commercial uses. Or, Baker has said, it may be determined that it is not feasible to reuse the building.
A public meeting will be held once the results are available.
In addition to its history in the area, Hayswood Hospital has gained some public interest, as well as the interest of individuals from outside the area, due to some rumors concerning ghosts.
According to 14-year-old Rebecca Insko, her friend has witnessed a woman carrying a baby walking through the nursery area of the hospital. The woman is rumored to have died in labor, and the baby died with her.
"You can see her walking through halls with a dead baby in her hands," she said. "It freaks me out."
Griffiths said that he has not witnessed any strange sights in the building, but has seen people coming to the area who are interested in the ghosts.
"People look for ghosts all the time," he said.
The house is actually listed on several Web sites, including theshadowlands.net, which lists haunted sites in Kentucky. On the site, it said people have reported seeing doctors in the halls and hearing the cries of past patients, as well as seen lights in the windows and heard an infant crying.
On the site paranormalmagazine.com, a report of strange incidences or sights in the area lists not only Hayswood Hospital's woman ghost and infant cries, it also said that in the basement and other areas of the building there are strange markings that bestow a threatening hostility on whoever walks past or drives by.
Other sites also list Hayswood Hospital.
Griffiths said that though the hospital is an abandoned building, "it has a strange life of its own."
Contact Misty Maynard at 606-564-9091, ext. 274.
"It's a beautiful old house," he said. "Regardless of the hospital, I still think it's a great location."
With a new baby, Griffiths said his only concern is regarding any toxins in the old hospital building that could potentially be released into the air. He said he keeps an eye out when representatives from the EPA are working over there.
Griffiths said the entire area has been "getting better and better," with more people investing in the buildings and fixing them up. As for the hospital, he would not be opposed to it being renovated and used.
"I think that inside the hospital are the bones of a beautiful building," he said. "It has a lot of charm."
However, Griffiths added, if in five years in the place of Hayswood was beautiful hillside, "that'd be OK too."
Hayswood Hospital operated as a full service hospital for about 60 years. Prior to that, it served as Hayswood Seminary, followed by the old Hayswood/Wilson hospital.
At its peak, the hospital had 87 beds available for patient care. The building has stood vacant since Meadowview Regional Medical Hospital was built and became operational in 1983.
Individuals from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency were at the location recently collecting samples and testing for various contaminants as part of Phase II of Hayswood's environmental assessment.
Maysville City Engineer Sam Baker said the information could be used to write a good grant application, and to decide the future of the building. The building could potentially be used for residential or mixed residential/commercial uses. Or, Baker has said, it may be determined that it is not feasible to reuse the building.
A public meeting will be held once the results are available.
In addition to its history in the area, Hayswood Hospital has gained some public interest, as well as the interest of individuals from outside the area, due to some rumors concerning ghosts.
According to 14-year-old Rebecca Insko, her friend has witnessed a woman carrying a baby walking through the nursery area of the hospital. The woman is rumored to have died in labor, and the baby died with her.
"You can see her walking through halls with a dead baby in her hands," she said. "It freaks me out."
Griffiths said that he has not witnessed any strange sights in the building, but has seen people coming to the area who are interested in the ghosts.
"People look for ghosts all the time," he said.
The house is actually listed on several Web sites, including theshadowlands.net, which lists haunted sites in Kentucky. On the site, it said people have reported seeing doctors in the halls and hearing the cries of past patients, as well as seen lights in the windows and heard an infant crying.
On the site paranormalmagazine.com, a report of strange incidences or sites in the area list not only Hayswood Hospital's woman ghost and infant cries, it also said that in the basement and other areas of the building there are strange markings that whoever walks past or drives by experiences a threatening hostility.
Other sites also list Hayswood Hospital.
Griffiths said that though the hospital is an abandoned building, "it has a strange life of its own."
Contact Misty Maynard at 606-564-9091, ext. 274.
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