As we embark on our fall aerial photo series, “Abandoned NY,” we delve into the eerie remnants of places long forgotten. Our journey begins with one of Saratoga County’s most notorious and mysterious landmarks: the Saratoga County Homestead.
A Glimpse into the Past
Located in the quiet town of Providence, New York, the Saratoga County Homestead stands as a haunting reminder of a bygone era. Originally opened in 1914, the facility was built as a tuberculosis sanatorium—a place designed to treat patients suffering from the highly contagious and often deadly disease. Tuberculosis, or TB as it was commonly known, was a leading cause of death in the early 20th century, prompting the construction of specialized hospitals where patients could be isolated from the general population.
At its peak, the Homestead could accommodate up to 100 patients. These individuals were cared for in an environment intended to provide rest, fresh air, and nutritious food—then believed to be the best treatment for TB. The Homestead wasn’t just a hospital; it was a self-sustained community. It had its own farm, which provided food for patients and staff, a power plant that ensured the facility could operate independently, and even a school to educate the children who lived there.
However, the advances in medical science that brought antibiotics and vaccines also brought about the decline of such institutions. By 1960, the need for tuberculosis sanatoriums had diminished, and the Saratoga County Homestead closed its doors as a treatment facility. For a brief period, the building found new life as a nursing home, but by the 1970s, it was abandoned entirely, left to decay in the woods of upstate New York.
The Haunting of Saratoga County Homestead
As the years passed, the Saratoga County Homestead transformed from a place of healing to a place of mystery and legend. The crumbling structure, with its peeling paint and shattered windows, became a magnet for urban explorers, ghost hunters, and those drawn to the darker side of history.
Many who visit the Homestead are convinced that it is haunted. Accounts of paranormal activity are numerous and varied. Some visitors have reported feeling sudden drops in temperature—cold spots that seem to move through the halls. Others have heard the faint sounds of coughing, echoing from the days when tuberculosis patients filled the rooms. Shadowy figures have been seen lurking in the corners, and some claim to have encountered the spirit of a nurse, eternally tending to her long-gone patients.
One of the most chilling legends is that of a nurse who is said to have taken her own life in the building. Her spirit, some say, still walks the halls, driven by a sense of duty to care for those who suffered within these walls. Others have described hearing whispers, footsteps, and the inexplicable feeling of being watched. While these stories are difficult to verify, they contribute to the Homestead’s reputation as one of New York’s most haunted locations.
