Salem County Insane Asylum

The facility is a three-story brick building with Italianate design and a square wooden belvedere crowning its roof. The structure maintains its original center-hall layout, with large rooms positioned at the front.

The building was constructed in 1870 and operated as a psychiatric facility until 1925. After that time, residents moved to state-run institutions and the structure transitioned to serving as housing for those in poverty.

The building shows how counties took responsibility for their own residents in need of mental health care during the 1800s. It reflects a period when each locality approached psychiatric services independently from the state system.

The building sits on Route 45 within the grounds of the former Lakeview Complex, occupying about 9 acres total. Visitors can explore the preserved interior and observe how the rooms were originally arranged.

This is the only surviving first-generation county psychiatric institution still standing in New Jersey. Its placement on the National Register of Historic Places recognizes it as a rare example of how local communities once managed mental health services.

Location: New Jersey

Architectural style: Renaissance Revival architecture

GPS coordinates: 39.63008,-75.36375

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:14