Perched on a quiet hill in Staunton, VA, stands the shell of the DeJarnette Sanitarium, a haunting reminder of a complicated and controversial chapter in Virginia’s history. Though now closed to the public, the building continues to attract curiosity for both its historical significance and the eerie stories that linger around it.
Dr. Joseph Spencer DeJarnette, a well-known advocate of the early 20th-century eugenics movement, opened the Sanitarium in 1932. According to the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, it was originally built as a private facility that operated alongside the state-run Western State Hospital.
At the time, Virginia’s eugenics laws allowed for the forced sterilization of individuals deemed “unfit,” a category that included not only those with mental illness, but also people with epilepsy, intellectual disabilities, and even youths considered “delinquent” or “feebleminded.” According to Encyclopedia Virginia, more than 7,000 Virginians were sterilized under these policies. DeJarnette himself was a vocal supporter, and at one point even praised similar programs in Nazi Germany.
While the practice of sterilization continued in Virginia into the 1970s, it was gradually phased out as public attitudes and laws shifted. By that decade, the DeJarnette facility had been converted into a children’s and adolescent psychiatric center, reflecting a new focus on treatment rather than punishment.
In 1996, the center was relocated to a new facility next to Western State Hospital, leaving the original building abandoned. In 2001, the relocated center was renamed the Commonwealth Center for Children & Adolescents, in part to distance it from DeJarnette’s controversial legacy. Today, the original structure sits empty — its windows boarded, walls peeling, and history left in silence. Virginia Dogwood reports that while local preservation groups have occasionally discussed restoration or reuse, the building continues to deteriorate and remains closed to the public.
Over the years, the vacant halls of the old sanitarium have inspired ghost stories. Some say they’ve heard children’s voices echoing through long-abandoned corridors, while others report flickering lights or seeing shadows in windows where no electric power has been on for years. These stories are unverified, but they add to the mystique of a place already burdened by its history.
It’s crucial to remember: the old DeJarnette Sanitarium buildings are private property and closed to public access. Trespassing is illegal and dangerous — many parts of the structure are deteriorated, with risks like asbestos and unstable floors.
Whether viewed as a piece of architectural history, a site of ethical reckoning, or a symbol of Virginia’s evolving mental health system, the DeJarnette Sanitarium remains one of Staunton’s most compelling landmarks. It reminds us that real history can be far more chilling than any ghost story — and that confronting the past is often the first step toward understanding it.
