Benjamin and I have been following each other on Instagram for a while, and watching the preservation work he's done has been absolutely amazing. Fortunately, during my annual trip to Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, I've been able to see the progress first-hand. It was really important for me to highlight his passion and work - he truly is saving history.
Make sure to follow him on IG @preserver87
1.) Tell us who you are and a little about what you do at Trans-Allegheny.
My name is Benjamin Sanford and I probably have one of the coolest jobs. I work at the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum as a restorer/preservationist and a haunted house builder. During the winter months of the year I work along with a crew of about six other people restoring a section of the building back to the way it used to look in the 1800s when the building was originally opened. The majority of the areas we restore are the center sections on each of the four floors. We restore these areas because in the mid 1900s they did modifications where they covered up, and most of the time, destroyed original crown molding and archways to do so. Once the main building opens for tours in the Spring I work preserving the building and its grounds, and start work on the haunted house for the fall time.
2.) How long have you been doing preservation?
I've been doing preservation and restoration work for three years now.
3.) What got you interested in preservation?
Originally I wasn't interested in preservation and restoration work. I started out at Trans-Allegheny as an actor in the haunted house. After my first weekend acting I showed up the next Monday to help work on the haunted house and was offered a job the same day. After that year's haunted house I stayed on the staff permanently. I had no idea what I would be doing. Once we started on the restoration for that Winter I was terrified because I had no idea what the restoration and preservation would consist of. At the time I had only the basic skills of certain carpentry and construction. Nothing as advanced as what I know now.
4.) Tell us what in specific you do as a preservationist (i.e., peeling back layers of paint to find the original colors, restoring crown molding, etc):
The restoration and preservation process is labor intensive. We usually start off by demoing additions that were added around the 1940s. Once we have that all out we move to removing all the peeling paint on the walls, ceiling, archways (if there are any in that specific area), and molding. Next we start the most labor intensive part, the plaster. We put a couple of thick layers of plaster on the walls and ceilings to incapsulate the lead paint. If there are small sections of molding or archway missing we actually build it back by hand using the plaster. If there are larger sections missing we'll make a silicone mold of an intact area of molding or archway and use a chemical mixture that is used to make the same foam found in car and truck seats. Sometimes the foam is better because it's lightweight and reduces stress put on the decaying building. After all the plaster is on and sanded we move to fixing the tongue and groove flooring. Then comes the painting and electrical work. We usually stick with just basic white for the walls and ceilings. It makes everything brighter. The molding and archways are a different story. When we're removing the old paint off of them we usually find many different layers of colors that were used. Sometimes we'll use one of those, or another color that would've been used in the time period we are restoring it to. Bright, healing colors are what we go for. Then it's just odds and ends. Chandeliers, furniture, decorations, and cleaning top off the restoration work just in time for the opening day of tours.
5.) What’s your favorite part about your job?
There are so many facets that I love about my job. Probably the thing I love the most is just how much I get to learn every year working there. There's always a new technique that I'm able to experiment with and master working at the Asylum.
6.) Tell us a little about the history of Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum:
The Asylum was commissioned in 1850 and construction on the main building began in 1858. The Civil War interrupted the construction in 1861. Construction resumed in 1862 and the first patients were admitted in 1864. Construction didn't formally end until 1873 with the completion of separate living areas for people of color. It operated until 1994 when it was closed. The West Virginia Department of Health auctioned the Asylum off in 2007. It was bought for $1.5 million by its current owner.
7.) Do you feel you’ve developed a personal connection with Trans-Allegheny and its history?
Absolutely. Tearing out sections that were added later on to expose the original work that was done in the 1800s gives me that connection. I get to see a piece of history. Techniques and work that was done over 100 years ago. And to be able to study that and replicate it and to be involved in work that is rarely done anymore these days is just amazing in my opinion.
8.) What’s something you want people to know about the history at Trans-Allegheny (this could be a lesser known story or just something you find interesting)?
I want people to know just how much work and manpower went in to constructing this building and the work it takes to keep it preserved. The construction of the building was started in 1858 and wasn't finished until 1881 (17 years after it was opened in 1864). It's a massive property that today only a handful of us keep up. It's a lot of hard work, but I love it.
9.) What does Trans Allegheny and its history stand to teach us today?
It stands to teach us that mental illness can be compassionately treated rather than just locking people away from society. The building is only capable of holding 250 patients, but at its peak held 2600 patients in overcrowded and poor conditions. It was as if there was never any plan to actually treat patients for their illnesses for them to be productive members of the community.
10.) In your opinion, why is preservation important?
I think preservation is important because history is important. History makes the people we are today, whether it's good or bad. In the case of preservation I think it's important that people see how the building originally looked on the inside and are able to see techniques that were used back then.
11.) What is the biggest thing you’ve learned while being a preservationist?
There's so many things I've learned that it's hard to pick just one. I think hand sculpting plaster molding and archways is one of the biggest things I've learned. It's a very time consuming and tedious job, but the outcome is totally worth it after its sanded down and painted. It really draws people's eyes to it and makes the areas it's in stand out.
12.) Trans-Allegheny is one of the few Kirkbride asylums left standing…that’s pretty special. What does that mean to you?
To me it means that I'm a part of history. I'm one of the few people on Earth that gets to preserve and learn an architectural style that is becoming extinct.
13.) Have you ever found any neat artifacts left behind (patient documents, personal belongings, etc)? If so, tell us about it.
We're always finding interesting things that have been left behind. Just the other day I found a dietary guideline pamphlet from the 70s. Other things I've found include blueprints from when they put in the elevator, nurse sign in and sign out lists, security check documents, and old prescription papers. The coolest things I find though are tools, equipment, and building materials that were used in the late 1800s, early 1900s. I love finding old square nails that they used to build things. Things that give you an idea of how the building process was in the 19th century.
14.) What separates Trans Allegheny from other mental institutions? Both in the past and today?
What separates Trans-Allegheny from other mental institutions from the past is just how ingrained it is in the state's history. During the Civil War when Virginia seceded from the United States they wanted the unused funds returned for defense in the war. But an infantry unit from Ohio stole the money from the local bank. That money was used to help create the Reorganized Government of Virginia and they allocated money to resume construction of the Asylum. Today what sets it apart from other mental institutions of the time for one, is it is still standing, and it's being restored to the way it was when it was originally opened. There aren't many restoration projects on over 100 year old insane asylums happening these days.
15.) Why should someone go out of their way to visit TALA?
I think people should visit Trans-Allegheny not only for all the historical value that is available, but also to take in the sheer beauty of the property. Pictures of the building don't do it justice. You have to see it in person. The tours are definitely worth the money. And all the money that is made at the Asylum is used to continue preserving and restoring the building.
16.) In a theoretical parallel universe, if the government wanted to reopen TALA as an asylum and get it running again, do you think that would be a good idea in today's world?
I would say yes. If the government invested the funds to meet today's standards in both building code and mental health treatments it would work. It's a large facility, and there's plenty of farm land around the Asylum for patients to be productive. With the current move towards more environmentally friendly operations in the world today, being able to revitalize the farm for the Asylum to be self sustaining again would also be a good idea.
-J
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