Tuesday, February 28, 2012

The Old State Hospital (Olmsted County) Rochester, MN

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them!


Formerly called the Asylum for the Inebriates, the Second State Hospital for the insane was opened in 1879, and in that same year, 68 mentally ill patients were transferred from the Saint Peter Minnesota Hospital.  Currently the only portion of the state hospital left is the Second State Hospital cemetery where 2,019 patients had been buried in unmarked graves from 1886 - 1995.  The hospital was officially closed in 1982 to make room for a Rochester prison.

In 2007 a project was started to research all old hospital records to identify the remains in the cemetery and place headstones for those found.  As of today only 530 graves have been marked.

Rochester State Hospital Cemetery 1886 - 1965

Click Here For Cemetery Location



The following list of names may not be complete.  If you see any errors, please let us know, so we can keep our list accurate.  This following had been completed on August 12, 2010.  If you see any names not listed or wish to add to our list, please notify us.

Lars M. Ahlm July 8, 1883

Jess Allen Oct 6, 1889

Mary Allen 1869

John James Ames Dec 4, 1890

Carrie Anderson Aug 18, 1851

Christina Anderson May 15, 1850

Evelyn Anderson 1885

Marcus Niccolai Anderson Apr 5, 1876

Ulysses S. Appel Feb 10, 1869

Margaret Austin Jan 1, 1849

Melvina Baker Sept 22, 1896

Lena Bashford Dec 10, 1868

William H. Beaton July 6, 1863

Leo Beck Feb 24, 1870

Becker Apr 29, 1884 - July 20, 1960

William Bellew July 9, 1854

William E. Bennett March 23, 1893

Bernt Benson March 13, 1880

Gunhild Benson 1845 - March 20, 1923






















J Otto Carlson - 04/08/1933


Millie Chapel 1868 - 01/09/1929











Herbert R. Crandel 01/01/1854 - 09/23/1943














Gust Erickson 11/24/1868 - 05/26/1934

John Frickson 1880 - 08/25/1957






























Grace Holloway 1882 - 01/29/1929


Emil P. Holte 08/16/1877 - 08/20/1952











Theresa Jerke 1841 - 03/30/1926

Carl Fred Johnson 04/21/1877 - 11/24/1956










Catherine Jordahl 11/19/1875 - 01/15/1959