HAMILTON — Century Manor, an abandoned mental asylum in Hamilton, has attracted a number of urban explorers, given its eerie atmosphere and history.
Explorers say they do not harm the building, but advocates are of the view that whoever enters the building is a trespasser.
Robin McKee, a Hamilton historian, said Century Manor is a heritage site and whoever enters the building and uploads the event on social media encourages other trespassers to enter and vandalize the building.
“I consider them trespassers,” he said. “If they came into my house to take video without permission then that’s trespassing.”
McKee said he loves exploring abandoned places to gain knowledge but would never cross the line he thinks urban explorers are crossing.
However, urban explorers like Andrew Cross said there is a difference between explorers and trespassers who vandalize the property.
“I have rules. I am just exploring. I don’t vandalize anything and I don’t disrespect the building in any way,” Cross said. “I don’t break in to get in. Only if it is easily accessible, then only I enter it.”
Leanne Pluthero, a Hamilton resident and author, even backed the explorers by saying that she has met and spoken to many and understands they are not trespassing but rather simply exploring the building out of respect.
Infrastructure Ontario (IO), a provincial Crown agency, manages the lands and buildings of the former Hamilton Psychiatric Hospital located at Fennell Avenue East and Upper James Street in Hamilton Mountain.
Alanna Myles, spokesperson for IO, said the agency takes the building’s security seriously.
“Recurring inspections are performed to ensure the building remains secure,” she said. “Windows have been boarded up and doors have been secured to deter unauthorized access.”
However, Pluthero disagrees with the efforts and said security efforts aren’t enough because people can still enter by breaking off the boards used to shutter windows and doors.
“I and my best friend pull up and security never once came over to us,” she said. “Half the time it is just a security car parked around there and nobody is in it.”
Mohawk College, located across the street from the manor, intended on buying the building to renovate and make part of its campus, while the city would use the surrounding land for housing. That plan ended when the then Liberal government lost the 2018 election.
People who vandalize the building should be dealt with and not mixed up with explorers who have respect for the building, said Cross, who posted his September 2020 trek through the building on his YouTube channel Andrew Cross, Urbex.