Brennan VanderVeer

Brennan's Story

Brennan VanderVeer grew up hearing stories about the historic Springfield State Hospital from his grandmother, Mary, who worked at the Men’s Group from 1978 to 1985. His interest wasn’t truly sparked, however, until he was 15 years old, when a friend mentioned Springfield’s intriguing old buildings. Fascinated, Brennan began asking his grandmother what it was like to work at the institution and how she came to be employed there in the first place.

Through these conversations, he discovered that his family’s connection to Springfield extended back several generations. His great-grandmother, Eleanor Wood, was an LPN instructor who worked throughout the campus. His great-great-grandparents met at the hospital, and his great-great-great-grandmother worked at the Women’s Group in the early 1900s.

After his grandmother’s passing in 2022, Brennan became deeply committed to learning more about Springfield, with the goal of preserving and rehabilitating its historic buildings. In early 2024, he reached out to the hospital administration to inquire about any plans for the old structures. They graciously invited him in for a meeting — and he walked out with a position waiting for him.

Since then, Brennan has devoted his time to ensuring that Springfield and its history are never forgotten. His mission is to raise awareness and educate the public about the true history of the institution and others like it.