Metropolitan State Hospital (Massachusetts)

Metropolitan State Hospital

Administration Building
Location Massachusetts
Area 330 acres (130 ha)
Built 1927
Architect Gordon S. Kobb
Architectural style Colonial Revival
MPS Massachusetts State Hospitals and State Schools MPS
NRHP Reference #

93001482

[1]
Added to NRHP January 21, 1994

The Metropolitan State Hospital was an American public hospital for the mentally ill, on grounds that extended across parts of Waltham, Lexington, and Belmont, Massachusetts. At one time the hospital was the largest and most modern facility of its type in Massachusetts.[2] The Gaebler Children's Center for mentally ill youth was on the grounds of the hospital.

It was closed in January 1992 as a result of the state's cost-cutting policy of closing its mental hospitals and moving patients into private care. As of 2009, the main complex of buildings had been demolished and a large apartment complex was built.

Cemetery

The hospital's cemetery still rests on the grounds, maintained by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Gravestones are marked by number and religion; a few bear names.

The cemetery is labeled the Met-Fern Cemetery and both the Fernald School and Metropolitan State lay their dead patients here. Even though Metropolitan State is adjacent to the Gaebler Children's Center, there is no real record of any of the adolescent patients being laid to rest in the Met-Fern Cemetery.[3]

History

Patient murder

In 1978, Metropolitan State patient Anne Marie Davee was murdered by another patient, Melvin W. Wilson.[4][5][6]

Redevelopment and open space

Since the hospital's closing, the area to the west of where the buildings stood has been developed into apartment housing.

The extensive wooded grounds are open to the public and protected in perpetuity from further development. The trails include part of the Western Greenway open space, connecting to the Rock Meadow conservation area in Belmont to the east and, according to plans, in 2009, to the Middlesex County Hospital area to the west.

The Administration Building, pictured above, is the only building on the campus to remain standing as of January 2015.

See also

References

  1. ↑ National Park Service (2009-03-13). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. ↑ Richard A. Hogarty (2002). Massachusetts politics and public policy: studies in power and leadership. University of Massachusetts Press. p. 115. ISBN 978-1-55849-362-9.
  3. ↑ http://www.temblast.com/metfern/
  4. ↑ "The dismembered body of a Metropolitan State... " Boston Globe Aug 12, 1980
  5. ↑ "Backman: Hospital Murder Data Missing" Boston Globe Aug 15, 1980
  6. ↑ "Mental patient held in dismemberment murder". St. Joseph Gazette. Aug 13, 1980. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
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