Editing Metropolitan State Hospital

From Asylum Projects
Jump to: navigation, search

Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.

The edit can be undone. Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, and then save the changes below to finish undoing the edit.
Latest revision Your text
Line 6: Line 6:
 
| alt = Metropolitan State Hospital  
 
| alt = Metropolitan State Hospital  
 
| caption =  
 
| caption =  
| established = 1912
+
| established =
| construction_began =  1928
+
| construction_began =  1927
 
| construction_ended =
 
| construction_ended =
| opened = 1929
+
| opened =
| closed = 1993
+
| closed =
| demolished = 2006
+
| demolished =
 
| current_status = [[Demolished Institution|Demolished]]
 
| current_status = [[Demolished Institution|Demolished]]
 
| building_style = [[Cottage Planned Institutions|Cottage Plan]]
 
| building_style = [[Cottage Planned Institutions|Cottage Plan]]
| architect(s) = Gordon Robb
+
| architect(s) =
| location = Waltham, MA
+
| location =
| architecture_style = Colonial Revival
+
| architecture_style =
 
| peak_patient_population = 2,200 in the 1960s
 
| peak_patient_population = 2,200 in the 1960s
 
| alternate_names =
 
| alternate_names =
 
}}
 
}}
 
==History==
 
==History==
It became apparent that while the mental health system as a whole was overcrowded, the most urgent need was in the metropolitan area. Intense debate over possible solutions occurred in 1908-1926. The Trustees of the newly acquired Boston State Hospital advocated for expansion of their facility to a 5,000 patient capacity, but were unable to convince the State Board of Insanity of the merits of that proposal. The need for a second metropolitan area hospital was identified as early as 1908.
+
It became apparent that while the mental health system as a whole was overcrowded, the most urgent need was in the metropolitan area. Intense debate over possible solutions occurred in 1908-1926. The Trustees of the newly acquired Boston State Hospital advocated for expansion of thier facility to a 5,000 patient capacity, but were unable to convince the State Board of Insanity of the merits of that proposal. The need for a second metropolitan area hospital was identified as early as 1908.
  
 
Introduced to the state legislature in 1912, the board authorized spending in January of 1915. A site that was in close proximity to the Walter E. Fernald State School was immediately acquired. Plans were prepared for a 1,900 patient facility to be built on the cottage/colony plan. No action was taken for several years due to the Trustees of Boston State Hospital continue to argue for their own expansion and the first World War diverted state attention and funds.
 
Introduced to the state legislature in 1912, the board authorized spending in January of 1915. A site that was in close proximity to the Walter E. Fernald State School was immediately acquired. Plans were prepared for a 1,900 patient facility to be built on the cottage/colony plan. No action was taken for several years due to the Trustees of Boston State Hospital continue to argue for their own expansion and the first World War diverted state attention and funds.
Line 27: Line 27:
 
Finally, in 1927, the State legislature responded by appropriating $1,500,000 for preparation of the Waltham site. The ground breaking ceremony took place on December 27, 1927 at the Administration Building. Cornerstone laying ceremonies were held on October 17, 1928. Construction costs were kept down by the use of the plain red brick buildings of early American colonial type. Trim elements, including pedimented pavilions and quoins, were deleted from the ward buildings. As the first campus developed in the automobile age, Met State did not require immediate adjacency to railroad facilities. As the most recent of the State's institutional treatment centers for the insane Metropolitan State Hospital represented the third and final stage in the evolving form of hospitals for the mentally ill. Like its predecessors, the Kirkbride and cottage/colony, it responded to increases in patient populations within the constraints of a publicly funded budget which both often failed.
 
Finally, in 1927, the State legislature responded by appropriating $1,500,000 for preparation of the Waltham site. The ground breaking ceremony took place on December 27, 1927 at the Administration Building. Cornerstone laying ceremonies were held on October 17, 1928. Construction costs were kept down by the use of the plain red brick buildings of early American colonial type. Trim elements, including pedimented pavilions and quoins, were deleted from the ward buildings. As the first campus developed in the automobile age, Met State did not require immediate adjacency to railroad facilities. As the most recent of the State's institutional treatment centers for the insane Metropolitan State Hospital represented the third and final stage in the evolving form of hospitals for the mentally ill. Like its predecessors, the Kirkbride and cottage/colony, it responded to increases in patient populations within the constraints of a publicly funded budget which both often failed.
  
Most of the buildings were demolished in 2006 with the exception of the Administrative building, the Auditorium and portions of the CTG, which were renovated as part of a housing complex.
+
All buildings were demolished in 2006 with the exception of the Administrative building. It remains standing, close to a condo complex built over the former hospital.  
  
 
== Images of Metropolitan State Hospital ==
 
== Images of Metropolitan State Hospital ==
Line 36: Line 36:
 
File:Female Dorm.jpg
 
File:Female Dorm.jpg
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
 
==Links==
 
*[http://www.metstate.com Metropolitan State Hospital website]
 
  
 
[[Category:Demolished Institution]]
 
[[Category:Demolished Institution]]

Please note that all contributions to Asylum Projects may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here.
You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Asylum Projects:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission!

To edit this page, please answer the question that appears below (more info):

Cancel | Editing help (opens in new window)