KATHERINE ANDERSON Livres

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In Massachusetts there were, at one time, three institutions built specifically for the care and education of the intellectually and physically disabled. Set in the rolling hills and bucolic farmland of early suburban communities, these schools set out to make their students ready to return home and to become productive members of society. Over time, however, these "schools" grew into large-scale warehouses where education was no longer the primary goal. Instead, the purpose of the institution was to isolate the disabled from the rest of society. Eventually, two of the three state schools were dismantled and the third scaled back in operation, leaving behind the abandoned remains of what were once premier institutions for the education of the disabled. This brief overview of the history of state schools in Massachusetts is presented through a collection of images both historical and current, giving a glimpse inside the past.

On the banks of Lake Chauncy sit the remains of the Westborough Insane Hospital, later known as Westborough State Hospital. Westborough is perhaps best known as the second homeopathic hospital for the insane in the United States and the first example of institutional reuse in the nation. The hospital's unique treatment methods put it squarely at the forefront of mental health treatment, and it was one of the last state hospitals in Massachusetts to close its doors. The pioneering African American pathologist Solomon Carter Fuller spent much of his career at Westborough studying the physical changes made to the brain by Alzheimer's. When it closed in 2010, it was the only state hospital in New England with a dedicated unit for deaf and hard of hearing patients. Though somewhat less infamous than some of its neighbors, Westborough holds a very distinctive place in the history of mental health treatment.

"In the first decade of the 20th century, the state of Massachusetts established itself as a leader in the education of individuals with disabilities. The third state school for the feebleminded was built in rural Belchertown, in the western part of the state. Opened in 1915, Belchertown State School would eventually encompass almost 900 acres of land and would become the largest employer in town. For nearly 60 years, the state school educated individuals with disabilites who were otherwise excluded from public education, training the 'residents' to become independent members of their families and of society. The model was a success until reports of abuse and neglect began to surface, culminating in the landmark 1972 Ricci v. Greenblatt case, which ultimately led to the state school's closure in 1992."--Back cover

The Worcester State Hospital offered a novel and compelling promise: that insanity could be cured by humane treatment in a therapeutic setting. Patients would enjoy its idyllic landscape, genteel interiors, wholesome food supplied from its farm, and the individualized attention of medical professionals. The hospital's reputation as a "model institution" helped to position the city of Worcester as an economic center and pioneer in social reform. Yet overcrowding, insufficient funds, and the limitations of medical knowledge undermined the institution's mission, leading to the abandonment of its original features. Despite downsizing and decay, the Worcester State Hospital continues to exert a tangible presence on the landscape. Its iconic clock tower, salvaged from demolition, stands as a reminder of its historical legacy and of the continuing role of the site--now the Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital--in the treatment of mental illness.