Walter E. Fernald Developmental Center, Mental health care historic district in Waltham, United States.
The Walter E. Fernald Developmental Center is a sprawling complex in Waltham, Massachusetts, that includes several dozen buildings dating from the late 19th to the 20th century. The site spreads over a large area with dormitories, administrative halls, and green spaces that were once used as gardens and yards.
The institution opened in 1848 in Boston and moved to Waltham between 1888 and 1891. During the 1950s, residents were involved in controversial medical experiments that later led to stricter rules for protecting people in research.
The former institution was the first publicly funded place for children with developmental differences in the Western hemisphere and shaped early ideas about care and education. Many of the buildings still show the architecture of a time when such facilities were organized like small, separate communities.
The city of Waltham acquired the grounds and is planning to turn parts of them into public recreation areas and memorials. Visitors can currently walk through some of the outdoor spaces, but many buildings are closed and cannot be entered.
Accounts from former residents and staff tell how the campus operated like a small town, with its own farm, school, and workshops. After the closure, confidential patient records were left behind, leading to later questions about privacy and management.
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