Hydrotherapy State Hospital
Established in 1901, this hospital started out as a farm colony from the "chronically insane" that were living at a nearby state hospital. With demand for space in these facilities rising, this hospital separated from the other state hospital and became its own entity in 1912. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts obtained 700 acres of land to expand the "Hydrotherapy State Hospital". Occupational actives were a major aspect of the hospital due to its location in a rural area.
The campus was unique in that it was designed in a "satellite colony cottage plan". There were groupings of buildings within close proximity across campus deemed as "colonies". Each colony on campus were somewhat isolated from each other and served a specific purpose. There were four colonies on campus and they were named as follows; Pines, Elms, Oaks, and Willows. The patients were separated into the four colonies based on their class of mental disability. The classes were defined as excited, violent, quiet, and peaceful. In its hight of operation, the hospital spanned across 1,200 acres of land. The hospital ceased operations in 1973 as part of a state program to close these institutions. The campus today has been widely reused. A Veterinary University, Federal Job Corps, and many state agencies now occupy the buildings.
Read MoreThe campus was unique in that it was designed in a "satellite colony cottage plan". There were groupings of buildings within close proximity across campus deemed as "colonies". Each colony on campus were somewhat isolated from each other and served a specific purpose. There were four colonies on campus and they were named as follows; Pines, Elms, Oaks, and Willows. The patients were separated into the four colonies based on their class of mental disability. The classes were defined as excited, violent, quiet, and peaceful. In its hight of operation, the hospital spanned across 1,200 acres of land. The hospital ceased operations in 1973 as part of a state program to close these institutions. The campus today has been widely reused. A Veterinary University, Federal Job Corps, and many state agencies now occupy the buildings.
