Grafton State Hospital
Encyclopedia
Grafton State Hospital was a psychiatric hospital in Grafton, Massachusetts
that operated from 1901 to 1973. Today, the site has been redeveloped with Tufts University
's Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
as a major occupant, along with the Grafton Job Corps
office and various other State agencies.
Because of its significance in the history of the treatment of the mentally ill and its layout and institutional architecture, the hospital area was accepted to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1994.
. In 1912 it was administratively separated from Worcester.
The Grafton campus was built to both increase the capacity of the Worcester hospital and to provide therapeutic work for patients. To start the new hospital,the Commonwealth of Massachusetts purchased approximately 700 acres (2.8 km²) of land in northeast Grafton and abutting portions of Shrewsbury
, from the Ashley and Sinclair families, Samuel Knowlton and Lyman Rice. Intended to be self-sufficient, agriculture was an important part of the Hospital's plan. As the agricultural focus grew other areas of treatment suffered, leading the state to conclude in 1945 that "there is little or no occupational therapy in effect now. Farming, canning, and general maintenance are the institution's principal occupations."
In 1957, noted Jazz
musician Thelonious Monk
was briefly held for observation at the Grafton State Hospital after a State Trooper found him at Logan Airport acting erratically and then becoming unresponsive to questioning.
The Hospital closed in 1973 as the first in a series of closures of state institutions in Massachusetts, in a process known as Deinstitutionalization.
town lines, centered at the junction of Pine Street and Westborough Road (Massachusetts Route 30) in North Grafton. The original site of 700 acres (2.8 km²) was expanded to over 800 acres (3.2 km²) by 1908 with the purchase of portions of Green Hill to expand the water supply. By 1945 it encompassed 1200 acres (4.9 km²). The Hospital occupied a hilly scenic site surrounded by woodlands, wetlands, and agricultural fields which are still used for hay, corn, and animal pasture by the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
. Much of the Hospital's land was previously farmland which had been allowed to go fallow by private owners in the late-nineteenth century, and was only gradually reclaimed for productive use by the hospital.
The Hospital consisted of five separate campuses, named for different tree varieties native to the area. They included: Pines, Elms, Oaks, Willows (now demolished) and Maples (now demolished).
Pines served "excited" female patients and was developed with large-scale brick wards that provided locked confinement for large numbers of inmates. Similarly, Elms was developed with masonry buildings for "excited" male patients. A few wood-frame dormitories provided a transition for more stable patients. As the center of agricultural activities, Oaks was developed with unlocked cottages for male patients who had proved themselves trustworthy and industrious. The Willows was developed somewhat later during the campus expansion was similar to Oaks. The classes of patients were defined in terms of behavior rather than diagnosis, e.g. "excited", "violent", "quiet", "peaceful", etc.
and used by the MBTA Commuter Rail
Framingham/Worcester Line
, bisects the campus. The Grafton Commuter Rail stop
is located on the former site, off of Pine Street. In 1978, shortly after the closing of the Hospital, Tufts University
entered into an agreement with the state to develop a veterinary college on the site, now known as the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. Simultaneously, the Job Corps program opened a campus on the hospital site.
A former waste site (Landfill
) located on the property has been closed and stabilized.
121 acre (0.48967006 km²) of the original site has become Centech Park, part of a state designated Economic Target Area and now home to several companies.
In 2008 Tufts began construction of the New England Regional Biosafety Laboratory on 100 acre (0.404686 km²) of former Hospital land. The development will be the anchor of the Grafton Science Park, designed to spur economic development in Grafton. The laboratory will be capable of Biosafety level
2 and 3 research on infectious agents.
Grafton, Massachusetts
Grafton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 17,765 at the 2010 census. Grafton is the home of a Nipmuc village known as Hassanamisco Reservation, the Willard House and Clock Museum, and the Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine...
that operated from 1901 to 1973. Today, the site has been redeveloped with Tufts University
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
's Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
The Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine is one of the eight colleges and schools that comprise Tufts University and is the only school of veterinary medicine in New England.-Degree programs:...
as a major occupant, along with the Grafton Job Corps
Job Corps
Job Corps is a program administered by the United States Department of Labor that offers free-of-charge education and vocational training to youth ages 16 to 24.-Mission and purpose:...
office and various other State agencies.
Because of its significance in the history of the treatment of the mentally ill and its layout and institutional architecture, the hospital area was accepted to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1994.
History
Grafton State Hospital was established in 1901 as a farm colony for "chronic insane patients" of the Worcester State HospitalWorcester State Hospital
Worcester State Hospital was a Massachusetts state mental hospital located in Worcester, Massachusetts.The hospital and surrounding associated historic structures are listed as Worcester Asylum and related buildings on the National Register of Historic Places.-Early History:Once known as the...
. In 1912 it was administratively separated from Worcester.
The Grafton campus was built to both increase the capacity of the Worcester hospital and to provide therapeutic work for patients. To start the new hospital,the Commonwealth of Massachusetts purchased approximately 700 acres (2.8 km²) of land in northeast Grafton and abutting portions of Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 31,640 people, 12,366 households, and 8,693 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 12,696 housing units at an average density of...
, from the Ashley and Sinclair families, Samuel Knowlton and Lyman Rice. Intended to be self-sufficient, agriculture was an important part of the Hospital's plan. As the agricultural focus grew other areas of treatment suffered, leading the state to conclude in 1945 that "there is little or no occupational therapy in effect now. Farming, canning, and general maintenance are the institution's principal occupations."
In 1957, noted Jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
musician Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Sphere Monk was an American jazz pianist and composer considered "one of the giants of American music". Monk had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including "Epistrophy", "'Round Midnight", "Blue Monk", "Straight, No Chaser"...
was briefly held for observation at the Grafton State Hospital after a State Trooper found him at Logan Airport acting erratically and then becoming unresponsive to questioning.
The Hospital closed in 1973 as the first in a series of closures of state institutions in Massachusetts, in a process known as Deinstitutionalization.
Patient census
CENSUS OF GRAFTON STATE HOSPITAL- Year 1908: over 500 patients
- Year 1912: 650 patients
- Year 1916: over 800 patients
- Year 1930: 1,550 patients, 328 staff
- Year 1931: 1,154 patients (563 women, 591 men)
- Year 1945: 1,730 patients, 250 staff with 241 vacancies
- Year 1973: 641 patients
Campus
The Hospital site is located at the juncture of the Grafton, Shrewsbury, and WestboroughWestborough, Massachusetts
Westborough is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 18,272 at the 2010 census. The town is governed under the New England open town meeting system, headed by a five member elected Board of Selectmen whose duties include licensing, appointing various...
town lines, centered at the junction of Pine Street and Westborough Road (Massachusetts Route 30) in North Grafton. The original site of 700 acres (2.8 km²) was expanded to over 800 acres (3.2 km²) by 1908 with the purchase of portions of Green Hill to expand the water supply. By 1945 it encompassed 1200 acres (4.9 km²). The Hospital occupied a hilly scenic site surrounded by woodlands, wetlands, and agricultural fields which are still used for hay, corn, and animal pasture by the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
The Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine is one of the eight colleges and schools that comprise Tufts University and is the only school of veterinary medicine in New England.-Degree programs:...
. Much of the Hospital's land was previously farmland which had been allowed to go fallow by private owners in the late-nineteenth century, and was only gradually reclaimed for productive use by the hospital.
The Hospital consisted of five separate campuses, named for different tree varieties native to the area. They included: Pines, Elms, Oaks, Willows (now demolished) and Maples (now demolished).
Pines served "excited" female patients and was developed with large-scale brick wards that provided locked confinement for large numbers of inmates. Similarly, Elms was developed with masonry buildings for "excited" male patients. A few wood-frame dormitories provided a transition for more stable patients. As the center of agricultural activities, Oaks was developed with unlocked cottages for male patients who had proved themselves trustworthy and industrious. The Willows was developed somewhat later during the campus expansion was similar to Oaks. The classes of patients were defined in terms of behavior rather than diagnosis, e.g. "excited", "violent", "quiet", "peaceful", etc.
Current use
A former Boston & Worcester Railroad line, now owned by CSX TransportationCSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
and used by the MBTA Commuter Rail
MBTA Commuter Rail
The MBTA Commuter Rail serves as the regional rail arm of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, in the United States. It is operated under contract by the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company a joint partnership of Veolia Transportation, Bombardier Transportation and Alternate...
Framingham/Worcester Line
Framingham/Worcester Line
The Framingham/Worcester Line is a railroad line of the MBTA Commuter Rail system, running west from Boston, Massachusetts to Worcester, Massachusetts, though some trains terminate at Framingham, Massachusetts...
, bisects the campus. The Grafton Commuter Rail stop
Grafton (MBTA station)
Grafton is the penultimate passenger rail station on MBTA Commuter Rail's Framingham/Worcester Line. Though it is officially located at 1 Pine Street in North...
is located on the former site, off of Pine Street. In 1978, shortly after the closing of the Hospital, Tufts University
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
entered into an agreement with the state to develop a veterinary college on the site, now known as the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. Simultaneously, the Job Corps program opened a campus on the hospital site.
A former waste site (Landfill
Landfill
A landfill site , is a site for the disposal of waste materials by burial and is the oldest form of waste treatment...
) located on the property has been closed and stabilized.
121 acre (0.48967006 km²) of the original site has become Centech Park, part of a state designated Economic Target Area and now home to several companies.
In 2008 Tufts began construction of the New England Regional Biosafety Laboratory on 100 acre (0.404686 km²) of former Hospital land. The development will be the anchor of the Grafton Science Park, designed to spur economic development in Grafton. The laboratory will be capable of Biosafety level
Biosafety level
A biosafety level is the level of the biocontainment precautions required to isolate dangerous biological agents in an enclosed facility. The levels of containment range from the lowest biosafety level 1 to the highest at level 4 . In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and...
2 and 3 research on infectious agents.