Stephen Bowen Hall

In the early years of the hospital, epidemics among patients were not uncommon and children afflicted with communicable diseases such as typhoid, tuberculosis and scarlet fever were isolated in the Farm House. The response to the inadequate accommodations was met with the funding for a new building simply known as "Infirmary." Built in 1893, the rather small square-shaped structure was used to quarantine and treat these contagious patients. A sterilizing building was constructed near the infirmary in response to a scarlet fever epidemic in 1896, which killed three children at the hospital.

In 1901, a kitchen and connecting corridor was added to further isolate the spread of disease With a third addition in 1907, the structure melded into a rather strange layout, eventually comprising of three square-shaped rooms. It was later named after Stephen Bowen, a Trustee during the 1930s, and utilized as a music therapy building and storage. The outdated structure was probably condemned sometime in the 1980s, being replaced with more modern structures on the northern end of the Fernald campus and too costly to renovate to be code compliant.

Architectural Description

Designed by Preston, this unusual ward is located south of the east group. It consists of three attached square-plan wings, constructed several years apart, that rise one story to steep, slate hip roofs with large chimneys. It is constructed of the typical 1890s materials, including red brick walls and fieldstone foundation trimmed with corbelled cornices  Windows generally contain 6/6 sash; some are headed by transoms and some are paired. This building was constructed as an infirmary for patients with contagious diseases and demonstrates the general awareness of public health issues at the turn of the century. Surprisingly, it closely resembles the early power plant and maintenance building at Monson State School.