East Dowling

Situated in the north-central quadrant of the Fernald campus, this structure was initially dubbed the "East Building." It functioned as a dormitory for middle-aged boys, adopting the Chipman floor plan. In 1908, East Dowling received a rear wing for "special cases;" this ward contained single bedrooms for patients who were prone to harming themselves or others, and could be secluded for safety. Its lower levels and basement later served as the Can Redemption Center, while the upper stories were transformed into office space for tenant use, including AFSCME Local 402. The building was eventually  named East Dowling in honor of Dr. Fred Vere Dowling, who was appointed as Assistant Physician on January 13, 1930.

Architectural Description

East Dowling is a large T-plan ward that displays the typical turn-of-the-century Fernald materials and features, including red brick construction, fieldstone foundation, slate hip roof with large interior chimneys, sandstone window surrounds, burnt header beltcourses, and round-arched entries. The symmetrical, thirteen-bay south facade is focused on a five-bay, central-entry pavilion, which is fronted by an open porch and is surmounted by a large two-story, arched window. It is framed by paired windows, and four-bay end sections. Preston was the architect.