Schoolhouse / Gym

The Schoolhouse and Gymnasium were built during the first major expansion of the institution in 1891. These interconnected buildings were erected about 500 yards from the West Building and across a ravine; this separation was intentionally created to clearly divide the "custodial" (incurable) cases from those who could be trained at the school and rehabilitated. The schoolhouse contained multiple classrooms and a generously supplied library. In addition to the classrooms, there were also workshops for boys and sewing rooms for girls, intended to impart practical skills applicable within and beyond the institution's confines.

The gymnasium provided an area for various physical therapies such as Ling Gymnastics, a movement that was popular in the late 19th century. A major component involved military-style drills and marching, which proved to be rather successful at the institution as many children could easily follow the beat of the drum and repetitive motions:

While special gymnastic exercises are of great value as a means of mental and physical discipline and development they are of secondary importance compared to the exercises incident to the games and amusements common to all children The well known fact that these lower grade cases as well as feeble minded children of the higher grades are pleasantly aroused and stimulated by music and the further fact that they are quite prone to imitate even habits or actions which they do not at all understand can be directly applied in the practical training exercises A noisy unruly class of very low grade children can be induced to march in line and more or less in step for a long time to the beat of a drum showing real interest and pleasure Children will do this who have previously shown little idea of order or precision either of mind or body This orderly marching can be gradually made more complicated single file double file slower faster etc walking on tiptoe running jumping over hurdles etc all to strongly accented music and all in imitation of the teacher or a skillful leader I have great faith in the drum as a mental stimulant for the active exercises for these children preferring it to the piano for this purpose.

When we began this marching and drill to music with one group of recently admitted cases with habitually untidy habits the attendants at once noted the fact that these children never wet their clothing during the active exercise At intervals following each active exercise comes the drill in silence and quietness when each child is expected to sit perfectly still with arms folded for perhaps five minutes at a time This is a valuable lesson in mental and physical self control.

Music played a central role in both buildings, with drills in the gym and each classroom equipped with an organ or piano, enabling children to engage in both vocal and instrumental instruction. The gym also served as a chapel for religious services until the construction of Howe Hall in 1933. In 1924, a substantial extension was added to the south side of the school, providing space for additional classrooms. In later years, the school building hosted a speech & hearing clinic as well as gross motor workshops, though the function of both buildings remained generally the same throughout the decades. The interior of the school had been heavily renovated for accessibility, fireproofing and modernization before the school's closure.

Architectural Description

The schoolhouse is a two-story, red brick structure of irregular plan, and shares many features with other buildings at Fernald built during this era. Common features include fieldstone foundation, some round-arched window openings, buttresses, and sandstone sills and beltcourses. The seven-bay facade (West) is centered on a sidelit and transom-topped entry, and a shed roof porch supported on massive carved braces. It is flanked by paired windows whose round-arched heads display herringbone pattern brickwork. Second-story windows are conventional with a three-part window above the entry. Sash ranges from 6/6 to 8/8. A large hip-roof wing extends from the north side, while a flat-roofed wing extends southward. The former displays buttresses dividing paired window bays, while the latter exhibits the same details as the main block.