Waverley Hall

Waverley Hall was constructed in 1891 along with several other buildings to form a new group of buildings. At this time, the only extant structure was the original asylum building (West), however this new group of buildings was located across a creek and some distance away, signaling a shift towards active treatment rather than custodial care. In this new group, the children had a better prognosis than those at the West Building, and could participate in school and workshops. Naturally, the institution's administration building was also located in this group. One can presume the impressive Queen Anne edifice was elaborately built to imbue confidence in caring for the state's most unfortunate children.

The building was generally used for administrative purposes, although an addition in 1903 provided single sleeping rooms, a home-like sitting room, store rooms, a smoking and reading room and two dining halls, all for use by the school's nurses and officers. Dr. Fernald lived in this building with his family until Hillside Cottage was built in 1906. Administrative operations were eventually moved to a new Administration Building in 1933, and Waverley was used for staff housing beginning in 1936 and later, storage for records. It was likely condemned in the 1970s, proving to be too costly to maintain.

Architectural Description

One of the most prominent buildings on the southeast ridge is Waverley Hall, which faces west toward the center of the campus over a broad sloping lawn. It appears to have been enlarged several times, specifically by the two large rear ells projecting from its northeast corner. Designed by Preston in the Queen Anne style, it is constructed of red brick with corbelled cornice and sandstone trim including belt courses, lintels, sills, and decorative carved panels. The main block rises three stories from a field stone foundation to a flat or low-pitched roof. Its facade (W) is organized with a six-bay central section defined by massive paneled chimneys. The center entry consists of a double-leaf door with small pane sash fronted by a hip roof portico. Windows contain 6/6 sash. Third-story windows are round arched with bricks laid in a diaper pattern above. A rounded bay is attached to the front southwest corner. The large ells, built in 1903, are also constructed of red brick on field stone foundations and are ornamented with corbelled cornices.