Boys' Dormitory Entrance

Entrance to the Boys' Dormitory building, erected in 1891 for the young boys at the institution. The able-bodied children living here were used as free manual labor for the institution, digging foundations, pave roads and work the school's farm. The large structure was later used as the Activity Center for day programs, until it was replaced with newer structures at the cottage complex and mothballed. Unfortunately it was left to deteriorate, leading to the collapse of both wings. Exterior stairwell additions are clearly visible on each side in this comparison.

Historic photograph taken in 1933, from the General Photographic Collection: Massachusetts: Standard-size photographs, 1860s-2000s: Massachusetts: Waltham: "Mass School for Feeble-Minded (Fernald)": Thompson and Thompson Images; Courtesy of Historic New England. Contemporary photo by Tom Kirsch, 2019.