Trench Diggers

Fernald boys dig a new water main to the schoolhouse and gymnasium in the background, circa 1903. They are supervised by the formally dressed man on the left. This work was often considered "occupational therapy," where able-bodied children could learn a useful trade which could be applied outside the institution once released. It was also an unending source of free labor for the school; such activities were mostly discontinued at state institutions when it was seen as exploitative. The two buildings, despite a few minor alterations, remain remarkably unchanged over the 116 years between the photos.

Historic photograph from Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum, Transfer from the Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts, Social Museum Collection. Contemporary photo by Tom Kirsch, 2019.