Malden City Infirmary facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Malden City Infirmary
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 341 Forest St., Malden, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 3.9 acres (1.6 ha) |
| Built | c. 1696 |
| Architect | Spingall, Cyrus; Smart, W.G.H. |
| NRHP reference No. | 100005476 |
| Added to NRHP | August 27, 2020 |
The Malden City Infirmary is an important old building in Malden, Massachusetts. It was first set up by the city a long time ago, in the 1700s. Back then, it was a "poor farm." This was a place where people who didn't have much money or a home could live and work.
Today, parts of the original property are still standing. These include the Warden's House, built in 1870, and the infirmary building from 1933. An infirmary is like a small hospital or care home. This building is now called Forestdale Senior Living and helps older people. Because of its history, the property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2020. This means it's recognized as a special place in American history.
What is the Malden City Infirmary?
The Malden City Infirmary is located in the northeast part of Malden. It's on the east side of Forest Street, near Goodhue Street. The land it sits on today is about 2.5 acres (1.0 ha). This is just a small piece of the original "poor farm" property.
Long ago, the poor farm was much bigger, about 20 acres (8.1 ha). It even included land on the west side of Forest Street, where Forestdale Cemetery is now. The property has a two-story wooden house built in 1870. This house was for the "warden," who was in charge of the poor farm.
The main building is the infirmary itself. It's a brick building shaped like the letter "U" and was built in 1933. It's connected to the old warden's house by a wooden walkway. There's also a brick sunroom attached to the infirmary. This sunroom was likely built earlier in the 1900s, perhaps during a time when many people were sick.
A Place for Care: History of the Infirmary
This area was first used to help people in need way back in 1772. It officially became a poor farm and "almshouse" in 1780. An almshouse was a place that offered food and shelter to very poor people.
By 1897, the poor farm had a house with 25 beds for residents. It also had 20 acres (8.1 ha) of land around it. Over time, in the early 1900s, parts of the property were used for other public things. These included the cemetery, homes for families, and a school.
The idea of almshouses became less common in the late 1800s and early 1900s. So, the property was changed. In 1933, the new infirmary building was constructed. The city of Malden used it as a nursing home for its older residents who needed care until 2009. Since then, the building has been updated. It now serves as a modern assisted living facility, helping older adults live comfortably.
