Templeton Developmental Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Templeton Developmental Center |
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|---|---|
| Commonwealth of Massachusetts | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Templeton, Massachusetts, United States |
| Coordinates | 42°35′59″N 72°7′8″W / 42.59972°N 72.11889°W |
| History | |
| Closed | 2015 |
The Templeton Developmental Center was a special place in Templeton, Massachusetts, USA. It was a state-run facility for people with intellectual disabilities. It started in 1899 as the Templeton Farm Colony. A man named Walter E. Fernald helped create it. At the time, it was seen as a new and good way to help people with developmental disabilities. The center was very large. It closed down mostly in 2015. Some smaller care facilities still operate there. In 1994, the property and some buildings were listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites.
Contents
History of the Center
How Templeton Farm Colony Started
The Templeton Farm Colony began in 1899. The state bought about 1,600 acres of farmland. This land was west of a village called Baldwinville. The old farmhouses from the 1700s and 1800s were used. They were turned into four separate "colonies." Each colony worked on its own. One person managed all of them.
Growing the Facility
More buildings were added to the existing farms. New dorms and service buildings were also built. This happened mostly through the 1920s. The original land grew by another 1,000 acres. This happened in the 1910s and 1920s.
A New Approach to Care
People living at the colony helped with farming. They also helped build and maintain the buildings. This approach was very new and special. It was recognized across the country and even worldwide. It showed a productive way for boys and men with developmental disabilities to live and work.
Why the Center Closed
In the 1970s, the state started to stop farming activities. Over time, ideas about caring for people changed. People preferred smaller, local places for those with developmental disabilities. This led to fewer people living at the center. After many discussions, the facility largely closed in 2015. Most of the property is now managed by the state. A smaller treatment facility still operates on the grounds today.
See also
