Templeton Developmental Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Templeton Farm Colony
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Waite House, one of the facility's historic structures
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Templeton, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 2,600 acres (1,100 ha) |
| Built | 1899 |
| Architect | William G. Preston |
| Architectural style | Federal, Bungalow/Craftsman |
| MPS | Massachusetts State Hospitals And State Schools MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 93001485 |
| Added to NRHP | January 21, 1994 |
The Templeton Developmental Center was a special facility in Templeton, Massachusetts. It was created to help people with developmental disabilities. It began in 1899 as the Templeton Farm Colony.
This center was considered a very new and smart way to care for people who needed extra support. It was a large place that closed down in 2015. Some smaller care homes still operate on the campus. The property and some of its buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994 because of their historical importance.
History of Templeton Farm Colony
The Templeton Farm Colony started in 1899. The state bought about 1,600 acres (650 ha) of farmland near Baldwinville. Old farmhouses from the 1700s and 1800s were turned into four separate "colonies." Each colony worked on its own but had one main manager.
New buildings were added, like dorms and service areas, mostly through the 1920s. The colony grew even bigger when another 1,000 acres (400 ha) was bought. The people living at the colony helped with farming. They also helped build and take care of the buildings. This new way of helping people with developmental disabilities was recognized all over the country and even internationally. It gave boys and men a productive place to live and work.
In the 1970s, the state started to reduce farming at the colony. Over time, ideas about caring for people with developmental disabilities changed. People preferred smaller, local places for care. This led to fewer people living at the Templeton facility. After many discussions, most of the center closed in 2015. Today, the state manages most of the land. A smaller treatment center still helps residents on the property.
See also
