Monson Developmental Center
About this property
The Monson Developmental Center was a Massachusetts state facility in Monson, Massachusetts. The property, whose core has been in state control since 1854, historically housed a variety of facilities for providing services to the indigent or sick. It was closed in 2012, and the state is (as of 2017) soliciting bids for sale and reuse of the developed portions of the property. In 1854 the Commonwealth of Massachusetts acquired 175 acres (71 ha) of land in northern Monson, on which it erected an almshouse to provide facilities for poor immigrants fleeing the Great Famine of Ireland. In 1855, it was renamed the State Farm School, and later the State Primary School, and it housed children who were wards of the state. It served in this role until 1887. In 1898 the state's Hospital for Epileptics opened on the grounds, using the old facilities and adding several more buildings. Over the first half of the 20th century the facility was expanded, growing to 72 buildings on 662 acres (268 ha) of land. The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. Since then, its population has continued to decline, and the state in 2008 announced plans to close the facility. In 2012 the state relocated the last 31 residents, and began to consider the future of the property. After the facility was closed, the state planned to demolish nearly half the buildings, citing either their deteriorated condition or the presence of asbestos. In 2017, the state opened a request for proposals for redevelopment of about 256 acres (104 ha), representing most of the previously developed portion of the land. Belchertown State School, a similar state-owned facility National Register of Historic Places listings in Hampden County, Massachusetts
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Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Everything a full report reveals about Monson Developmental Center
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Questions about this property
When was Monson Developmental Center listed on the National Register?
Monson Developmental Center was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 21, 1994.
What type of historic resource is Monson Developmental Center?
Monson Developmental Center is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for Monson Developmental Center?
The period of significance for Monson Developmental Center is recorded as the listed era.
Can I research the history near Monson Developmental Center?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Monson Developmental Center will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
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