The historic Walter E. Fernald Developmental Center on 200 Trapelo Road in Waltham, MA, has faced a series of challenges over the years, including previous fires, vandalism and neglect by the city, causing buildings on the property to crumble. A recent fire has exacerbated its deteriorating condition, marking another setback in the ongoing struggle to preserve this Waltham landmark.

On January 18, at approximately 9:53 a.m., the Waltham Fire Department was notified of smoke on the property. Upon arrival, firefighters found “heavy fire showing from a two-and-a-half-story brick building,” warranting a second fire alarm, according to Waltham Fire Lt. Mike Murphy during a Jan. 18 press conference. A third alarm was soon called, summoning all 10 Waltham fire companies and receiving assistance from neighboring cities including Arlington, Watertown, Belmont and Cambridge.  

The fire took place in Chipman Hall, an original building of the Walter E. Fernald Developmental Center. The campus spans over 180 acres and has a complex and troubled history. Established in 1848 by Samuel Gridley Howe as the Massachusetts School for the Feeble-Minded, the federally funded institution was the oldest institution in the Western Hemisphere that served people with developmental disabilities. Its mission included classroom training, manual training like shoe repair and sewing, music therapy and physical activities like dancing and athletics, according to a written history. 

However, the center later became infamous for its neglect, abuse and involvement in eugenics practices, especially under the leadership of its third superintendent, Walter E. Fernald. As eugenics gained traction in the 20th century, the horrors of eugenics-related practices in concentration camps during the Holocaust influenced the segregation of individuals with disabilities in the United States. Widespread intelligence quotient testing became a key tool for this segregation, leading to the separation of children deemed intellectually "insufficient" from their families. These children were institutionalized and kept from reintegrating into society, all in the name of preserving a “clean” genetic pool.

Despite the center's troubling history, efforts to close it began in the early 2000s and the last resident left in 2014. The city of Waltham then acquired the property for $3.7 million, with plans for preservation and redevelopment, but many local residents and advocacy groups continue to express concerns about how the city manages the site’s legacy.

Originally known as the Girl’s Dormitory, Chipman Hall, a Queen Anne-style structure, was built in 1892. It was designed by Boston architect William Preston, who was also the architect for the footbridge in the Boston Public Garden and Boston’s Natural History Museum. The dormitory played a central role at Fernald. It served as the prototype for the patient residence on campus and across other state institutions, even inspiring military barrack layouts. Alongside the Boy’s Dorm, the Schoolhouse and Waverly Hall, Chipman Hall is part of the “Core 4” structures built during a period of rapid growth. The school's increasing population necessitated relocation from South Boston to Waltham. These developments were pivotal in shaping both the evolution of special education in the U.S. and the field of institutional architecture, marking an era of bold experimentation.

“The fire in Chipman Hall is a tragedy that could erase an overlooked but crucial history,” Bryan Parcival wrote in a Jan. 24 email to The Justice. Parcival is a filmmaker and photographer who was part of a team hired by the city when it purchased the property to perform a recording of the site. Parcival now considers himself as a preservation advocate for the “Core 4” and expressed concerns of the management of the property.

“I truly cannot wrap my head around it, particularly the extent and the level of the vandalism, which is unconscionable,” Parcival said in a Jan. 23 phone interview with The Justice, speaking to the rise of damage and defacement to the buildings during the Covid-19 Pandemic. It is not only the loss of history that he is concerned about, but also the missed potential of the property. He continued: “Waltham inherited a campus that you could have had at least a dozen buildings turned over fairly quickly for housing. They had inherited a fully functional hospital that had literally just closed its doors at the time of the purchase, then, they've let everything just crumble, to ruin and vandalism.” 

During a Jan. 13 Waltham City Council meeting, the council approved a $1,031,710 loan for the exterior preservation and restoration of the Howe and Administration Buildings on the Fernald property. The Howe building has been allocated $494,165, while the Administration building received $537,545. The exterior preservation and restoration efforts are the first of multiple phases. Both buildings will receive similar treatments like restoring brick facades to the original appearance, removing existing windows and replacing them with windows that match the appearance while being energy efficient, and replacing the roof. 

The city has hired Bargmann Hendrie + Archetype for the restoration efforts. In a Dec. 12, 2024 letter to the city, BH+A writes, “The intent of this exterior restoration scope will be to provide sound, watertight exteriors that will not require major repairs for 50 years.” 

The fire is another warning to the City of Waltham that the site requires care, but there is still hope that it will grow into a new legacy of serving its community.