Metropolitan
State Hospital / Fernald Center
Contacts:
for DMH -- Ross Ellenhorn (781) 862-3600 x421
or Paul Ottenstein (781) 641-8127
for DMR
-- Joanne Ciardello (781) 894-3600 x2103

This barren
field with a remnant of a statue is the resting place for approximately
350 people who were former patients of Metropolitan State Hospital
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At least
100 people attended a Dedication Ceremony held last May on the grounds
of the Metropolitan State Hospital / Fernald Center cemetery. The
following is an excerpt from the invitation to this event:
The Met/Fern
Cemetery is situated at the border between a vacant psychiatric
hospital and a parcel of conservation land. Little exists to signify
its presence to any passersby. Approximately 350 ex-patients of
Metropolitan State Hospital and the Fernald Center are buried in
the cemetery. Their headstones, often sunken, deep in the ground
or fallen to the side, mark each life with only a number. Our primary
goal is to recognize each of those buried as unique individuals
by providing headstones with a name, date of birth and death and
any relevant signifying information. In addition, we hope to beautify
the cemetery and to assist with the continued upkeep of the cemetery
grounds.

This
unearthed concrete block serves as a marker for "Protestant
140" |
The Met/Fern
Cemetery Project has names of the people buried in the cemetery
and wants real markers to replace the original numbered pieces of
cement. They also want an access road to the cemetery.
Currently,
the group is working to get representation on the Citizens Advisory
Committee dealing with the sale of the state hospital land. They
are also hoping to increase the number of consumer members in their
group -- get in touch with any of the people listed above, if you
are interested.

The
"C" indicates Catholic number 63
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