Tiffany BrakefieldFuture for the Northampton State Hospital
The Northampton State Hospital was created to serve and help the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It was constructed as a result of Dorthea Dix's moving testimony before the State Legislature in 1843 on the need for adequate care for those unable to care for themselves, due to mental reasons or other physical restrictions. The sole purpose of the hospital has always been to give a helping and guiding hand to the less fortunate members of society. The Northampton State Hospital grounds should remain a place where those who need somewhere to think or to take a rest from society can seek solace.
This does not mean only survivors or consumer survivors of the mental health system should be allowed to use the site. On the contrary, all members of the surrounding communities should be allowed to enjoy and use this beautiful area. Because it does not take a lot of work to maintain the natural assets found there, the grounds of the state hospital can be used with minimal cost to the taxpayers of Northampton. It should continue to be a recreational area used by the community for activities such as walking, jogging, and picnicking. Adding a bridge over the Mill River can enhance the recreational side of the grounds; this will provide easier access to the hospital area from the surrounding community. In fact, a portion of the jobs created by the reuse of the hospital are promised to consumer survivors of the Northampton State Hospital and current Department of Mental Health clients, some employment can be provided through grounds keeping type duties as well as bridge construction.
In addition to a passive recreational area, certain parts of the grounds should be turned into various types of playing fields. On the lawn of the old main complex it is evident there once was an area used by the community for baseball and basketball games. These areas should be restored and used once again for sports purposes. If the cracked and weathered parking lot, once used by staff and visitors of the hospital, were to be removed it would open up additional area to be developed for recreational purposes. Perhaps this area could even be turned into a playing ground for younger children to use while their parents or older siblings play softball on the newly remodeled fields. Again, those who are part of the Commonwealth's mental health care system can fill some of the grounds keeping duties.
The hospital grounds can also continue to serve the community by providing housing for low to moderate-income families. Parcel E, which is located adjacent to the agricultural lands, is an excellent site to place a housing complex. Not only does this location have a beautiful view of the neighboring mountains, but it is also conveniently located in an area that has little previous development. This would preclude complaints of over crowding or over development. A fairly large portion of the housing could be used as a permanent homeless shelter to be open during both the winter and summer. The creation of this housing unit would cease the protests of those in town that do not want another cot shelter in their neighborhoods. The homeless shelter should be large enough to eliminate the need to open another in Northampton; thus no more community battles need be waged.
Money makes corporate development a necessary part of the redevelopment of the Northampton State Hospital grounds. Without sufficient funding the grounds keeping would be impossible; the city could also use the economic boost a company may be able to provide. The Memorial Complex should be conceived as a primary site for the company development. Unlike other previous plans for redevelopment, the Main Complex of the hospital grounds is too old and decrepit for use without demolishing the entire place, not to mention the asbestos and lead paint that is contained within those walls. Demolishing those huge brick buildings means spending big bucks, something that most companies are reluctant to do.
Those living in Parcel E, the low-moderate income housing area, can fill the jobs created by the company located in the Memorial Complex. These new jobs would allow the people to sustain themselves without having to travel far from home, currently an issue for low-income workers. Another way to remedy possible traffic problems would be for the the Pioneer Valley Transportation Association (PVTA) to extend its bus routes further towards the hospital grounds in order to accommodate those living and working in the area.
Lastly, an area of the old Main Complex should be used as a site not only for a memorial to those buried on the hospital grounds, but also as a museum to preserve the history of the hospital. The museum/memorial can be either incorporated into the recreational areas of the hospital grounds or could be located inside one of the salvageable buildings left in the Main Complex. As observed by the presentation given by one ex-patient this aspect of the redevelopment of the Northampton State Hospital is very important to consumer survivors today.
By the creation of jobs, housing, recreational opportunities, and a memorial/museum, the grounds of the former Northampton State Hospital can once again benefit the community. The hospital once played a very important role in the lives of hundreds of people; with the proper plans for redevelopment it can flourish once again.[Close this window to return to the class picture]