Sunday, June 26, 2011

Tewksbury State Hospital Cemetery, Tewksbury

Continue from: Stonecroft @ Tewksbury Hospital, Tewksbury


There are two cemeteries for Tewksbury State Hospital. The one I visited is called "the Pines Cemetery". The other is simply called "the Pauper Cemetery". They are located in separate woodlands nearby the hospital. According to the Public Health Museum, approximately 15,000 patients, who had no relatives claimed their bodies, are buried in those no-name cemeteries. Apparently, the records between 1854 and 1894 are missing, but at least the patients deceased between1891 and 1930 are buried in the Pines Cemetery. In the Pauper Cemetery, the burials took place as late as 1960's.

Established in 1892, Tewksbury Hospital was originally called as the Tewksbury Almshouse. Many of them were destitute immigrants notably from Ireland. In addition to the poor, they accepted the "pauper insane", alcoholics, and patients with such contagious disease as TB.

Old Administration Building/ Public Health Museum 

One of the many reasons why I visited the Public Health Museum was to gather information about the cemetery. Usually, consulting a map and some web sites suffice the function. But look at this... 

Google Street View of the Pines Cemetery

No way I'm going to visit the cemetery without the firsthand information, I thought. Helpful guides at the museum provided detailed information about the cemetery, encouraging me to visit there. So I decided to go.


Ok, it doesn't look so intimidating on a hot sunny day. But I didn't bring a bunch of flower...so I went for a rudimentary measure by picking wild flower and put it on a stone hedge. I set my foot onto the pine woods.

There are at least two graves around the snapped tree; click picture to find them

The grave marker in the Pines Cemetery is made of metal and has a cross surrounded by a laurel wreath. Like numerous state hospital cemeteries in Massachusetts, the only information that distinguishes one from another is a number on the center of the cross.

A new guide told me that she was surprised how obscure those markers were when she first visited the cemetery. "If you aren't careful, you'll step on them!" She told me. I was puzzled by her statement because the museum display of the markers were well over 12-inch high.


She was right. Some of the markers were buried deep. 100 years are long time, the forest soil accumulates. The rusty color blended into the surrounding, making it more difficult to spot.


It was the first summer day, hot and humid. Mosquitoes seemed to be waiting for THIS day. I was the prime subject for their feast. I was the walking cocktail platter for them. Why could they sting through my thick, stripy sailor shirt?

Sorry sorry, I forgot a flower bouquet but I searched for an hour...With a rather illogical reasoning for the mosquito siege, I was running through the woods in a nearly panicked state.


Although more sporadic, the markers were located even in the middle of the woods. "How big is the cemetery? Can I go through this?" I began to feel the past and the present were finally connected through the landscape. The sheer number of the anonymous markers spoke about the scale and gravity of the hardship against the destitute.


I finally came to the south side of the cemetery. The grave markers were densely arranged but I somehow felt they were less lonely compared to the sporadically placed markers in the middle of the woods.

One, two, three...Uh-oh

The attack of the mosquitoes became less intense, and I felt more relaxed...But oh boy, I was running on poison ivy.

According to the information in 2004, local volunteers, Eagle Scouts, and Boy Scouts routinely maintain the ground. But it's such a large cemetery; the section the job has done will overgrow again when they finish the last section. Considering from how the grave markers are placed, it is almost impossible to cut the grass with mowing machines. Everything has to be done by hand. Poison Ivy is a big headache among the volunteers.


Fresh paint were on some of the grave markers, suggesting there is a sustained local effort to maintain the ground. But the other location nearby a middle school does not seem to be as maintained as the Pines Cemetery is. Remember, about15,000 people were buried in the two locations. We have a lot of job that has to be done. 


RIP

I thank helpful guilds at the Public Health Museum for providing insightful, valuable information of the hospital, cemetery, and history of public health. I recommend you to visit the museum! Museum URL: http://www.publichealthmuseum.org/

Locate Tewksbury State Hospital Cemetery @ Google Map

http://www.tewksburyhospitalcemetery.ma-vitalrecords.org/recordsindex.html
http://www.tewksburyhospitalcemetery.ma-vitalrecords.org/mota.html
http://www.tewksburyissues.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=65&t=5797

30 comments:

  1. Those grave marker pix are really cool!

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  2. Dave,

    Indeed the design of the markers is very distinct. However, the makers at the other, newer location are more like an "ordinary" design you'd see in a pauper cemetery.

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  3. great pictures, Ive been there several times we cant forget these good people.
    Thanks

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  4. Hi Anon,

    Thanks. Yes, people at the museum were very nice!

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  5. Excellent blog on this old cemetery. I have lived in the town of Tewksbury for 25 years, and only today while walking my dogs on the trails came across this. Having driven by the sign on East Street millions of times, I was expecting to find head stones. I was surprised to see all of these grave markers poking through the leaves. I came across this blog as I was googling to find out more information on the history of this cemetery. You have some great shots and great information on this site. Thank you for visiting my town and taking the time to document this wonderful history.

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  6. Thank you Dianne,

    I have came across other reader from Tewksbury mentioning how the cemetery is not known well among the residents even if they live and work very close to it. I had little time enjoying downtown Tewksbury last time I visited...maybe next time!

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  7. my grandmother was sent there at 14 and my mother was born and adopted at that hospital.. all the important documentation was blacked out after thee records were unsealed. wish there was a way to find out.. something is amiss at that hosp, and i know that bad things happened there...

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    1. Hi Anon,

      It is very difficult to find residents' information from any state or city run institutions. I guess it is for the residents' privacy, but why does it apply to deceased ones? This question intrigues me the most...

      Shuko

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    2. Shuko -- in the modern day, privacy laws for psychiatric records survive death -- that means that information cannot be released easily without patient consent, and sometimes it is debatable if family members of the deceased can even access the records. In past eras, laws were significantly different. I recently came across some documents from the New Orleans City Asylum -- records of the treating physician. Made for a fascinating read into how we thought about people in that era. http://irreverentpsychologist.blogspot.com/2012/06/new-orleans-city-insane-asylum.html

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    3. Many of the young mothers there were pregnant as the result of rape and/or incest. LARGE numbers of them. In addition to the privacy laws, I think this was just society's way back then of "protecting" the victims, and, subsequently, the perpetrators. Back then, I think they felt "forgetting it ever happened" was considered the best "therapy". While there have been horrors committed at every institution, I know many people and family members of people who were residents there over the years, and many cite the care, even 50+ years ago, as being good. It was the best people knew to provide at the time.

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    4. Dear Anonymous,

      I hope that you are well. Thank you for your poignant words.

      I would like to use your words in a video that I am making about the place. If you see this post please have a look here:
      young mothers
      http://vimeo.com/54255517

      and contact me if you'd like.
      Thanks for your story. There is not a lot to find but I am still working to get as many sources of information that I can.
      Psarapas@gmail.com

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  8. I was just in there yesterday and me and my dog wondered along a small little path and it led to the cemetery. I was amazed by it and sarted to look around. I found the croos of Frederico and also found another tombstone. I went further back and the more rusty they got. I dcided to look at the number on one and it was number 7. It was oretty cool i plan to go back down there today.

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    1. Now is the good time to walk around the cemetery. Before Poison Ivy and mosquitos get their ideas!

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  9. I just went to see this cemetary for the first time today and I have lived across from the hospital for 7 years. I was not really sure if I was allowed to go in because of all of the "no trespassing" signs, and I was also scared of being abducted....it's very creepy in there! But I went and I'm glad I did. It really gives you a sense for how bad things were back then, that sooo many people died and weren't claimed, unbelievable.

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    1. Hi Heather,

      I'm glad you visited the cemetery! Yes, it is the most desolate state hospital cemeteries I've ever visited so far. (Dear readers: you should always be careful when you walk through those sites as you would in a nature trail...)

      It is such an energizing experience finding out that local residents who read my post take an action and leave a message to me. I found Tewksbury residents are very thoughtful, compassionate, and cool!

      Shuko

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  10. Hi Shuko -- I'm so glad I came across your post. I was out exploring an abandoned insane asylum yesterday and was looking for some information about what I looked at. I took a quick trip to the cemetery in Tewksbury yesterday evening. I'm going to go back when there is better lighting so I can spend some time thinking about the people who live dand died there.

    My posts on the abandoned Medfield State Asylum:

    http://irreverentpsychologist.blogspot.com/2012/06/medfield-insane-asylum.html and http://irreverentpsychologist.blogspot.com/2012/07/we-too-have-lived.html

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    1. Hi Jason,

      Thanks for the link. I love how your post is articulated by the wealth of archives. I love the Cambridge Room!

      Watch out deer tick, poison ivy, and god knows what when visiting the Tewksbury...

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    2. The ticks were crazy. I plucked six of them off my poor dog after walking through the cemetery at Tewksbury. Brutal!

      I was totally taken by my trip to Medfield. It is such a haunting reminder of my professions past.

      The Cambridge Room blog is great. Just recently discovered it and am already looking forward to new posts.

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    3. Owwwwwwww,

      Jason! I'm so sorry to be this late to publish your comment. You know what, I got Lyme Disease!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope you and your doggie is doing all right.

      The archivist at the Cambridge Room is very nice and helpful!

      Shuko

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  11. I was there in the early 2000's with Boy Scout Troop 615 Melrose MA. We were working on an Eagle Scout project with one of the boys in the troop, and while we probably were not the only ones to do this, the boys cleaned up a section of markers by raking out debris, wire brushing the markers, and spray painting them with the silver rustoleum paint as you have a photo here. I was touched by this project and glad to be part of the effort to bring some respect and dignity to the many nameless people interred there. As you mentioned, there are so many hundreds of graves it would take years of effort and many people to bring back all of the markers to a reasonable state of respect. I think I will visit again soon as I would like to do an experimental documentary video project on the place and it's history. I'll be sure to dress thoroughly wrapped and wear gobs of repellant to hopefully ward of mosquitoes and ticks. I've had lyme also and do NOT want to get it again! Thanks for your wonderful, respectful post.

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    1. Hi psarapas,

      Thank you for acknowledging my work, as well as your hard work at Eagle Scout.

      It was such a huge cemetery...It is an important historical space to tell us the hardship of many immigrants like Ann Sullivan.

      I think it is a great idea to do a documentary project! I'm sorry about your Lyme Disease in the past...Mine is getting significantly better, but I wouldn't like to go through this again!

      Take care,
      Shuko

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  12. Shuko, I've used your Blog for some basic research, as well as the post on the other Tewksbury site. Since I commented last I visited the site on 8/1/12 and got over 2 hours of video and sound. The museum was closed for renovation but they let me wander and photograph, then I went to the outdoor grounds and pines cemetery. Have a look at my video work so far: I am not done but will credit you/blog when I am. https://vimeo.com/47397514
    also https://vimeo.com/47792280
    cheers
    Paul

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    1. Hi Paul,

      Thank you for the links. As you explained as experimental, very trippy and eerie, capturing the sense of space precisely.

      I am glad you are also intrigued by the Stonecroft building. Do you know any history of the building?

      Please let us know when your pieces are done!

      Shuko

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  13. Shuko, I will let you know when I am done. I have a question. This has become very interpretive, and as I design sound and edit video as a back and forth thing, it's going in a creepier direction than I had first thought it would be. That's fine as I'm happy with that on the aesthetic level. I'm also going to need some help from the museum people in getting images from the past. I'm not sure as a museum of history that is run by the state that they would like what I'm doing. I'm tempted to send what I have already to the director but am worried that they may then decide not to help me as I am am not in any way doing a documentary as people would think a documentary would be. What would you advise? I'm not about to change my approach. Thanks,
    Paul

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    1. Hi Paul,

      It is a "right" sensation that one feels the space creepy. But if you analyze the sensation further, I assume many reach the conclusion that it is a landscape of sadness.

      The creepiness of the space comes from the fact that people's lives are numbered; everyone buried there have life stories backed up by the history of immigration, poverty, etc. It is hard to feel the sense of stories from numbers, and one have to question why their voices are silenced (= numbered). I sometimes feel the process of the questioning spine chilling.

      I liked your video because you put some archives of patients diagnosis, etc. I felt that added depth and human faces to the graves; it managed to transfer the sense of creepiness to sadness.

      I am no expert in visual bits, so I only can give you some abstract concepts like this...For the museum people wise, I think they deal with people with various backgrounds, so I think they are more open minded than you think. So, I assume it is ok to tell them honestly that your project went to little bit too eerie in the direction and wants to add more history (or something else you have in your mind) to your project.

      Please let me know if you have questions,
      Shuko

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    2. This is excellent advice Shuko, you capture the essence of my feelings exactly. It is my intention to give honor to the many who passed through there, and that is interpretive on my part, what do I feel seeing all of this today? It's not a reflection on if they got poor care; the state did what they could given the vast numbers, the lack of resources. By 1872 it had reached scandalous proportions, and improvements were made. Your insights are very sensitive and I agree about the museum staff. They can't 'stop' me but I would like them to understand that this is a labor of love, so that they can help me.
      Thank you,
      Paul
      p.s. There is not a lot yet about Stonecroft that I have found but I will share when I find more.

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  14. So I went back there in October. Met the Police chief who is arranging a guide for me. He told me not too much to see in Stonecroft except lots of bird poop. Here is the latest bit from my video project:https://vimeo.com/54009567

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    1. What a bummer... There are more than bird poops and kitty litters for sure. Thanks for the video follow up, you got more archival materials! Keep me informed.

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    2. The other thing about the stonecroft building is that it's full of storage, at least in the basement, and they are not sure it's safe to go into it.

      I will be meeting with Duncan at some point and he can explain it to me. I am curious what your fascination is with that building is though. And if I find out more will share it.

      About archival materials, there are very few online but I hope to get more access through the museum.

      I got Lyme disease for the second time, not sure if I picked it up in that cemetery as I wore repellent, but I am not going back in there until there has been a long, deep freeze and with LOTS of bug spray still.

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    3. My fascination with Stone croft is my guess that it was built by the WPA. The stone cladding looks very much like the style they used in the Boston area programs. I first thought it was a TB ward, but more likely an agricultural facility.

      I agree winter is the good time to explore...isn't it ironic?

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