Waltham Letter: Focus On What The Fernald Became, Not What It Was

WALTHAM, MA — The following letter to the editor was submitted by Dorothy Rouleau, whose sister lived at the Walter E Fernald Developmental Center for more than 50 years, in connection with this article: Disability Advocates Push Back On Waltham Light Show At The Fernald.

Many of those who denounce [the light show at the Fernald] do not know fully the true Fernald. They live in what Fernald was at a particular point and not what Fernald became.

My life centered around Fernald because my sister lived there for 67 years. I was a child visiting Margaret with my parents on the first Sunday of every month. It was a depressing place and my sister cried when we left wanting to come with us.

That all changed in 1972 when Judge Joseph Tauro decreed the Fernald be improved and forced the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to make changes, to add staff, to hire teachers, full visiting hours, and designed a viable community for the disabled that also included a self-standing Chapel, indoor swimming pool, workshop, gift shop, garden area for making and selling creations especially on holidays, etc.

The Commonwealth came up to the endeavor. Its biggest mistake is in closing Fernald for the disabled. I am grateful to Mayor McCarthy and the City of Waltham for its insight in the purchase of the Fernald property.

It is time to tell the truth about Fernald and not to live in the past of its difficult history but in what it turned into and what was created.

For those who do live in the past and helped to close Fernald, I can only say that they must have had their own agenda. Most transfers were not made into community homes but into state ops and into the remaining developmental centers. They therefore received no admissions and no money.

Fernald was a wonderful institution and a beacon for outstanding care.

Margaret was forced from her home in 2014. She did not live beyond one year, died in 2015, and lamented daily for her return to her home, her Fernald.

I thank the Lion's Club and Fiesta for bringing about a wonderful Christmas Show at Fernald this 2020-2021.

Dorothy Rouleau

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