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Archiver > MAMIDDLE > 2007-10 > 1193155091


From: "Susan Daily" <>
Subject: Re: [MAMiddle] Fernald School in Waltham (FERNALD)
Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2007 10:58:11 -0500
References: <1a2f01c81569$2c00f9f0$ca57c047@LivingRoom>
In-Reply-To: <1a2f01c81569$2c00f9f0$ca57c047@LivingRoom>


Using Google, there are a few hits. There is a little story about the
school here:
http://www.ragged-edge-mag.com/0103/0103ft2.html

I searched the Historic Newspapers collection at the Boston Public
Library for "Walter Fernald School Waltham" and had no hits. I then
just searched for "Walter Fernald" and had only one relevant match. It
was "FEEBLE-MINDED PROBLEM.; Law Providing for Permanent Detention of
Defectives Favored by Dr Walter E. Fernald." Feb 25, 1915. p.2. It
said he was "of Waverly".

The NEHGR mentioned that "Walter Elmore Fernald, M.D. of Waverly" was
a speaker at a meeting of the Pilgrim Society in 1920, and spoke about
his book, The Eugenics of Genealogy. He also wrote a book, "History of
the treatment of the feebleminded" in 1893.

That's all for now,
Susan Daily

On 10/23/07, Betty <> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I just went to look up the maiden name of one of my aunts, LOVE, and
> discovered a girl in the 1900 Census at "The Massachusetts School for the
> Feeble-Minded." At the top of the list is Walter FERNALD and his wife,
> Katherine, and 3 children.
>
> There seems to be almost 20 census pages for the people residing at this
> school. And, even though it is named a school, there are people there -
> of all ages.
>
> The 1910 census shows Walter FERNALD as 51 and being born in Maine, as did
> his parents. In 1920, he is still there with his wife, Kate, and one
> daughter.
>
> Wow, even though this name is hardly ever mentioned on the Lists, it is a
> popular name in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.
>
> I just checked the FERNALD List and Boards and was surprised to find out
> that the "Fernald School" is not mentioned in the archives.
>
> I just went to this web page and found out the school was originally started
> by Samuel Gridley HOWE in 1848:
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_E._Fernald_State_School
>
> I just saw that the "school" took in special-needs children / adults for
> over 100 years.
>
> I'm curious about the origin of the FERNALD name.
>
> Betty (near Lowell, MA)
>
>
>

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