Public Invited on Building-by-Building Tour of State Hospital Tonight

The Medfield Historic District Commission will be doing a building-by-building walking tour of the Medfield State Hospital's core campus tonight at 6 p.m.

The public is invited to attend and should meet at the MSH Chapel if they would like to go along.  

The findings will then be discussed at the Commission's regular meeting at the Town House in the Warrant Room at approximately 7:15 p.m. (or whenever the tour ends). 

The Commission will be evaluating the condition of the 23 buildings constructed as part of the original campus in 1896. Those buildings are now part of the Medfield State Hospital Farm Historic District which was created in 1994 to help protect their historic significance; however, since that time, the hospital has closed and the property has fallen into disrepair. 

Editor's Note: Medfield Patch took a walking tour of the property last fall. Click here for a photo gallery of nearly 200 photos of the property. 

The town recently reached an agreement with the state regarding a portion of the property and is now in discussions regarding the rest of the property.

Many have argued that the existence of the buildings makes the property is cost-prohibitive for a developer, and also a liability for the town should it decide to purchase the property. At Tuesday's meeting of the Board of Selectmen, Selectman Osler Peterson said the dilapidated buildings could add $18 million in extra project costs to a buyer. 

There has been much talk by town and state officials regarding the condition of the buildings and tonight's tour will give the Historic District Commission -- and anyone who would like to join them -- a first-person glance at their condition. 

"More than 10 years ago, a study looked at all the structures and, then, there were two or three that had to be torn down," HDC Chairman Michael Taylor told selectmen on Tuesday, noting the tour will provide information needed by the Commission to make its recommendations.