1,384 Comments for Gaebler Children's Center

This seems like a very sad place...I hope that all the people that were there are OK now, I pray for them. Were there any Art or Music Therapists employed there at the time? I know there was a Music Therapist at Met State-that seems like a very sad place too. I worked diagonally across the street at The Fernald State School as a Music Therapist. I worked with the non-ambulatory and non-verbal profound mentally retared clients. Even though they could not speak, they could still vocalize to the music and work on a variety of fine motor grasps and gross motor movements by manipulating muscial instruments. Music is a universal language, and they responded well to this medium. I love working with this population of clients.

John I go by the place all the time. If your ever out here my # hasn't changed in 12 years ill always have it. 617-733-8597 its my boiler company cell phone. Feel free to call me any time. I love talking to people from there. Anyone can feel free to call. Leave a message. I'm the only that can check them:)

Mr. Motts I remember that key from my first time there.

I thought these were near the bend of ward A at the boys shower. I remember john stealing a drill from the shop and drilling from the boys bathroom by the urinal to the girls shower. Lol

Pookie do I know you. Were you on ward A with a very strong boyfriend

Fang your a looser. Can u see what we all want through. Why would you even say anything like that. You must be a young punk

Lakegirl
A lot of kids left there "crazy" I have seen so many kids come in and by the time they left they were so messed up. I don't want to say names but I always remember one kid from ward A that left so messed up. Its so sad.

You mention the basement as a "crawl space" Has it changed soooo much? I remember OT and ART down there.

Mr. Motts,

For future reference, some of the locks on the wooden doors are the old 'skeleton' keys. I remember specifically the keys had two "wings" and a strip of metal in the middle.

If you can, could there be, at any point, pictures of the old kitchen and the Nurses office (Second Floor over the front enterance)?

From ward to ward (in order of floor, in repect to facing the building): 2nd: A (Right Side) [Adolescent 16-18], D (Left Side)[Adolescent 15 - 17]; 3rd: E (Left Side) pre-adolescent to adolescent 13 - 16, B (Right Side) [Childrens unit 5 - 12]) These are the age groups that seem to fit while attending the 'fine' institution of Gaebler [pppssshhh, right].
I believe these pictures are located in the basement next to the Ocupational Therapy Room. I do not remember them anywhere else, but it has been 27 years.

The cafateria was at the other end of the building (up the ramp, through the doors, past the front entrance SLAM door, further down to the second to last door on the right before the stairs). The cafateria had a walk though line while I was there and each ward went down seperately at half hour intervals to eat. the tiles on the walls of the kitchen were almost sea green and the cafateria was light peach over a darker shade of flesh tone. the chairs were heavy mismatched formica-like seat and backs on chromed frames. the floor was the same type of material that was speckled and covered heating pipes that made the floors warm in the winter. NO PAINTINGS OR WALL HANGINGS WERE ALOWED IN THE CAFATERIA. (BTW, most of the kitchen staff were Hispanic and were the ones who introduces me to Spanish. One of a few highlights I had while there).

THIS IS NOT THE CAFATERIA DURING THE TIME BETWEEN 1980 TO 1985.

very erie. Kinda gives me the creeps....

I couldn't stay at a place like this. I would go mad.

looks like the paint lasted longer than anything else....