Pineland Farms

Pineland Farms is a 5,000 acre farm and recreational property in the eastern part of New Gloucester, Maine that is the site of the former Pineland Hospital and Training Center.

In the early part of the 20th century, the State of Maine purchased six farms in New Gloucester, Maine that became known as Pineland Farms. The purpose of this purchase was to build the Maine School for the Feeble Minded on part of the land and continue farming on the rest of it.

Opening in 1908, the Maine School was envisioned as a coed residential facility for the mentally disabled and patients with epilepsy. However, during its early years, the State also placed orphans and other wards of the state at the Maine School, as no other public services existed to help them.

In 1913, a local committee expressed concerns that the State had purchased Pineland Farms solely as a commercial venture, and that the location did not meet the needs of the Maine school. The committee suggested that the State move the school to a better location.

Supporters of the Maine School, including mental health expert Dr. Walter E. Fernald and local doctor Seth C. Gordon, stated that while the agricultural fields of Pineland Farms did generate revenue, they also had therapeutic value. They would, as Gordon said, "keep these poor unfortunates employed and do them good." Maine School supporters also said that with some improvements, such as the installation of an additional artesian well, Pineland Farms could meet all the needs of its patients.

In 1921, a resident described as deaf mute with arsonist tendencies escaped from the Maine School. After burning two barns near North Yarmouth, Maine, the escapee was captured by local residents and returned to the school.

In 1925, the State changed the school name to "Pownal State School". The old title, with its reference to 'feeble minded", was considered insensitive to the patients.

At its peak residency in the 1930s, the Pownal School cared for an estimated 1,500 patients.

In 1953, Peter W. Bowman became the superintendent of the Pownal State School, which in 1957 became the Pineland Hospital and Training Center. This name would be shortened to Pineland Center in the early 1970's. Over the next 18 years, Pineland Center received national recognition for the care of the mentally disabled.

...
Wikipedia