Our Mission & History
Mission
The mission of The Massachusetts Hospital School (MHS) is to provide medical, habilitative, rehabilitative, recreational, educational and vocational services to children and young adults with multiple disabilities, assisting them to achieve their maximum level of independence in all aspects of life.
History of the Massachusetts Hospital School Foundation
In 1907 Dr. Edward H. Bradford, Professor and Dean of Orthopedics at Harvard Medical School, and Chief of Orthopedics at Boston Children’s Hospital, had a vision of a society where all children would receive an education. Upon discovering that there were many physically disabled children living in Massachusetts, who had grown into adolescence without a single day’s schooling, Dr. Bradford began to pioneer for a change. The Massachusetts Hospital School (MHS) was created through legislation enacted in 1904, largely through Dr. Bradford’s efforts. The Hospital School opened its doors in December of 1907becoming the first facility in the nation to provide treatment and education for physically impaired children of normal cognitive ability. Throughout the years MHS has responded to the changing medical needs of children and young adults and continues to be a model program nationally.
Past years
- 1894 Dr. Edward H. Bradford, Professor and Dean of Orthopedics at Harvard Medical School and Chief of Orthopedics at Children's Hospital Medical Center is active in the establishment of a private lay school for handicapped children, now known at the Cotting School
- 1904 Dr. Bradford is largely instrumental in the passing of the Acts of 1904, Chapter 446, "An Act to Establish the Massachusetts School and Home for Crippled and Deformed Children," to serve as a public residential facility with hospital and school facilities available to disabled children of the Commonwealth
- 1905 A Board of Trustees to serve as the Governing Body and administer the $300,000 grant is appointed by Governor Bates
- 1906 The Board of Trustees votes to purchase the Gerald and Teavey Estate in Canton and to begin construction
- 1907 The Massachusetts Hospital School opens. Dr. John E. Fish appointed first Superintendent
- 1908 104 children are admitted (70 boys/34 girls)
- 1909 Programs developed for home, hospital an educational care
- 1914 Enrollment of 258 patients/students 113 tuberculosis of the bone, 61 infantile paralysis, 84 other
- 1915 Major advances in treatment of hip disease
- 1916 X-ray motion pictures are suggested and developed by Chairman Dr. Edward Bradford
- 1920 100.12 acres of additional land is purchased
- 1922 Bradford Hospital, a 100-bed infirmary, is dedicated
- 1927 Acts of 1927, chapter 138 brings erection of a new school building, with new architectural concepts
- 1928 Margaret Brayton is appointed Head Teacher
- 1931 Dedication of Ellis Cottage, student residential facility
- 1933 Sewage/Town of Canton
- 1933 Two fireproof residential cottages (Baylies & Ross) are made available by the National Industrial Recovery Act
- 1936 Industrial Building erected
- 1937 Federal clinics established in various parts of the state to locate and identify other crippled children
- 1942 War defense program at MHS is established to work with Red Cross and other wartime efforts, Dr. John Fish Memorial Clock Tower, a gift from MHS alumni, is dedicated
- 1945 Fire destroys much of main section of Administration Building
- 1946 Dr. Fish retires. Dr. Donald Gates appointed superintendent
- 1947 Dr. Charles Bradford (son of founder) brings about a medical revolution by recruiting Dr. Gates. Dr. Reidy and Dr. Norton; founding an orthopedic residence
- 1949 Establishment of a Medical Advisory Board
- 1950 Dr. Donald C. Gates Cottage dedicated
- 1951 First High School Graduation
- 1952 Affiliation with Tufts College, Lahey Clinic and other facilities with MHS, Dedication of new Bradford Hospital
- 1954 MHS is transferred from the Department of Public Welfare to the Department of Public Health
- 1955 Salk vaccine virtually eliminates polio
- 1962 Dedication of the Colonel John L. Donovan Nurses' Home
- 1965 Closed circuit TV system installed
- 1966 Dedication of the Nils "Swede" Nelson Hospital
- 1969 First enrollment of day students
- 1970 Dedication of the Margaret Brayton High School
- 1976 Board of Trustees incorporates MHS Medical & Education Fund for the Handicapped, Chapter 166 divides MHS into two lines of authority: the Department of Public Health and the Department of Education
- 1978 Dedication of the Dr. John Foley Outpatient Center, Experimental Independent Living Program established
- 1979 Superintendent John. J. Britt is appointed
- 1980 MHS grants Town of Canton five acres for housing for the handicapped
- 1981 Dedication of Dr. Herbert Margolis Dental Suite
- 1983 Dedication of the Senator Joseph Finnegan Recreational Complex
- 1984 Dedication of the Dr. Paul Norton Medical Library
- 1985 Annual Disney Trip begins
- 1986 Dedication of the Dr. Richard M. Kilfoyle Operating Suite.
- 1987 80 - Year Celebration at Kennedy Library
- 1989 Became the recipient of the Edwin Phillips Foundation Grant, which funds Project Access World yearly
- 1993 Wheelchair access track installed
- 1995 Rededication of Old School House
- 1996 Dr. Arthur M. Pappas Award is established
- 2004 Ground-breaking for Indoor Riding Arena
- 2007 100-Year Centennial Celebration
Hospital/Campus Location
The Massachusetts Hospital School campus is accessed from Randolph Street with very good access to the regional highway system including Route 128, I-93, and I-95, Route 138.
12 miles south of Boston. Route 138, less than a mile to the east, is a busy retail, office and light industrial corridor.
Bus service along Route 138 which connects to the Mattapan High Speed Trolley Line and several MBTA bus routes. Canton is served by 2 MBTA commuter rail lines each approx. 2 miles away.
The campus is very well maintained, pastoral in appearance, and has the feeling of a small college campus. Site amenities include a playing field, track, barn, indoor riding arena, outdoor turnouts and stables, nature trail, woods, meadow and reservoir pond recreational waterfront.
