According to CBS News, the Fernald School in Waltham is the oldest institution of its kind. Part of the Eugenics movement, it housed people deemed inferior to isolate them from the rest of the population. All residents were labeled "feeble-minded" and most were children. According to some witnesses, lights have been seen going on and off in abandoned buildings on the site. Additionally, some individuals have reported hearing screams and the sound of metal hitting metal, while others consider the site to be very dangerous.
Metropolitan State Hospital was opened as a mental health treatment facility in 1930. After sitting empty and unused since the 1990s, the buildings on the grounds were gradually demolished and new construction was built on the site. When the hospital itself remained, rumors of ghostly sights and sounds were common. While many hauntings seem confined to the dark, some witnesses have reported seeing people on the grounds who vanished on approach. Even with the actual buildings gone, stories of phantom voices and other paranormal activity remain.
Less than five miles from Waltham, Watertown is home to Hosmer School. Hosmer School has an old section and a new section, which are connected by an auditorium. The old section has been remodeled and now serves as an assisted living facility. The stories surrounding the school say that Harriet Hosmer, a world-famous artist who lived and died in Watertown, haunts both the auditorium and the old section of the school. Her final resting place is said to be in Mount Auburn Cemetery, which is just down the street from the school.
While the exploration of areas reported to be haunted can be exciting and enticing, it can also be dangerous. Many such buildings are abandoned and in disrepair, making them unsafe. In addition, both private and public property is often considered off-limits under the law, especially after dark. Trespassing and other charges might be leveled if you are caught in such areas. Never explore any reported haunted location without permission unless the area is specifically designated as public property and open during exploration hours.
