TIMELINE
1874
Construction begins
1876
The hospital’s own reservoir was constructed
1878
The State Lunatic Hospital at Danvers opens on May 1st the first patient was admitted on May 13th.
1898
The hospital was renamed to Danvers Insane Hospital and the second nurses home in Massachusetts (Gray Gables) was constructed
1899
Hydrotherapy treatment introduced
1903
The Middleton Colony opened
1909
The hospital was renamed from Danvers Insane Hospital to Danvers State Hospital
1927
Dr. Clarence Bonner was announced as Superintendent
1930s
The hospital started to suffer from severe overcrowding and lack of funding
1946
Insulin Coma Therapy was introduced
1947
At age 17, Marie Balter was admitted as a patient
1948
The first lobotomy was performed
1950s
Electric Shock Therapy was introduced
1954
Dr. Clarence Bonner retires
1955
Chlorpromazine (Thorazine) was being used to treat schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders
1968
Marie Balter was discharged
1970s
The Department of Mental Health starts the deinstitutionalization process
1984
Marcia Cini and Candace Jenkins placed DSH on the National Register of Historic Places
1988
Marie Balter returns as an administrator & chief hospital spokeswoman
1991
The State decides to close Danvers State Hospital
1992
The last patients and employees are transferred to nearby Tewksbury State Hospital on June 24th
1992-06
The campus was abandoned
2005
Avalon Bay purchases the property from the State of Massachusetts for $18.1 million to be used as apartments and condominiums
2006
Avalon Bay demolishes all buildings and leaves only the main administration building and D & G wings, exterior front facade shells. See demolition time line for details
2008
Avalon Bay starts accepting tenants and the site is known as Avalon Danvers
2014
Avalon Bay sells the property to Boston based firm DSF Group for $108.5 million
2014-present
DSF Group renames the property twice since ownership. Once under Halstead Danvers and now known as Bradlee Danvers