Early history
In 1907, the Oregon State Institution for the Feeble-Minded was created by the Oregon State Legislature. [2] It was established as a quasi-educational institution charged with educating the "feeble-minded" (today known as people with intellectual disability and various other developmental and learning disabilities) and caring for the "idiotic and epileptic." [2] The facility was overseen by a board of trustees consisting of the Governor, Secretary of State and State Treasurer. [2] Construction had progressed enough by 1908 that the first patients were transferred from the Oregon State Insane Asylum (now the Oregon State Hospital). [2] They resided on a 670-acre (270 ha) compound consisting of an administration building (LeBreton Cottage), [8] a dormitory, a laundry and boiler house. [2] By 1913, two more cottages were constructed and the board of trustees was replaced by the Oregon State Board of Control. [2]
In 1917, a commitment law was passed that was to standardize admissions to the institution by insuring that valuable space was used for the "feeble-minded" and not for the "insane". [2] It also imposed an age limit on admissions to people five years of age and older. [2] The age limit was removed in 1921. [2]
The institution had a working farm that provided both food and training for its residents. [2] By 1920, most of the land to be used for farming had been cleared. [2] 400 acres (160 ha) were planted in crops and 45 acres (18 ha) in orchards. [2] The farm also raised hogs, chickens, and dairy and beef cattle. [2]
In 1923, the legislature established the Oregon Board of Eugenics, and Fairview's superintendent served as an ex-officio board member. [2] The eugenics legislation provided for the "sterilization of all feeble-minded, insane, epileptics, habitual criminals, moral degenerates, and sexual perverts who are a menace to society." [2] Sterilizations required either the person's consent or a court order. [2] By 1929, 300 residents had been sterilized. [2]
Two types of parole for residents were established in 1931: home parole and industrial parole. [2] Requirements for parole included a surety bond filed by the parolee's guardian or overseer, who had to have a net worth of at least $1000 and have lived in the state for at least six months, the parolee had to be sterilized, and the home or workplace had to be inspected. [2] Two-thirds of residents who had been sterilized were paroled, which freed up beds for new patients. [2]
In 1933 the facility was renamed Oregon Fairview Home. [2]
Changes in care and additions to the facility continued through the 1940s-1960s, and improvements were made to the medical care and nutrition of the residents. [2]
In 1965, Oregon Fairview Home was renamed Fairview Hospital and Training Center. [2]
In the late 1960s, the orchard, raising of beef, and general farm activities were eliminated. [2] The raising of hogs was eliminated in 1975 and poultry processing ended in 1977. [2] These activities had formerly provided all the ham, bacon, sausage, eggs, broiler chickens, and pork chops used by Fairview. [2]
In 1969, the Board of Control was dissolved and the Mental Health Division placed under the newly created Executive Department of the state government. [2]
In 1979, the facility changed its name from Fairview Hospital and Training Center to Fairview Training Center. [2]
Modern history
Fairview was closed on March 1, 2000. [2]
A group known as Sustainable Fairview Associates purchased 275 acres (111 ha) of the former Fairview grounds in 2002. [9] The land included several historic buildings. [10]
In 2004, Sustainable Fairview Associates sold 32 acres (13 ha) of their holdings to Sustainable Development Inc. for building Pringle Creek Community, a sustainable housing development. [10] [11]
Pierce Cottage, one of several buildings remaining on the former Fairview site, was gutted by a fire of suspicious origin in January 2010. [12] [13] The building was one of 50 at the site previously slated for demolition and recycling. [14] Two men were charged with arson in connection with the fire the next month. All remaining cottages were demolished in 2016. [15]
