David Scott never really knew his older brother, John. John was born disabled and sent to the #fernaldSchool in Waltham. And with the Scott Family being in Roslindale, and poor, and not having a car, getting to Waltham wasn't easy.
https://twitter.com/Karynregal/status/1374424003570405384
John died at the age of 7, and was buried in a grave marked only with a number, and with a letter: C or P, meaning either #Catholic or #Protestant. Those were the options. He was buried here.
It's difficult to keep track of records. Advocates have been trying. metferncemetery.org/bio/C-154
David Scott finally found his brother's grave, with the help of these advocates. His parents are dead now, but he wants to ensure John is remembered properly.
For David to get any information about John, he would have to write a state department, probably before a judge, and establish himself as next of kin. That's in hoping any records still exist.
There's legislation on Beacon Hill that might make that process easier. #mapoli malegislature.gov/Bills/192/SD24…
Not just for Fernald, but for all the state's former institutions. People of all ages were sent to these places for being learning disabled, intellectually disabled, physically disabled, autistic, epileptic, orphaned, unwanted, all sorts of reasons.
BTW, there's still no memorial to the children who suffered at Fernald.
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