MCfADDEN mANOR

TIME TO MAKE AMENDS AND PUT THIS SITE TO USE FOR MALDEN SENIORS
Get the Geratric Authority active on the issue for getting AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND A HEALTH CARE CLINIC(ADULT CARE CENTER) BUILT ON THE SITE.
.By Sharon Tosto Esker/malden@cnc.com
GateHouse News Service
Posted Apr 24, 2008 @ 05:49 PM
Last update Apr 24, 2008 @ 05:53 PM
Malden — Before the apartments and the
school were built off of Forest Street,
the land surrounding the McFadden Manor
was a sprawling country landscape complete
with cows, pigs, chickens, horses and a garden
to feed the people living on what was then
known as the “poor farm.”

“Where the school is now was primarily
corn fields,” said Arlene McGuire, the
granddaughter of James McFadden, the
nursing home’s namesake. “The apartments
next door were a cow pasture and horses
were there also.”

Arlene McGuire and her brother Paul McGuire
attended Monday night’s Friends of McFadden
meeting to give the nursing home’s supporters
an opportunity to hear what it was like to
live on the McFadden Manor premises during
the
late 1940s and 1950s, when they were just
children.

Built in the 1880s, the poor farm originally
housed Malden residents who were ill or in
need of a place to live.

The McGuires’ grandfather, James McFadden,
oversaw the farm from about 1922 through
1948. The McGuires’ parents, George and
Anne McGuire, took over two years after
McFadden left his post and raised their
family of six children, including Arlene
and Paul, on the farm.

It was only in 1955 that the facility was
converted to a full-time nursing home to
care for the city’s elderly population.

“If a family was burnt out [of their house],
or if children were abandoned, my father
would take them in,” said Arlene McGuire.
“There were people who really appreciated
it, especially the children.”

The McGuires recalled several holiday
memories, which were a community affair
when they were living on the property.

“My father used to decorate the pine tree
in the front with giant bulbs for Christmas
,” said Paul McGuire. “You could see all
through the neighborhood.”

And for Christmas and Halloween,
George McGuire were open the doors
to the facility and invite the neighbors
in to celebrate.

“My father believed that children should
not be going out door-to-door asking for
candy [on Halloween],” said Arlene McGuire.
“He said it wasn’t safe so he organized a
yearly Halloween party.”

Arlene McGuire brought several delicately
worn black and white photographs of her
family and past residents who had lived on
the McFadden Manor property. A few photos
showed residents getting their hair primped
and curled in the beauty parlor that still
exists at the McFadden Manor, but which
has long been out of service.

Paul McGuire even mentioned the jail cell
that remains in the basement of McFadden,
which has also been closed for decades.

“The jail downstairs was used for residents
who came home drunk until they sobered up,”
said Paul McGuire.

The McGuires felt compelled to recount
their memories to remind the Friends of
McFadden and its supporters how important
the facility was to them, and also to the
residents of Malden.

“I would hate to see this place closed down,
whether it was named for my grandfather or
not,” said Paul McGuire. “Just its reputation
is worth keeping it open.”

The most poignant moment of evening was

when Arlene McGuire read a letter to the
editor of a Malden newspaper from what she
believed was during the 1960s.
(The newspaper clipping was not dated.)

“I was surprised to read that consideration
was being given to the closing of the
McFadden Memorial Home by the city,”
wrote Ethel S. Greene, who lived on
90 Maple St. in Malden. “Having
first-hand knowledge of the care given
patients there, I have felt that it was
one thing of which the city of Malden
could well be proud.”

Greene’s words were reminiscent of
similar words being used by the
Friends of McFadden to save the
nursing home today.

“I believe that even if it should
cost a little more to care for patients
at McFadden Memorial Home, the
expenditure is justified, in view of
the homelike atmosphere and the
tender, loving care given the patients,
” Greene wrote.

When the McGuires had finished their
walk down memory lane, several meeting
attendees gathered around looking at the
photographs of the garden, the farmhouse
and Molly, their most favorite black and
white cow, as well as yellowed newspaper
clipping that detailed happenings like
the annual McFadden Manor Christmas party
sponsored by the Elks.

The McGuire family left the McFadden Manor
property in the late 1950s, but for both
Arlene and Paul McGuire, the farm will
always hold a special spot in their memories.

“I’ve always been sad that they closed
the farm,” said Paul McGuire. “Imagine
if it were still open? All of the
community and the children could come
to see the garden and experience a
real working farm. And all of the
residents could be occupied by taking
care of the garden and the farm.”

Meeting attendees said they were thrilled
by their special guests.

“The best part for me was taking them on
a tour (of the facility),”
said Valerie Folk,
whose brother is a McFadden Manor
resident. “Every corner we turned,
they’d say, nothing’s changed.
I don’t know how they remember everything.
It must have meant a lot to them.”

Friends of McFadden continue progress
Valerie Folk once again led the Friends
of McFadden meeting and provided the
group of approximately 30 attendees with
update on their progress to keep the
city-run nursing home open.

Since the last meeting, hundreds of flyers
and postcards have been distributed to
Malden residents across the city at
church services, community meetings
and even supermarket parking lots.

Folk is still trying to negotiate a
time for Mayor Richard Howard to give
the Friends of McFadden and their
supporters an update on where the
city stands on funding and the
future of the nursing home.
Howard had hoped to meet with
the group in April.

The Friends of McFadden are still
seeking potential members of a
board of directors to establish
a geriatric authority.
A geriatric authority would oversee
the daily administration of the facility,
as well as manage its own budget.

To establish a geriatric authority,
the board of directors would be
responsible for the day-to-day
management of the nursing home
such as dealing with federal and
state requirements for nursing homes,
medical updates, resident enrollment,
Medicare reimbursement and the budget.

The geriatric authority would be set up
similarly to the Malden Housing Authority,
which also runs independently from the
city’s budget.

“We’re looking for other members of the
community,” said Folk. “We’d like a grant
writer and a certified public accountant.
We’d also like people from the business
community.”

Folk told the group they need to move
quickly. Howard has committed to funding
the nursing home for the first six months
of fiscal 2009, which begins on July 1, 2008.

“We have to move quickly to establish a
geriatric authority before any moves are
made to privatize McFadden,” said Folk.
“We’ve made it clear that privatization
is not what we want. It’s also important
for us to keep the community informed
and involved.”

The Friends of McFadden are continuing
their efforts to stay in the forefront
of Malden’s residents’ minds.

“Looking at things since last November
when we started meeting regularly,
we’ve come a long way,” said Folk.
“But, in some respects, I’m a little
dismayed. I knew that there would be
some hurdles, but I would have thought
that by now we’d be sitting down with
the mayor to discuss the geriatric authority.
At the same time, though, I’m energized.
We had some new faces at the meeting
tonight and we continue to build support.”

The next Friends of McFadden meeting
will take place on Monday, May 5, at
6:30 p.m. at McFadden Manor on Forest Street.
All members of the community are invited
to attend.

— The Friends of McFadden have established
a Web site, which posts information about
upcoming meetings, at
www.FriendsofMcFadden.com.
The group can also be reached
by calling the McFadden Manor
at 781-322-1700. Staff members
will pass along messages
to the Friends of McFadden.

Copyright 2008 Malden Observer.
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Nice Photo..but2 years agoReport Abuse
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.....Make way for the new 'Howard Estates'
A Plush, High End Residence for the
affluent community, Units starting
at just under $599.000.
Cape Codder2 years agoReport Abuse
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I grew up on Gilbert Street not far
from McFadden Manor . I do remember
the farm and where the playground is,
I'm guessing because it's been a
long time since I have been back
to the old neighborhood. I remember
there was this nasty bull in the
field and he didn't like anyone
coming near the fence. He got loose
one day and razed havoc in the street.
I remember when the school was built
and many days of playing baseball and
football in the park. There is nothing
wrong in preserving the past.
The City of Malden should keep
McFadden Manor.
big jim2 years agoReport Abuse
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The more you learn the more sorry
this situation is. The poor farm
was closed and a school was built
along with some elderly housing
on the land. Now a second school
was built and a Nursing Home for
the Elderly which was converted
in 1955 to 'care for the cities
elderly population' was begun.
Now the Mayor for Life wants to
make sure that the city does not
live up to its obligations from
the past. Shame Richie Shame.
The best part of the article is
from Cape Codder who wrote of a
distant relative of the Mayor for

Life, a nasty bull that would not
let people too near. The Mayor won't
let people there live in peace just
like his ancestor the bull. Richie
your just like that old bull nasty
and full of .... Tell the truth for
a change and let the people that live
and work there what their future is and when.
Stop being a coward, it's not getting
you votes when you mistreat the old folks.
To: Big Jim2 years agoReport Abuse
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Nobody told you? The mayor doesn't care
about your vote anymore--he's not running
again. He's setting it up for his puppet,
Neil, to take his place. Notice how Neil
is playing like he's his own man now and
not going along with the mayor? Notice how
many articles have his name all over them?
Notice how he's got the kids from the
charter school doing his cleanup work?
Notice how he's got cameras up in
Maplewood the charter school paid for?
Get ready--the mayor is going to give
it to the McFadden people good!
The first poster is right on--
'Howard Estates' coming up!
Big Black BullSh**2 years agoReport Abuse
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Their all cutting and running,
their folding up, their getting
out- the damage is done, and
they made their monies, now we

sit there with dumb looks on our
faces at what they've done- and wonder
about what they first said to us in
their attempt to represent- it was all lies.
and look at my city...look for
our elderly....what now?...
what now.....can I get a witness..?.
.does the statute of limitations
effect local politicians? can we sue?
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