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James Paterwic'09

A Local History Buff

As a child, James Paterwic received a number of history books from his uncle - a gift that sparked an interest and inspired a life-long passion.

This Belchertown, Massachusetts resident will be graduating with a history degree in May — an accomplishment nourished by his uncle's present as well as his parents' support. He has always been encouraged to follow his dreams, James says, and history continues to be a source of fascination.

“You can always find something new about a topic,” he says, “like another perspective or interpretation.”

It is this passion that drives James’ curiosity and led to the topic for his final thesis. In an effort to better understand his surroundings, James focused on a historical landmark in his hometown—the infamous Belchertown State School.

Once a school for the “feeble minded” that claimed to “reeducate the mentally impaired,” the institution was forcibly closed in the early nineties because of its reputation for mistreating clients. While many of the buildings on this 800-acre complex were left abandoned, others were renovated.

“I actually went to elementary school in one of the old buildings,” James says.

For a more accurate perspective on the school's history, James spent a summer interviewing local historians and community members. He then tied this information to the history of mental healthcare in Massachusetts to better understand the school’s context and why such neglect was permitted to continue for the seventy-year period the school remained open.

“The project culminated pretty well,” he says. “I actually went there and walked around the grounds. While I couldn’t go into most of the abandoned buildings because of the asbestos, I got the opportunity to take a lot of pictures to use for my project.”

As for the future, James’s interactions with the Belchertown State School historian made him realize how much he would enjoy working at a museum or some other job dedicated to the sharing of historical facts. He would also like to get his Ph.D so that he can teach American history on the college level—James currently works in the Calhoun Learning Center as a history tutor.

“We all need to help each other along the way in life,” James says, “and it’s a great feeling helping someone who needs it.”

By Nicole Ainsworth '09