From http://symmesarlington.org/work/pres/SAC_Report03Jan02.pdf
History
Ownership and Use of the Symmes Site
1851 – the majority of the current site was presented as a gift to the Town
late 19th C – site of a wood lot for the Town’s almshouse
1901 – Stephen Symmes dies March 11, and leaves his estate in trust
“to found and
maintain a hospital … for [those] suffering from injuries or from sickness or
disease … and also to establish and maintain … a training school for nurses…”
1902 – Board of hospital is created
1903 – As the site of the hospital envisioned by Stephen Symmes, his
home property, is
deemed unsuitable, the Town transfers a portion of the future Symmes site to the
control of the hospital Board
1910 – Women’s Aid Association (later the Arlington Symmes Auxiliary)
is established
1912 – Hospital opens on February 22 with 19 beds
1919 – Nursing school opens
1928, 1948, 1965, 1982 – additions to the original hospital are opened
1950 – Lexington Symmes Auxiliary is established
1968 – Name changed from Symmes Arlington Hospital to Symmes Hospital
1994 – Symmes Hospital sold to a partnership between Lahey Clinic and Advantage
Health (Advantage Health later sold to Healthsouth)
1999 – Emergency and inpatient services at Symmes are closed.
Outpatient services
provided by Lahey, Healthsouth, and independent medical providers continue.
Recent Voter and Town Actions
March 12, 2001 – Board of Selectmen unanimously adopts a resolution
endorsing the
acquisition of the Symmes property by the Town [see Appendix A]
March 31, 2001 – Arlington voters approve a debt exclusion referendum
to fund the
acquisition of the Symmes property by a vote of 4,441 (59%) in favor and 2,476
(33%) opposed
May 21, 2001 – Symmes Advisory Committee (the “Committee”) is created by vote of
2001 Town Meeting under Article 77
Symmes Advisory Committee
June 27, 2001 - organizing meeting of the Committee is held at
Arlington Town Hall
July 11, 2001 - the Committee adopts three strategic goals [see below]
July 18, 2001 - the Committee adopts a subcommittee structure and
issues a call for
volunteer