Charity, Public: United States. Massachusetts. Bridgewater. State Farm: State Farm: Hospital Buildings c. 1900

Editor: Here we see a photograph titled "Charity, Public: United States. Massachusetts. Bridgewater. State Farm: State Farm: Hospital Buildings" by Bass Photo. What strikes me is how institutional and imposing the building appears. What does this image evoke for you? Curator: It brings to mind the history of social welfare and institutional care. These "state farms" often combined charitable functions with labor, reflecting societal attitudes towards poverty and disability. What assumptions do you think informed the design and purpose of such institutions? Editor: Perhaps a blend of providing refuge and controlling the population they served? I hadn’t considered the political underpinnings of the architecture itself. Curator: Precisely. Reflecting on the socio-political forces that shaped its creation allows us to analyze its impact. Thanks for sharing your insights.