The Old Administration Building

The Public Health Museum is housed in the Old Administration building erected in 1894. This Queen Anne-style building stands at the head of the original main entrance drive on East Street, marked by a circa 1900 granite and wrought iron gate. Designed by Boston architect John A. Fox, the building was part of a major construction effort in the 1890's to upgrade the old almshouse by replacing the wood frame buildings with more durable and fireproof masonry structures. The building is a three and a half story, red brick building with a steeply pitched slate roof defined by bridge-end chimneys, roof dormers, and a copper-clad clock tower rising from its center. The original core was enlarged with lateral wings around 1920, and a one-story rear addition around 1930.

Prior to the opening of the museum on September 30,1994, the 100th anniversary year of the building, a concerted effort was made to restore the interior space of the Old Administration Building to its early 1900's appearance. In January of 1994 this building and the Tewksbury Hospital campus were placed on the National Registry of Historic Places.