Preservation
Work So Far...
We are dedicated not only to remembering the history of the hospital, but also to preserving the very buildings where that history unfolded. Historical efforts so far have included clearing overgrowth, creating small community spaces, installing art, and more! These are just small steps forward to the bigger goal of rehabilitation.
Men's Group Overgrowth Cleanup
In September of 2025, the maintenance team at Springfield began a very large scale overgrowth cleanup process at the historic Men's Group of the hospital. It is because of their amazing efforts that the beautiful buildings are now cleared of the invasive vegetation that once plagued them.
Clark Circle Murals
Since 2023, the hospital has been using outsourced vendors to create murals to go over the window-boards at the Clark Circle complex (former Epileptic Colony).
Project Details
One of Springfield Hospital Center’s ongoing projects has been the installation of art murals on the buildings at Clark Circle (former epileptic colony). This project has been managed through one of Springfield Hospital Center’s Executive Project Managers, Vickie McHugh.
The first building to get them installed was Cottage No. 1. The building was constructed in 1924 as the first male epileptic cottage at the group. The murals were installed in 2023. This first phase of the murals was funded through the Public Art Across Maryland (PAAM) New Art Works grant program and featured the collaborative work of Maryland artists Iandry Randriamandroso and Gary Mullen.
The second building to get them was Cottage No. 4. The building was constructed in 1928 as the second female epileptic cottage at the group. The murals were installed in 2026. This initiative was through a partnership with graduate students from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), led by Baltimore native, emerging artist, and community advocate Damon Walker.