Date: Fri 07-Aug-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Fairfield-Hills-Pinkerton

Full Text:

On Patrol With Pinkerton At Fairfield Hills: Guarding A Ghost Town

(with photos)

BY STEVE BIGHAM

They are the men of Pinkerton Security. Their job -- to guard the ghost town

that is Fairfield Hills.

There is not much activity these days at the former state mental institution,

but these mostly-retired men patrol the grounds 24 hours a day. The days can

be long and the nights can be longer. But there is plenty of work to do to

ensure that the place remains just the way the state wants it for now --

practically dormant.

As for being a ghost town, the guards say they haven't seen any ghosts at

Fairfield Hills, but over the years they've heard plenty of stories about it

being haunted. Just ask Ed and Lorraine Warren, the ghost-chasing couple from

Monroe. They took a group of children from MTV's Road Rules show to Fairfield

Hills several months ago to prove there were ghosts.

"I was there that night when they slept over in the morgue," recalled Lt

Raymond P. Boulanger, a weathered man in his late 60s who was working

two-straight eight-hour shifts when The Bee caught up with him last week.

The Pinkerton guards know the 800-acre property at Fairfield Hills like the

back of their hands, and they've grown to appreciate its beauty.

"You don't see buildings as well built as these anymore," said the Lieutenant.

"Just look at the outside of these buildings."

In a way, observed Waterbury resident Ed Rung of Pinkerton, it is a shame that

the site has to sit idle. He finds it hard to believe that someone or some

town would actually consider taking over such a monstrous site.

"It costs too much to maintain," he said.

The state is reportedly spending about $1.5 million annually just to keep

Fairfield Hills going.

According to the guards, Fairfield Hills would be in bad shape if it weren't

for the constant patrol. They get paid to chase kids off the premises and make

sure no one is using the buildings as a place to call home. That might be hard

to do, however, since the guards rarely enter the buildings and never go down

into the tunnels, which connect all the buildings.

Pinkerton's command center is based in one of the old buildings on Trades

Lane.

While much of Fairfield Hills is no longer being used, there are still some

tenants on the premises. The town's land-use, building, health and recreation

departments are currently located in Canaan House and the Daytop drug

rehabilitation center operates from Greenwich House.

The grounds are managed by Tunxis Management of New Britain, which is

contracted out by the state's Department of Public Works (DPW). Technician

Doug Carter of Tunxis can usually be seen on the grounds during the day.

Lt Boulanger, a Naugatuck resident, is retired from O&G Industries, where he

spent several years working at different projects, including the Hartford

Civic Center roof replacement.

The security position is a nice way to close out his working days. It's quiet

and there aren't many problems. Pinkertons don't carry guns. Most say they

wouldn't do the job if guns were involved. So they drive around the campus,

passing an occasional jogger or hiker or sit back at the dilapidated command

center manning the radio. Country music plays in the background. And Fairfield

Hills moves quietly toward its future.