The Place
Where Is MeadowHaven
Ideally located between Boston and Cape Cod in Lakeville, Massachusetts, MeadowHaven is situated on two and a half acres of wooded land off a quiet country road. Two hundred acres of rolling farmland across the street completes the idyllic picture.
The facility consists of five large bedrooms, several offices, a spacious library, a large dining room, kitchen, patio deck, and a recreation room, as well as an attached apartment for the on-site Resident Advisor. True to its name, MeadowHaven provides a peaceful and healing environment for former members of abusive groups.
MeadowHaven is located off of I-495 south of Boston heading toward Cape Cod. Below are directions from various points. In addition, click on this link for Google maps direction to MeadowHaven.
From Boston:
- 24 South
- 495 South (toward the Cape)
- Exit 5 (comes immediately after exit 6)
- Right onto Rt. 18 (Bedford St.)
- 3.0 miles
- Left onto Wilkie St. (new small strip mall on corner)
- Bear Right at fork (Wilkie St. becomes Crooked Lane)
- 4th house on Right (white house)
From the Cape:
- 495 North
- Exit 4
- Left onto Rt. 105 ( Main St)
- 2.7 miles
- Sharp right onto Crooked Lane (looks like you're taking a right onto Old Main St.)
- 6th house on left (white house)
From Providence:
- 24 North
- Rt. 44 Exit
- East on 44
- Cross over 495
- Enter Middleboro Rotary
- First Right onto Rt. 18 (Bedford St)
- 3.0 miles left onto Wilkie St. (new small strip mall on corner)
- Bear right at fork (Wilkie St. becomes Crooked Lane)
- 4th house on right (white house)
The History
How did MeadowHaven Come to Be?
1996 --1999 -The need for a transitional home for former members of abusive groups is realized through working with former members. While running support groups many attendees were so traumatized by their experiences they needed a place to heal.
February - July, 1999 - The MeadowHaven facility is discovered, but has lain vacant and neglected since its former days as a nursing home. It is not for sale. The owner is contacted and is intrigued by the proposed use of the property. He agrees to sell, and fundraising efforts begin.
July - December, 1999 - The property is purchased and intensive renovations begin. Sixty volunteers turn out for the first workday. Former members from nine different cults help to clean out MeadowHaven. Three, thirty yard dumpsters are filled emptying the facility.
January, 2000 - July, 2001 - Due to lack of funding, renovations grind to a halt. MeadowHaven is put on the market to sell, but funding comes through and renovation efforts are resumed with the granting of a building permit in July 2001.
August, 2001 - June, 2002 - Renovation efforts begin in earnest and MeadowHaven is slowly transformed. Resident Counselors move into the building May, 2002 and a grand opening is held in June.
September, 2002 - MeadowHaven is open for business and the first residents move in.
Before and After
After a tremendous investment of time, resources, and volunteer labor, MeadowHaven opened for residents in September, 2002. Renovating the former nursing home took 3 years and (literally) thousands of hours of volunteer labor. Many thanks to the many men, women, and children who contributed their time and talents to make MeadowHaven a reality!
Lakeville
Lakeville is situated between Middleboro (to the north), and Taunton and Freetown (to the south). Lakeville's town center is about a 10 minute walk from MeadowHaven and consists of a coffee shop, and town hall. A few minutes further will bring you to a small shopping plaza with a post office, dry cleaners, card store, convenience store, and Dunkin' Donuts. Another few minutes will bring you to a bank, hardware store and other shops.
Lakeville is about 45 minutes by car and 55 minutes by commuter rail south of Boston. The commuter rail station is 5 minutes by car from MeadowHaven. The cost is $7.00 one way into Boston's South Station. From there, any location in Boston is easily accessible via the "T" (Boston's subway system).
