BANGOR – The Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center dedicated its new greenhouse in memory of Douglas J. Schwartz, whose Living Foundation donated the greenhouse to the center.

“A greenhouse has been on our wish list for many years,” said Mary Louise McEwen, superintendent of Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center. “We had been receiving donations from families of patients and from those who wanted to honor staff members who passed away, in order to purchase a greenhouse. These donations paid for the construction, landscaping and other modifications of the site. We can now have a year-round horticultural program, thanks to the generosity of the foundation and other members of the Dorothea Dix family.”

U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud participated in the ceremony, reading a letter from Gov. John Baldacci and presenting two plaques of appreciation to relatives of former, deceased employees whose families asked that donations to a greenhouse project be made in their memory.

Douglas Schwartz was killed in a car accident March 15, 1987, one month shy of his 20th birthday. His parents, Annabel and Fred, set up the foundation and have been donating greenhouses since his death.

The family receives some 300 applications a year and makes donations to both children’s agencies and programs that serve adults with disabilities. Valued at $15,000, the greenhouse was assembled by members of the Dorothea Dix maintenance staff. Five greenhouses were awarded this year.