- Murdoch
Center
Interim
Director: Dr. Alexander Myers
P.O. Box 3000
- 1600
East C Street
Butner, NC 27509
Phone: (919) 575-1000
Fax: (919) 575-1007
The Butner
Training School, known as "The Colony," opened in 1947 in
an old army barracks and received its first transfers from Caswell
Center in June of 1948. Transfers continued from Caswell during the
1950's with the census reaching 361. In 1955, construction began on
the site which is now Murdoch Center. In December 1957, the staff
and clients from "The Colony" moved to the new Butner Training
School. With various construction, the capacity increased to 1,624
in 1965. The name of the Butner Training School was changed to Murdoch
School and eventually to Murdoch Center (named after Dr. James Murdoch
who led to the beginning of a new era of reform in mental health in
North Carolina). Today, Murdoch Center's approximately 1,620 staff
positions provide comprehensive residential care for 700 severely/profoundly
mentally retarded residents from 16 counties in
the North Central Region. Respite care and extensive outreach services
are also provided.