Stetson Home was founded as an orphanage for boys in 1899, by Henry Augustus Pevear of Lynn, Massachusetts. The Home was a tribute to the strong Christian upbringing given him by his late mother, Mary Anne Stetson Pevear. During the early years, special consideration was given to boys from Lynn and Barre, Massachusetts.

By the 1960's, Stetson began treatment for emotionally disturbed boys, often from broken homes, who had suffered some form of abuse or neglect. During this time, education legislation was passed, and Stetson became a Chapter 766 program approved by the Massachusetts Department of Education.

In 1990 Stetson began to admit juvenile males with a history of sexually abusive behaviors. Over time, we began to see that there was a profound need for this type of program. As our services evolved, Stetson earned a reputation of expertise in the juvenile sex offender field. By 1994, Stetson had become a specialized program devoted specifically to treating children and youth with sexual behavior problems.

 A five-year campus expansion program was instituted in 1998, which resulted in the construction of three new residences Connington Lodge, Palson Lodge and 2003's two-story Cutting Lodge, as well as the Robinson Education Center, - a 26,000 S.F. special education facility.