The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1870-06-03
AIIo 1IIoI FO4VtIo WUIh'
REMARKS OF MR., 6UNCKFI.

REMARKS OF MR.. eUNCKEL
Mr.. Gunckel arose and said: little ovei
two years ago the Managers Of the National
Asylum purchased these grounds and author
lied me to commence work. Winter was ap-
preaching, and hundreds of disabled soldiers
homeless, penniless and almost friendless
were seeking admission. We could not wait
for plans, nor for an architect. In one week
we put up, out of Camp Chase lumber, donated
| by Congress, the first of the one story bar
racks, and filled it on the very day it was COM
/ pleted. The next week we put up another,
and it was Immediately filed. And SO we
went, i'll summer and winter, adding building
TO building, and filling each as soon as it was
/ completed. First, we used an old barn for a
| dinning-room, becoming too small we added
wing, then another, then still another, finally
| took up and threw out the old barn, raised the
whole another story and left the dining room
as it now stands. The first winter we cared
| for four hundred men, the second nine hun
dred men, and last winter our rolls showed
thirteen hundred, and to-day we celebrate the
| completion of another building, adding TO our
capacity three hundred more beds, every one
of which will be filed during the coming
winter.
"Looking at these buildings and gounds to-
day, we are painfully sensible Of the fact
that there is much that would not stand critic
ism. Many of you could have done it better;
we think it very likely. We can only plead
that under many embarressments and difficult
ties we did the best we could. Had we
thought only of buildings and grounds, only
of architectural andlandscape effect we could,
perhaps, have done better ourselves. But our
constant aim was to help and care for the sick
aud disabled soldiers, and to provide for them,
with the least possible delay, a home-pleas-
ant, comfortable and happy home; and if we
have succeeded in that our dearest wishes
have been realized and our highest wishes
gratified."
Letters were read from President Grant,
Vice President Colfax, Chief Justice Chase,
Gen W I Sherman, Gen Phil Sheridan, Gen
Meade, Gen Martindale, and the Governors Of
New York, Michigan, Wisconsin, Kansas, New
Hampshire, and Ex-Governor Dennison of |
Ohio. Among the letters was one from Mrs.
Mary Lowell Putnam, sister of Lowell the |
poet, expressing her regret at not being able |
to be present. The name of Mrs. Putnam was /
received with great enthusiasm, she having |
been a special patron of the institution The |
walls of the library are adorned with over a |
hundred paintings chromos, engravings, and |
all of which are the gift of this
lady, who does this as a memorial to her son,
who fell at Balls Bluff early in the war. His
portrait, that of very youthful face, occupies
a prominent position among the beauties of |
this room. The library contains about two
thousand volumes, on5-half of which have
been contributed by her. Some of the latter
are the most expensive and beautiful of the
English publications.
Remarks were made by Gov Hayes, Gov
Baker, General Which, General Sohenck.
Surgeon General Wolcott, and Chaplain W.
4. Thomas.
The speaking having concluded, Col. Brown
'ose, and in behalf of the officers inmates Of
he institution expressed hearty thanks to the
gentlemen who had honored
hem with their presence, the choir, the band,
nd the ladies and gentlemen in attendance. j
Some one suggested that three cheers be
iven, when the soldiers rose in such numbers .
S to quite astonish persons who supposed the !
udience was composed chiefly of ladies, aud
ave three cheers that would have done credit
D the battlefield. /
A solo, "The Battle Prayer" was sung BY :
'rof. Clover. The band that had played sew !
raj popular airs before the exercises began. 7
ow performed the "Star Spangled Banner" ?
The exercises were ended The greatest E
ay in the history of the asylum was drawing
a close The audience dispersed, and slow
returned to their homes TO remember the Il
ospitality of the officers with gratitude, and n
make new vows Of devotion to the country v
ID its defenders, p