Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1870-04-22
THE CENTRAL LUNAr1o ASYLUM


The Central Asylum for the Insane
was destroyed by FIRE on the 18th of No.
vember, 1868. On the following Mon
day the Legislature met and held thret
days session, during which a join
special committee was appointed to in
vestigate the causes of the fire, the ex
tent of the damages. and the compare
tive expediency of rebuilding the Asy
lum on the old site and of removing
to new one.
Early in the regular session of the en-.
suing January, this committee made an
elaborate report, concluding with the
recommendation, signed by every mem
Der of the committee save one, that the
ruined buildings, and not exceeding
thirty acres of the adjacent grounds of
the late Central Lunatic Asylum be set
apart for the erection of an Asylum for
the Blind; that the present site of the
Blind Asylum be sold and the proceeds
applied to the erection of the new build
ing for that institution and that so
much of the grounds of the late Central
Lunatic Asylum as were not needed for
the Blind Asylum, be sold and used in
purchasing new site for the Lunatic
Asylum, embracing not less than $50
acres of land, located not more than two
miles from the city of Columbus
The investigations of the committee
developed the following facts, which were
substantially embraced in their report :
That the Blind Asylum building was To-
Gated on low marshy ground. was
crowded even to the attics, was in con-
slant and imminent danger of desruc-
ton by fire, was unfit in construction and
capacity to meet the purposes for which
it was built, and that it must soon be re
placed by new edihce; that the found
alton walls, together with the center
wing and machinery of the late Lunatic
Asylum could be easily and admirably
adapted to the construction and uses of
Blind Asylum +; that should the Blind
Asylum be removed, its present site
could be sold for SIS, 900 that should
the Insane Asylum be removed, the east
half of its present grounds would be en-
irely adequate for the use of the Blind
Asylum, and the west half could be sold
for at least sc. 900; that this sum would
nearly or quite purchase a farm con-
veniently near the city, and adjacent to
the Asylum for the Idiotic. affording a
most eligible site for a new Insane Asy-
lum; that all specialists in the treatment
of the insane agree that farm location
is more eligible for an insane asylum
than a city location that the farm en-
ables the patients to produce a great
proportion of the supplies needed for the
institution, and at the same time affords
them those opportunities for light; agree
able outdoor recreation not obtained in
the city that specialists, including DR..
Peck, Superintendent of the Central
Asylum, agree that from five to ten per
cent more cures could be effected at a
farm than a city location that in the
city the Asylum was so accessible that
the insane had been and would be an
noyed and excited, to their great injury,
by the visits and intrusions of the curious;
that in the present location the institu-
ton had proved a nuisance to the city,
and the city nuisance to it; that there
was not enough land connected with the
present site for an insane asylum ofthat
capacity and it was impossible to buy a |
suthcient quantity adjacent to it and !
that if the building werez reconstructed |
on the old plan, it would lack all the
modern Improvements Of such instit,,-
tions.
Notwithstanding this report and the
earnest remonstrances of the trustees of
the institution, the Legislature voted to I
rebuild It on the old site, and within FIVE
minutes after that vote was taken, an in
vitation was received and accepted from
the municipality of Columbus, rendering
the Legislature banquet at the expense
Of the city! So great was the favor sup
posed to be done in keeping within the
limits of Columbus an insti-