The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1872-02-01

dispatch from G. Sherry s. Co., of the Enterprise,
to the Staunton papers. dated Harrisouourg, Va.
january 26th, 1872, apprises US of the sudden
death of Mr. Charles OFT, son of Mr.. John OFT,
of Woodstock. lie was found dead late in the
evening Of Sunday, in Messrs. OFT & Shues Drug
Store. in Earrisonburg, by Mr.. Edward shue'
the junior partner. who had gone to the store tor
medicine for sick person. He, on getting to the
store found it locked on the inside /; he then
broke omen blind and raised the window, and
went in On getting in, he found OFT lying dead
on his bed It is supposed he died with heart dis
ease, He was seen on the street about one hour
before that tins.
The deceased was young man of very exem-
plary character, and much esteemed. He was a
nephew of Luther Il. OFT, Esq, Of the firm OF
OFT & Shue.
WESTERN LuxArIc AsyLuM.-We acknowledge
the receipt feoln the accomplished Physician and
Superintendent of the Western Lunatic Asylum,
Dr. F. T. stribling, of the Report of the Board
Of Directors and Medical Superintendent Of this
institution, for the fiscal years 186970, and
1901. The report is embellished by an excel
lent lithogr plate Of the grounds and buildings
taken from photograph by our townsman, Mr..
Clinednst
Inc report Is interesting IuN CoS1jiCtG, onioa a
cling many facts connected with the first establish
ment Of the institution, and running down to the
present time. As showing tbs small beginning OF
the institution and the imperfect idea Of the vast
charity that was to flow from it, give the fol-
lowing statements from the renort:
ssThe General Assembly Of Virginia passed an
act dated January 22d, 1925, to authorize the es
tablishment of a western Hospital for the main
teEance and cure of persons of unsound mind"
In this act John S. Barnes, OF the county of Mo
nongalia. Joel Shrewsbury. Sr., of the county of
Kanawha, Drscoe G. Baldwin, of the county of
Augusta, John B. George Of the county Of Taz
well, and Allen Taylor, of the county OF Eote-
tourt, were named as The Commissioners to select
a site on the s'west side Of the Blue Ridge" and
to report their action to the Executive Of the
State. who was empowered then to appoint a
Board Of Directors, consisting Of thirteen mem
bers. The Board thus to be appointed was au-
tlorizsl to purchase tract Of land OF not more
thaa four acres, and to erect suitable buildings
thereon, the whole expense not to exceed $4,000.
The commissioners (by what vote does not appear,
selected Stanton as the site, and on the 18th of
April 1895, the I.ieutenant Governor lin the alb
senee of the Governor commissioned the follow
ing uamed persons as Directors, viz John II.
Peyton, Brscoe G. Baldwin, VIM. Kinney, Jr.,
VIM. Clarke, Nicho. G. Kinney Samuel Clarke,
VIM. S. Eskridge. James Crawford VIM. Bell,
u y
dell, and John Wayt. The Board held its first
meeting April 28th, 1925, and appointed com
mitre TO examine proposed sites, procure plan
OR plans and receive proposals for erecting build
ings. .sCn the 8;h CT July, 1925, four acres Of
land were purchased Of John Wayt, Esq, for the
sum of 5000 Soon thereafter plan for build
ing furnished by sMr. Small, architect, Of Balti-
more, was adopted, and contracts for the brick,
stone and carpenters work entered into. 1t was
the design Of the Board to provide aceommoda-
tons for officers, then supposed to be needed. and
for 80 insane persons sixteen Of each sex
In November Of that year. the Directors report
ed to the Legislature that the appropriation was
exhausted, that 9 considerable debt had been in
Cured, and that nothing was completed $4,000
more was appropriated at the session Ct 1926 aud
1927.
On the 24th of July, 1928, two male patients
were received, and on the next day two female
patients were admitted-one Of whom Is still an
inmate OF the Asylum.
This is a brief Statement Of the origin Of an
institution, which now affords comfortable accom-
modations for $50 patients. The buildings are
Of brick, neat in style and substantialin construc
ton, covered with tin, warmed by steam, lighted
with gas, aud amply supplied with pure water,
from source so elevated as that forcing appara
tus is unnecessary to distribute it about the
grounds, or conduct it over the buildings. There
are attached about 100 acres Of land, not in all
respects suitable for the demands Of such in
stitution, but afording means Of occupation to
many of the inmates, and aiding materially, both
as regards economy and com ort, in promoting
the objects for which the Asylum was founded"
The entire cost Of land embracing 100 acres
amount to $e,505.l0. Buildings, from the incep-
ton of the enterprise, Sl35, 177.S0. Covered
Ways, SIS, G6t7 70. Enclosures, iron, brick and
wood, 500, $40 % Water Works, $40, 743 "a
Steam Works, SCI, 369.83. Gas Works, S. 1909 81.
Total an cunt Of costs, for permanent improve
ments, from 1926 to the presentti time $2l6, 302 49,
From 1925 to the period when the report closes,
the Presidents of the Board were John II. Pcy-
H. Stuart and Jacob Baylor. At present, Rob't.
G. Bickle is the presiding officer.
William Boys was elected Physician in 1928,
and serTed until 1885, Dr.. F. 7. Stribling was
then elected and discharged the duties Of that Of
fee until 1870, when the duties of Superintendent
were added From this latter date to the pres
cut, DR.. Stribling has held the position Of Med
zeal Superintendent.
In 1892 an Assistant Physician was elected, in
the person of Dr.. Richard II. Gambill. He served
until 1857, and resigned. He was elected again
in January, 1865, and died in December Of the
same year. DR.. E. c. Fisher was elected in 1850,
and resigned 1851 DR.. W Hamilton was elect
ed in 1857, and still holds the position of ASSIST
ant Physician. DIR. 7. Van L. Davis was elect
ed 1858, and resigned In 1864. He was succeed
by Dr. Gambill, who died as above stated. DR.. T.
A. Berkeley was elected to fill the vacancy, and
served until his death in December last DR.. o.
C. Fisher was again elected, and the Physicians
are nov Drs. Stribling. Hamilton and Fisher.
Samuel NJ. Woodward was chosen Keeper -
in 1927, and served as such until 1870, when the
Office of ssSteward" was created, and he elected
to fill it. He resigned in 1862, and succeeded
by the present gentlemanly and efficient Steward,
Samuel A. Houshour.
The Matrons have been from the establishment
of the institution, Mrs. Mary Woodward. Fran
els A. Douglas, Sarah Dyer and Eliza J. Tinsley,
the present eneumbent.
The Treasurers have been from 1925 to the
present, John Wayt, Sr., Joseph Cowan, J. B.
Breckenridge, George Baylor, Valley Bank, Jno.
n Hendren and John B. Hoge, the present Of
fcsr.
Clerks of the Board, N. C. Kinney, W. H.
Watts, A. Lynn. N. K. Trout aad J. II. Black
ley, the present officer.
The Directors ask the annual appropriation OF
100000, which the Legislature will cheerfully
make
We will close this rather lengthy, yet imper-
feet synopsis of the affairs of this institution
Dr. stribling has now been in its principal
charge for IS years, and its uniform and crafty
ing growth, is mainly due to his high admlnistra-
fl yn talent and scientific atsainments. The har-