Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-10-07
The Asylum at Weston.

Notwithstanding all that We had read and
heard OF this building, we were not all IRE.
pared for the view which we had of it. To
say that we were surprised would hardly con-
vey adequate idea of our feelings: we
were amazed and delighted to far greater
extent than we had supposed we could he -
Owing to the extreme affnhility of DR.. r. 3.
Camden who has charge of the institution,
we were enabled to make good use of the
Limited time that we had for insrectipe it -
The building ia 1000 feet or over a quarter
OF mile in front. Bnt, however. it is not
all completed as yet. The central portion and
the western wings are finished hut the eastern
wing has reached the second story; the OK
IRENE eastern>wine not yet commenced. above
the foundation. The center buildine ia snr>
mounted hy an elegant cupoa the extreme
eastern and western wings are one story in
height, and the intermediate sections. three
stories. 1t is hnilt OF very durable crav
sandstone, qnarried on the west bnnk of the
West Fork river. mt more than n hundred
yards from the binding. The quarry. how
ever, will SOON have to be Abandoned as it is
slowly but surely encrnachirc on the grounds
of the Asylum. The bnldiny is very i'm
posing. The plan was prepared nv r Snow
den Andrews, an architect, formerly of Rich
mnnd.
The grounds surrounding the buildings are
very finely laid off. largo circular lot in
front Of the building is filled with flowers and
contains in the centre a beautiful fnuntain.-
Drives and walks, graveled and nicely graded,
abonnd in every direction.
We were forcibly struck with the cleanli>
ness and order apparent in every portion of
the building: Tn every ward and hall is some
arrangement for the amusement of the un>
tNrt,,x ~
furnished in abundance and in addition there
are l3agatellc tables, swings, rocking chairs.
etc.
The erection of tho Asylum was begun in
1858, according to an act of the LEGISLATURE
of Virginia passed March 22d of the same
year. OF the first approximation. s12 400 ~
was spent for the land. 273 acres. living IN the
west bank ct the West Fork river. and the
rest was applied to the excavating LAYING of
the foundation. and preparing for building
In January the Legislature of Virginia an,
propriated 500 600 toward the erection Of
buildings. On the 18th Of March. 1860 an
additional appropriation of S5O, 600 was made
by the Legislature of Virginia. hut the money
was never drawn a subsequent ordinance Of
the Convention repeating the act The total
snm received from Virginia was 1925 OOO.-
The restored government" Of Virginia arrro>
Priatted SfU.uuc and rho State ut WCsr Vir>
einia has since given about $3.50, COO making
the whole sum expended about S6l5. NOO.-
1t was originally exnccted that the buildings
wnnid be completed in about three wears lint
thirteen or fourteen have already elapsed and
there is very good prospect for it taking
several years vet.
The number of patients now confined in the
Asr'nm ia somethsne over three hundred. It
~ h'Ied to it's utmost capacity and still there
are many in the State who should be in it
According to the original plan two hundred
and fifty was the number that could he ac-
commodated, hut the great and alarming in-
crease in insanity thronehon. the State has in
duccd the Directors to change the internal
arrangement Of the bnildng that when COM
r'eted it will be capable of receiving some-
thing over 400.
DR. Camden we consider one of the most
clever and agreeable gentleman that it has
ever heen our good fortune to meet. No
better selection comld have been made for all
the officers of the institution
The ASYLUM itself is something of which
West Virginia may justly he proud, and
would be an honor to nnv Mace or country.
CAoundsoiWe Reporter.