New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-09-22
a HOME FOE The INSANE.
THENEw ASYLUM AT MIDDLETOWN-ASEN ENLIGHTENED
ARCHITECTURE TO HELP THE PHYSICIANS.
Il l..

| TIE NEW ASYLUM AT MIDDLETOwN-ASE ENLIGHTENED
ARCHITECTURE TO HELP THE PHYSICIANS.
The New-York State Homeopathic Insane
Asylum now in course OF erection at Mddetown, is
situated about two miles from the Eric Railw depot.
on a ridge overlooking the village, above which 1t is
sufficiently elevated TO give extensive prospect in
every direction. The land upon which the building
stands contains about $50 acres portion OF which is
covered with forest trees The whole Of this property
is be converted into ornamental pleasure grounds
ntersected with walks for the recreation of the inmates
The ediace itself is TO consist OF center admnstra-
tive building and four wings. The whole, when
finished will have frontage of 1000 feet The center
building which will be finished this season, has front
OF 10 feet and depth of 60 feet and Is four stories in
hight with basement IL feet high under tho entire
building At the center of it's front Ia tower ~ feet
square, which forms kind Of upward extension Of the
entrance portco This tower Is $50 feet high and is
| mounted by a dome covered with planished copper.
which can be seen at distance OF 20 miles III the
internal arrangements advantage has been taken OF the
latest improvements in this class Of buildings From
the main entrance hall 20 feet wide back, and
| intersects with transverse hall running through
the center OF the building. On one side OF
the hall are the Office physicians room record
room, library and officers diningroOm On the OPP
poslte side the receponroom assistant physicians
room and the stewards and matrons parlors AT each
end of the hall reproof stairway leading upper
occupied by wards for patients, with all the necessary
bathrooms and lavatory arrangements Connected with
these wards Is paror, binard-room. and a chapel
| for the use of the inmates.
The four wings, which are TO be devoted entirely 70
patients wards, will be precisely alike with the excep-
that the exterior will be varied TO break the monot-
ony. The different floors will also be common plan
80 that description OF will for ALL Leaving
the administrative building by the entrance to the main
stairway. passage leads TO door opening into the
main hall OF Of the wings, 10 feet wide. On
side OF the hall the principal stairway, recep-
ton room and patients paror. On tho other side are
the dningr0om and pantres. This hall connects with
corridor 10 feet wide and 10 feet long. opening into
which IA patients rooms, 100 by lIfeet In extent and
associate ward 20 by 2 feet In extent and end
ntersecting with transverse corridor 10 feet wide and
So feet long, for the OF excited patients These
patients have six rooms, by IL feet in extent and
dining room 10 by Is feet In extent, with q buffers
pantry one side. On the other side bath rooms
and watercloses and the attendants These cor
rdOrs separated by double doors, excluding the
noise OF the excited patients from the other inmates
At the other end of the building is a hre-proof
stITrway, ext ext q, from the basement 70 the
OF patients from part OF the house 10 another and
for escape in OF fire. This wing built brick aud
half tmbered work. and is constructed as 10 give 1t
the appearance OF series OF villas, which Is an innoya
ton upon the prsonke style generally followed In the
building OF these Institutions making the plan tie
object has been. while conforming to all needful
quirements 10 treat the buildings In such manner az
10 do away with the idea Of restraint imprisonment
The ASYLUM Is to be tho house. for longer
or shorter time, for large number of
persons who, although suffering from mental diseases
yet in most cases preserve sufficient perception and OBJ
servatiOn 10 be strongly affected by surroundings BY
little attention To taste and beauty In the arrange
ment the objects coming under their observation prove
q OF pleasure and add greatly the efficiency of
The institution. the buildings 10 he lighted with
gas manufactured on the premises.
Ventilation will be secured by means OF large air
shafts connected with arduc In the cellar trayers.
ing the whole length OF ne building, and 10y OF
hues furnishing supply OF fresh air to each The
buildings VIII be heated with steam from the boilers in
work is under the direction OF Carl Piecr architect
OF this city. The Building Committee Grinnel Burt
Daniel ThOmpsOn Joshua Draper, Elisha 4. Wheeler and
Fletcher Harper jr DR.. Ii. A. stiles Is the medical gu
narutasas ut.