Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-09-24
THE SOLDIERS, HOME.
A Description sfthe Institution and Read
able Facts Concerning IL.

Kennebec journal Office a history and de-
scription of the National Home fol
Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, near Au
gusta The little book contains about
eighty pages, is handsomely gotten up and
makes a complete guide book for visitors to
the institution. 1t was very commendable in
Gen. Tilton to lave such a history of the in
stituton under his charge prepared and indi-
Gates his deep interest in the welfare OF the
Home. The volume comes from the faclle
pen of Mr.. w. +. S. Whitman, which is a
sufficient guarantee that it is readable and
entertaining book. We present the follow
ing account of the Home condensed from its
pages
The act of Congress establishing National
Home for disabled soldiers was passed in 1860,
and the first soldiers cared for under the act
were received at Togus a little short of four
teen years from the first enlistment of sol
diers for the war of the rebellion. Besides
| the Home near Augusta, one was located at
DAYTON, Ohio. for the Middle States, and
which has received by far the greatest number
of bencfciaries, one at Milwaukee, Wiscon-
sin, and another at HAMPTON, Virginia. The
design of the Board of Managers in locating
these several branches was that the soldiers
in the immediate vicinity of a Home should
be sent to that Home, thereby leaving them
in close proximity to their friends and rel
| atiyes, and also saving the cost of transporta-
ton. But whenever the health of an inmate
| would seem to require Il change ofcllmate the
| Managers allow transfer from one Home
to another The total amount required for
the support of these institutions the present
fiscal year is estimated at S9Ol 600. 1t would
be supposed that the number OF men requir-
ing aid from such Homes would be diminish
ing, but, on the contrary, the applications are
continually npon the increase. Already the
number of disabled survivors ofthe war cared
for in all the Homes will exceed eight thous-
and, which is larger number than is cared
for by the governmental expenditure of any
other nation in the world
The property comprising the Eastern Home
was originally summer resort, belonging TO a
Mr.. Beals man of large wealth, and which
at his decease, fell into the possession OF
his widow of whom it was purchased by the
United States government. Previous to the
rebellion Mr.. Beals had erected fine hotel
built race course for lovers of turf sports,
beautified the grounds with walks,
drve-ways and ornamental trees. and
intended to make the place second Sar
the waters of the mineral spring upon the
premises this was what led him to think of
making a fashionable summer resort of it.
In the CARRYING out of his scheme it has been
estimated that he expended not less than
| 5000, 900, and as the enterprise never paid it
was known as "Beals's Folly The govern
ment paid 0,O0O for the entire property,
with an additional sum of 900 for the pro-
ducts of the farm the year before After the
purchase joint jurisdiction of the territory
was ceded by the Legislature of Maine to the
United States government The Togus Home
was first opened for the reception of beneti-
Charles Nov. 10, 1866. and went into opera
ton under Mai Gen. Edward w. Hincks, of
Mass. In 1867 the number of inmates had
| increased to some two hundred and, as they
were constantly increasing, steps were being
taken for the erection of new buildings, a
hospital having already been built. when
a misfortune occurred in the burning and to-
tai distraction of the principal building.
At $50 o'clock on the night of Jan. Z,
1868. the fire broke out and turned two hun
dred and seventy inmates, thirty-one ofwhom
were on the sick list into the open air Of a
severe winters night. Those who were able
to move themselves escaped to place of
safety and the sick were brought out on mat
| tresses and laid. for want of shelter, upon the
wind Messengers were sent to Augusta for
assistance The firemen and citizens of
this city responded to the call and teams were
sent which removed all the veterans to Au-
gusta The sick were taken to private hous-
es, and the others numbering two hundred
and forty. were quartered at the Waverly
Hall. which stood on Winthrop street. On
the way to Augusta one man died.
The Board of Managers decided to erect at
once suitable buildings of enlarged dimen-
sions, and better adapted for the inmates than
the old Home. Accordingly three large brick
buildings were begun, which when completed,
with the hospital building, formed a square
with courtyard in the centre. All were
made fire-proof, were heated by steam, and
the most modern apparatus supplied for gas,
kitchen, laundry, &c. Their arrangement
for the health convenience ndcomfort ofthe
men was all that could be desired. Among
other buildings erected at this time was an
amusement hall, which was afterwards des-
troyed by fire and new one put in its place,
a house for the Deputy Governor, barn, and
a workshop. The total cost ofbuildings and
grounds up to November, 1870, was Sl6S,300.
Following Gen. Hincks, whe held his posi-
ton as Governor. until Mar. 6, 1867, came
Col Timothy Ingraham of Mass, who was
succeeded by Gen. Charles Everett of Wash
ington, ID. c., and he by Maj. Nathan Cut
Ter of Augusta, and he by by Col. E. A. Lud-
wick of n. Y, who, after a short term of ser
vice, was succeeded in 1869 by Brig Gen. W.
S. Titon of Boston, Mass, who is still in COM
mand. The other officers of the Home at
present are DIR. J. G. Maxfeld, surgeon and
acting treasurer; Gen. b. +. Butler of Mass,
and Hon. Frederick Smythe of n. H., local
managers Torrance Goodwin, sergeant ma
ior; Jacob j. Krom, hospital steward; John
Hodgdon, quartermaster sergeant; John Pad
bury, commissary sergeant
The Eastern Branch is located on land
mostly in the town of Chelsea, and is about
five miles from Augusta. As the visitor turns
from the main road and enters the spacious
grounds of the Home his eyes behold a beau
tiful domain, resplendent with growing crops,
a wealth of ornamental trees and shrubbery,
beautiful lawns, clean and broad concrete
avenues and lovely flowers, all of which,
taken in connection with the handsome
structures of the place, present highly at
tractive appearance. A large number of stran-
gers annually visit the Home, some years as
many as two thodsand. The officers are al
ways happy to entertain visitors. The most
illustrous parsonage who has honoredthc insti-