Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1884-06-28
Weston, lewis County,, w.

are having q remarkably dry, cool
season throughout this highland
region Grass, which is the main
production. viii likely be very
short, and the hay crop is light.
Fruit of every character, such as
apples, pears and plumbs, will be
in profusion. The cherry trees
do not bear well. Well have small
fruit, strawberries, black and rasp-
berries, has been and will be in
abundance The crop of straw
berries, at the asylum, has been
gathered to the extent of about
500gallons from which every pa
tient in the institution has been
furnished with two feasts week.
The garden attached to the insti-
tuition Is now furnishing daily sup
plies Of onionsand peas; about two
acres of early cabbage is heading
up and almost ready for table use;
tomatoes, of which there are one
and half acres, look very prom
ising for future supplies; potatoes
look we'll, and corn is very short
but looks bright and thrifty.
The grounds surrounding the
asylum building are at present do
lightful, in their summer verdure
and beautiful flowers, cheering to
the eye, and the grand grove
through which patients ramble or
sit, is charmingly pleasant for its
grateful shade.
To those citizens of the State
who have never had the pleasure
of seeing, or reading a decription
Of this grand charitable institu-
ton, it may afford pleasure to read
a partial description. The build
ing central, is four stories high,
with a grand dome or steeple, CON
tanning a town clock and a large
bell. The central building is SIS
feet wide and 210 feet deep. In
it are the general office and dwell
ing Of the superintendent, and at
tending physicians, matrons and
their families. Extending south
and north are buildings attached
as wings, three stories high; length
of each section from main build
ing 420 feet. North and south of
these are futher sections, Histories
high and 210 feet in length. All
this building fronts east in a full
length of 1882 feet, with a depth
of 210 feet, and running back of
these two story sections, are wings
running west, about two stories
high north and one story on south.
This edifce is built of fine gray
sand stone, covered with slate and
all it's stairs, except in the main
building, are built of red sand
stone. Besides doors and floors
there is very little wood about the
structure where the patients are
kept. It stands in an enclosure of
about Is acres Of level bottom
land, surrounded by beautiful
picket fence. The main entrance
is a level brick walk, about 1000
feet in length, on each side of
which is macadamized carriage
way. Immediately in front of
main building is a beautiful GEN.
trail fountain, surrounded by flow
er-beds, with every variety of
choice flowers, in bloom, or COM
ing into bloom. On the right Isl
large lake, with a rustic bridge
crossing it, in which lake the Ger
man carp are constantly to be
seen sporting in the water, some
of which are very large. Adjoin-
ing this is ground appropriated
for playing baseball, and beyond
is delightful grove, consisting
Of fruit and forest trees, which sur
rounds a spring of clear, sparklig
mountain water, which is protect
ed by small brick house. In this
grove, and through these grounds
on suitable days, may be seen the
patients, males and females, walk
ing or sitting, under the charge of
their attendants, both in the fore
noon and afternoon-some read
ing, others talking and some en-
gagged in a game of ball. Visitors
to the institution are cordially well
coined and every proper attention
and courtesy extended to them.
If they have personal friends they
can always have the privilege Of
seeing them, if they SO desire. Our
people east of the mountain seem
to know but little of the magni-
tude of this great State institu-
ton or of it's value to the unfortu-