Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-03-25

&c .,, N,
'"' e, ''io''. asylum 'or tle INSANE
"noSe ue"Vh OH thursday evening, March
II, was recorded last week, was native of
Warwick Mass. His illness which his
physicians believe originata1 in a., o,tool,
of ,,riu J,,,oIo,,;,,,, ~. t.....-,.,,,
nuns "''"
at 'i'' '"S'' pneumonia was snort ana very
severe only appearing to be critical three
days before his death.
DR.. Draper was born Feb. rs, 1894. He
came of genuine New England ancestry
his grandfather, Joseph Draper, for whom
he was named, having been a native of Do
yer, Mass, from which place he removed
to Warwick in 1906 with his wife, Anna
Field Draper, who was "A native of Mans
field, Mass, and their three children, of
whom Ira, the father of Dr. Draper, was
the youngest, being then two years old
DR.. Diapers father grew up as farmer
among the Warwick hills, and DIR. Diapers
early life was the usual one of a farmer 5
boy. lie was educated in the common
schools, supplemented by terms of study
at the academies in West Brattleboro and
in Deeriield, Mass The farm life was dis
tasteful to him, but il was not until he was
% years old that he definitely decided to fit
himself for profession, and left home to
begin his preliminary studies. These stud
les were pursued with DIR. James Deane.
the then eminent physician of Greenfield,
Mass, followed by lectures at New York.
and course at the jefferson medical col
lege OF Philadelphia, where he was gradu-
ated in lS5S, His first settlement for prac-
tee was in Mortified, this state, but he
remained there only a few months. the
death OF his preceptor DR.. Deane. hay
ing made an opening at Greenfield. of
which he availed himself.
While located there a case of insanity
presented itself which greatly aroused his
interest, and he became impressed with the
tact that he had received no instruction in
TINS important branch Of medical practice,
and, like other physicians in general prac-
tee, knew almost nothing of it. With a
view 10 broadening his professional equip
ment, hc wrote to DR.. Rockwell, the super
intendent of the Vermont asylum, asking
for an opportunity to study insanity and its
treatment in practical way. DIR. Rock
well replied that there was no vacancy, but
asked for an interview, and the result was
that in October 1859, DIR. Draper came to
Brattleboro as DIR. Rockwell assistant and
remained here until January, 1865
a short time after leaving the ASYLUM he
was assistant surgeon in the military hospi-
tai then III existence at Brattleboro. From
here he went TO Worcester as assistant
physician in the insane asylum at that
place, and atterward was the acting super
mtendent of that asylum for one wear. In
1870 he went to the New Jersey insane
asylum As assistant physician, remaining
there until early in 1873. when he was
called to BrattlcbOro To take the Superin-
tendency of the Vermont asylum. enter
ing upon his duties on his birthday. Feb
10.
Since that time the history of the aSv-
lum has been the history of DR.. Draprr's
life, and the steady progress and develop
ment of the institution is the record of his
professional zeal. his business ability. and
his broad outlook always toward the future
At the time he took charge of the asylum
the erection of what are now the extreme
north and south wings, and the introduc-
ton Of steam heat, had been decided upon,
and these were carried to completion dur
ing that and the following wear. These
Improvements were followed in due course
by the erection of the new gymnasium and
boiler house, the carpenter shop. the OPEN
ing and development of the beautiful hill
side park, the Summer Retreat and The
Cottage, the complete reconstruction of
the sewerage system, work wear bv wear on
the stone tower so fittingly alluded to in
Rev. Mr. Phalen's address. and lastly the
new farm buildings, which are among the
most perfect of their kind i'm New England.
Meantime there has been a steady success
sion of minor improvements. hardly yisi-
Bile to the public eve. but none the less i'm
portant for the comfort and wrll-beinr of
the asylum inmates, while the magnificent
ASYLUM estate has been greatly ENLARGED
and its improvement and adornment in
substantial, enduring ways has been as
constant as the succession of the seasons.
Hostile criticism, which al the outset was
rife. has been completely silenced. and to-
dav there is throughout Vermont a cordial
and spontaneous recognition of the place
which this institution occupies among the
foremost of its kind in this country.
Early in the summer of 1881 DIR. Draper
was given leave of absence forthree months
by the trustees, that he and Mrs. Draper
might make a long-contemplated visit
abroad. The opportunity for observation
and study in his speciality was improved to
the utmost, and DIR. Draper came home
filled with more zeal and enthusiasm than
ever for the development and increased
usefulness of the asylum. BELIEVING al
ways in every possible outdoor help and
diversion as main curative agency for the
patients i'm his charge, almost his first act
on returning home was to bring before the
trustees a proposition for the establishment
of a retreat, separate from the main insti-