The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-06-06
Insane Asylum at Waterbury.
Administration Department of the State
Insane Asylum at Waterbury Dedicated
with Interesting Ceremonies-Addres
by Ex-Governor Dillingham; and Gov
ernor Fuller.

In spite oil manipulating rain and muddy
streets, the pretty little chapel of the adj
ministration building at the state insane
asylum at Waterbury was crowded last
Thursday evening when the dedicatory
services were held. Among the distin-
guished citizens OF the state who were pres
emf during the day or evening were
Governor Fuller, Ex-Governor Dillingham;,
Colonel j. H. Goulding, S. ID. Hobson, DIR.
j, III. Hamilton, Homer Goodhue, DIR. g. M.
Ferrin, G.. W. Wing, and others.
The exercises opened with an instru-
mental duet by Misses Lottie Carpenter and
Lena Fullerton, followed by prayer by Rev.
l.. H. Elliot. s. d. Hobson of Brighton,
for the board of trustees, delivered the keys
to Dr. w. III. Giddings, the superintendent,
who accepted them in brief speech. Re-
marks were made by Ex-Governor w. 7.
Dillingham;, DIR. j. II. Hamilton of Rich
ford and Rev. Father Brelivet of Barre.
Eek. Governor Dillingham; referred particu-
larly to the great need of such an institu-
ton during his term as chief executive, and
which led him to urge upon the legislature
the need Of an appropriation for such pur-
pose. He referred to the work done by DR..
ID, ID. Grout, DIR. Giddings and members Of
the legislature who were active in securing
the passage of the bill, and congratulated
the state on the completion of the building
they were met to dedicate.
Governor Fuller followed with brief
address, He said in opening: "A very
pleasing duty it is for the executive to lend
his presence upon this dedicatory occasion.
The recognition by the state OF its respon-
sibiity for the care of the unfortunate is
equally important and coincident with its
protection of the community from the evils
of neglected responsibility, and all this is
according to the constantly developing con-
dtions of society and the progress of science.
There is back of this occasion 1903 years of
state history with all its varied lines Of in
dividual misfortune and personal success
al inpf If of r. hII in u
their share to the growth and development
Of society among the green hills and valleys
of Vermont" He referred to the bequest
of Mrs. Anna Marsh of $4,000 in 1884 to
establish the retreat at Brattleboro, for
more than half a century the only place
in Vermont where this class of unfortunate
persons could be treated, and the pressing
need for many years of the institution now
established in Waterbury. In this connec-
ton he said: 1.-THE board of trustees and
officers Of the institution to whom the state
has entrusted the care and management OF
| its affairs are all intelligent men of broad
minds and kind of heart, and from a some-
| what intimate and close observation OF the
study which they have brought to the dis
| charge of their duties; the broad and ample
| plans devised; the successful carrying out of
the various schemes adopted and the thor
| oughness attending the execution of this
| work; indeed to their faithfulness in all
things, bear willing and cheerful testi-
mony. With healthful interest, intelligent
criticism and commendable pride, and in a
manner betitting the state has the structure
been reared. From this day on, new and
enlarged responsibility attaches to the work.
ing staff of the institution in regard to the
increased opportunities incident to the &C.
cupancy and use of the facilities thus pro-
| vided. For the information of all who are
interested in this work, it may not be out
of place to say that the solution of the prob
| lens committed to this board has been only
partially solved, but all that has been done
is in keeping with the latest developments
connected with institutions of this kind,
and the factors yet to be worked out will be
made known to the legislature from time to
time in the reports which they are required
| by law to make to that body. Time, with
all varied experiences, and age, with all its
accumulated wisdom, must work out in the
| future and open up to intelligent vision the
halo OF glory which history throws about
an institution. May it be the happy lot of
the state, the immediate community in
which it is located, and the population
which here finds home, to enjoy the happy
fruition of the fulfllment of the just hopes
and expectations of the good people of the
state Of Vermont who, in accordance with
their conceptions of the need, have pro-
vided so literally in the line of a duty which
events have so unerringly placed upon
| them"
| A soprano solo was then sung by Mrs.
Bertha ODER Miller, and brief remarks were
made by Rev. A. j. Covell, the Congrega-
| tioual pastor at Waterbury. The singing of
the doxology brought the exercises to a
| close.
There are at present 9S male and 109 fe-
| male patients at Waterbury. The officers
of the institution are DR.. w. III. Giddings,
superintendent and physician in charge;
| DIR. G. s. Bodwell, assistant physician;
| Mrs. NJ. A. Long, matron and housekeeper;
L. II. Anterior, bookkeeper; 0. A. Brides
| engineer and electrician; T.. w. Chelsey,
| storekeeper.
A full description of the buildings hereto
| fore occupied as state asylum at Water
bury appeared in the columns of the
WATcHMAN in April, 1884, shortly before
| they were opened for the reception of pa
TENTS On the day of the evening in which
the above dedicatory services were held,
one of the editorial staff of this paper WIS.,
tied the new administration building, with
q view to writing something OF descrip-
ton of it. He was fortunate indeed in find
| ing Governor Fuller there. The chief ex-
e"utive left for an hour matters that de-
manded his attention to accompany the
, newspaper man through the building. 1t
may be said, in passing, that while the gov
J sr..or's natural modesty would deprecate
| any special credit TO him in a wise expendi-
ture of the 500, 900 appropriated by the legis-
lature of 1892 for the construction of this
| building, it is none the less true that hun
1rsds, and probably thousands, of dollars
! have been saved by the personal attention
! givan to the work by Governor Fuller,
The original plans, as submitted by the
architect, while very ornate, and an excel
lent advertisement, perhaps, for the archi'
tect if they had been followed, were
not altogether what were required. Gov
ernor Fuller and the trustees believed
in expanding the money on the interior
and not the exterior of the building,
and the governor spent nearly a week with
the architect in Boston perfecting the plans
to his liking, His sound judgment is vindi-
Gated to-day in the completed structure.
| Outwardly, the new building corresponds
in general appearance to those previously
erected. On well-laid foundations of Barre
granite rise the brick walls and slated
roofs Entering the building from under
the spacious covered driveway, the visitor,
as he comes into the reception ROOM is inn
pressed with the thought that there is little
to suggest a hospital or asylum, so CHEEKY
and homelike are the surroundings. The
entire building above grade is finished in
white wood, the basement in spruce. Al
the right Of the reception room and alcove
is the Office of the directors, or board OF
trustees, and in the rear of this the officers
dining-room, a well-lighted, cheerful place
Indeed, there is not room in the building
that is not we'll lighted, plenty of sunshine