Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-06-15
THE BRATTLBBoRo RETREAT.
Its Founder and the Work which IL
Has Accomplished.


From Gov. Fuller's address at the recent dedi-
cation OF the Vermont State Asylum at
Waterbury,
In the old burial ground in Hinsdale,
n. III. there is q monument bearing the
inscription, "Mrs. Anna Marsh, died Oct.
IA, 1884" A legend which, sooner or
later, overtakes us all, but one which, in
this case, is full of meaning to the people
of Vermont, and properly alluded to upon
this occasion. This good woman left a
will, bearing date June 3, 1884, containing
this language.
81 give ~ $4,000, in trust, for the
purpose of erecting and supporting, in the
County of Windham, near Connecticut
river, hospital for the relief of insane
persons"
To one of her executors she gave, as a
reason, Nobody cares for the poor insane
they were neglected and shifted about, and
she wanted to provide a home for them -
DR.. Draper, when writing upon this sub
iect, has used this language. cat that
time little, If anything, was known in re-
gard to the proper treatment of insane
persons; many, especially the devotedly
religious class, attributed this malady to
supernatural causes. Therefore they con-
sidered all remedial efforts vain, and moth
ing could be done but to coniine the UNI
fortunate victim and wait for death"
The institution thus established was
one of the first in the United States, and
by the intelligent and fostering care of its
board of trustees and officers, has grown
to a large and useful establishment, with
more than half million of accumulated
property and has made for itself a uniqne
history, by its care of more than six thous-
and persons during its sixty years of life,
and is placed by those competent to Judge
in the front rank of institutions of the
kind, record and reputation which may
| fittingly be termed its browning glory
This institution for more than half a
century, was the only hospital or public
home for this class of unfortunate persons
in the state But in 1888, the legislature
of Vermont undertook the immediate SUI.
| pervisiou of this work and upon the cree
ton of the south wing of this asylum
transferred two hundred inmates from the
| institution at Brattleboro to the new
buildings which had been made ready here
The work, thus begun, could not be left
in the incomplete condition, with only
temporary arrangements for administra.
ton, and, in 1892, provision was made fol
the erection of the series of buildings
which, to-day, these services dedicate tc
public use, for the better care and treat
ment of those who stand in need of a
hospital-hOme and latest methods, as de-
veloped by modern science.
The board of trustees and officers Of
the institution to whom the state has en-
trusted the care and management of it,
affairs, are all intelligent men, of broad
minds, and kind of heart, and, from q
somewhat intimate and close observation
of the study which they have brought tc
the discharge of their duties; the broad
and ample plans devised; the successful
carrying out of the various scheme,
adopted, and the thoroughness attending
the execution of all their work, indeed, tC
their faithfuness in all things, bear will
ing and cheerful testimony.