Pleasantville weekly press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1890-1911, 1896-02-12
NEW ASYLUM
IN PLEASANTNLLE.
county's Building For Insane
Ready.
AN ELEGANT STRUCTURE THROUGHOUT.

IT WILL BE FORMALLY RECEIVED FROM
THE CONTRACTORS BY THE BOARD OF
FREEHoLDERs ToMoRRow-DEscRIPTI
on THE NEW INSTITUTION.
The Atlantic County Insane asylum in
Pleasantville has been completed and
will be taken possession of tomorrow by
the board OF freeholders for the county.
They will accept it from the contractors,
Messrs. Smith and Steelman. 1t is be-
lieyed TO be the best building in the
county.
L. l.. Mcconnell, the almshouse keeper,
who Will also be keeper of the asylum.
and who has watched the growth of the
new building with unseltish interest, saws
that he believes there was not an i'm
perfect brick or stone piece of metal or
wood in it. In all the thousands OF
square feet of wood finishing, excepting.
the floors, he did not believe a knoI
could be found.
The asylum is built on high ground,
about mile from the railway station al
Pleasantvllle, on the almshouse property
1t faces east, and from the porch and
windows the vista is beautiful, affording
wide sweep OF landscape, marine and
city picture, including the meadows, the
bay and It's inlets, and Atlantic City in
the background, clear, uninterrupted
view OF SIX miles IN straight line, but
many more miles in actual area. To
the west the view is not varied, but it
is IN pleasing contrast to the opposite
side, with the gray and green of field and
forest, and during some months the gol-
den glow of the harvest time.
The asylum is three stories high includ-
ing the basement, which is sunk about
two feet below the level of the ground
outside. 1t is built to accommodate 100
people without the slightest incoveni-
ence, including room for all the attend
ants. Two OF its most striking features
are the sanitary arrangements, which
are about perfect, and the food of light
Which ills every room and hall from
hundreds of large windows. The base
ment has a solid brick floor covered
with concrete. Here is the kitchen, with
modern range and hot water boiler, The
steam-heating plant, panuy, store
rooms, dining room with seating capa-
city for 100 persons, good elevators to
serve patients unable to go to the table,
anu uIlHOr COHF 6HlencPS.
Facing the basement on the east, under
the porch. there will be floral conserva-
tory for the pleasure and employment OF
patients.
The building will be heated by steam and
ventilated by the latest appliances, the
ioul air being carried out through the
smoke stack. Hot and cold water il
conveyed to every floor and department
Toilets and lavatories are abundant
convenient and of the latest improve
mentS.
On the first floor above the basement
there are sleeping apartments for specia.
purposes and day room for women,
which is in reality a reading room,
where various games, books and papers
will be found. There is a sewing room
on this floor also, and a reception room
Tor the convenience OF visitors and thost
who have friends in the asylum.
Inc sleeping apartments ON this floor
are Tor patients who need constant at
tentioD, and provisions has been mad
for the comfort and protection of assis-
tants, that they may constantly be with
III sight and hearing OF patients. One OF
these rooms Is plaStered in adamant an0
VIII be padded TOR violent cases.
There are iron tire escapes at both the
north and south ends of the building,
which also serve for stairways.
The main dormltory is on the third
floor and Is pleasant apartment. The
bedsteads are iron, white enameled, and
are equipped with springs, mattresses,
blankets and linen OF the best quality
There are four beds in each small room
and twelve in the main room, all sweet
clean and attractive.
There are speaking tubes and electric
bells throughout the building. Every
precautiOn has been taken to care foI
the comfort Of patients, as well as to
prevent their escape.
The porch on the east, at the main en-
trance, has 500 square feet of surface,
and is covered. Ii will face a lawn along
which will be a driveway, separated
from the side walk by a stone coping
On the west side there will be a gar
den for the entertainment of patients,
and this will be enclosed by high fence
The sanitary arrangements are believed
to be perfect. There are drains on the
east aud west sides of the building
connecting with main on thenorth side,
which empties into the meadows. All
connecting pipes are double trapped and
each pipe has vent. The roof is con-
nected with the drain pipes for flushing
them.
In two weeks there will be seventy
patients in the building and Mr.. McCon-
nell has no doubt they will be pleased
with the new home