New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-13

Shakers They made IT a paying property, with
large orchards well-tilled fields. fine vegetable
gardens and constructed thirty or more barns,
dwellings and shops. The property has the
shape OF a parallelogram, one and one-hal
miles wide and two and thrce-fourths niles
long II is divided in about half by the deep
and almost impossible gorge Of the Kishaqua
Creek; and thus the plans OF the managers
OF the Craig Colony 70 separate the male ana
female epileptics will be happily AIDED. On
ono norton Of the estate is a body Of 60 acres
~ forest from which the Shakers took out
800 900 worth Of fine timber and S23""
worth OF walnut logs. This forest now con-
tains oak, hickory. maple and ash trees OF
fine quality, timber from which will be used
by the managers Of the colony for the furni-
ture OF the Institution. which they intend snail
be made by inmates OF the asylum.
The Shakers gradually diminished in num-
bers from 1893 on. and in 1892 being reduced
70 ten or twelve, offered the entire tract. with
ell It's buildings. to the State for the small!
sum Of $1,000. which vas about the value
Of the improvements they had made. The
State accepted this profer. being at the time
In search 81 site for n colony for epileptcs:
and the little band Of Shakers departed 10
1on some II the brethren in the town OF
Watervi!et
FOUNDED BY STATE CHARITIES BOARD.
The Craig Colony may be considered an In
,i,ution founded by the State Board ~ Char-
ties Itg members FOR many years strove TO
induce the various Legislatures 70 establish
such d colony. since there were II large number
- epnep,ics H. the poor-houses Of the State
Who sadly needed In this work the late
oscar Craig. d! Rochester. president OF the State
E1afi ~ Charities was especially conspicuous.
AID he and william J.. I~tchw0rth OF Buffalo.
and Peter Wsiraih. OF Chittcnsngo, also mem
bers q. he same Board. were appointed a com
mission 20 select site for the proposed colony.
They associated with them Or Frederick Peter
sDn. - Sew-York. Who had given especial at
tentlOn 10 cases Of epilepsy and had Inspected
Institutions IN Europe devoted 10 the care u
epiieptc patients They examined many places
in The SiAte. and finally selected the lands OF
the Shaker colony here AT s,nyea in Livingston
County. as the siie most suitable for the pur-
poses In view.
law was then drawn up. apprOpria,ing
money 20 purchase this property from the shak-
err. and containing all ~ the essential features
necessary 10 the establishnrn. Of the colony.
the appointment II its managers and officers.
the rules governing them, the methods or ad-
mission and discharge Of patients. and 80 on.
As the scberne WAS n new one. tr preparation
OF this lang required great deal Of care thought
ana study. All of the work upon It was done by
Oscar Craig a lawyer with the assistance Of
DIR. Peterson.
In this proposed new law the Craig Colony
was simply designated AT 6onyea c6ony AL
though It passed the Legislature u 1883 II
failed 10 receive Governor Flowers approval
Between this time ana the meeting of The next
Legislature Hr Craig died. The name Craig
Colony was then substituted for Spnyea
Colony Ia the law described and II passed the
Legislature and received Governor Flowers
Signature IN the spring Of 1884
sfs Craig, the widow OF Oscar Craig. ttill
yves In their oid.,home al Rochester and tas
presented 10 the colony a very fine oil portrait
% her husband. which hangs In the managers