Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-06-03
OUR INSANE HOSPITAL.
History of the States Greatest and Most
Costly Institution.
BY DR.. A. H. KUNST.

Following Is an abstract OF the MS
torical address on the State Hospital
for the Insane at Weston, delivered be-
fore the West Virginia Editorial AS
sociation at its annual session in Wes-
ton last week by DR.. A. H. Kunst.
After speaking of the extent and
fearfulness of the disease of insanity
and the necessity for the public care
of the States unfortunates, Dr. Kunst
said
The West Virginia Hospital for the
Insane was the outgrowth OF a neces-
sity for additional room to provide for
the insane of Virginia, as it was pro-
jected before West Virginia severed her
connection with the mother State. 1t
appears that the asylums located at
Staunton and Williamsburg were
crowded to their fullest capacity, and
more room being demanded, the ques-
tion of another asylum engaged the
thoughtful attention of few public
spirited men, and, imbued with senti-
ment akin to genuine philanthropy the
legislature of Virginia made the first
appropriation of twenty-five thousand
dollars on the 22d day of March, 1858,
as the first instalment of fund neces-
sary for the erection of climatic asy-
lurn west of the Allegheny mountains.
In conformity with the provisions Of
the appropriation, Governor Henry A.
Wise appointed committee consisting
of Thomas S. Wallis, of Petersburg
DR.. Clement R. Harris, Of Culpepper,
and Samuel T. Walker, of Rocking
ham, to visit that portion Of Virginia
lying west of the Allegheny mountains
and select site for the new building.
The commissioners were invited to
visit Weston, and the residents Of the
town, being inspired by few promi-
nent men, melted a crusade Of general
cleaning up. The powders in the
streets, which had for years been
stumbling blocks to pedestrians, were
either demolished by iron hammers in
the hands of sturdy yeomanry or quiet
ly secreted from public view. Mud
holes were carefully obliterated, and
the jimpson weed, which had flourish
ed in great luxuriance, was relegated,
body and root, to the banks Of the
West Fork, where it underwent the
process of incineration. The pave
ments and sidewalks Of the thorough
fares, which had been sadly neglected,
We're now put in good repair. The
pig sites, which were numerous and
prominent, were mercilessly demol-
ished, and their occupants were ban
ished from the corporate limits, where
they could revel in the free masts Of
the forests.
After the streets, sidewalks and al
leys had been thoroughly renovated,
the people turned their attention to
the subject of beautifying their indi-
vidual homes, and houses were repaint-
ed and put in thorough repair, fences
and trees were whitewashed, and the
whole surroundings assumed an APP
pearance of thrift, health and comfort.
1t is jocularly related that even the
CANNES, whose number was legion,
were carefully bathed and otherwise
made presentable for the occasion.
So, when the commissioners reached
Weston they were thoroughly charmed
by the hospitality of the people, which
was displayed in an unbroken ovation
during their entire stay in the town,
and the sanitary conditions being re-
garded as all that could be desired,
they expressed themselves in terms Of
laudation. After visiting several other
localities in what is now West Vir-
ginia, a site for the new asylum was
finally selected at Weston, and it may
be superfuous to add that the people
of Weston and Lewis county were
overjoyed with the decision Of the
commissioners, as they had every rea-
son to believe that a new era of pros
perity was thereby assured to this in
land town.
Considered from almost any stand
point, it is questionable whether a
more desirable location could have
been found for the new asylum any
where else within the boundary Of the
State. 1t is true, at that day Weston
was inaccessible by rail; but the com
missioners, being men of superior judg-
ment, readily comprehended that this
drawback would be overcome, as Lewis
county was in the very heart of the
richest section of West Virginia and
abounded in undeveloped wealth
which, in time, would stimulate capi-
tai to penetrate this territory with the
iron horse. 1t was already noted for
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