The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1901-11-22
FORMAL
OPENING
OF the New DOrmitOry Building
at the State Hospital.

! An Imposing Structure Built OF Uran-
ite-0ov. VOORHEES, One of the
Speakers-A Large Attendance of
Noted Personages Carried to the
| Hospital by Special Trains.
The formal opening of the Dormitory
Building of the New Jersey State Hos
pital at Morris Plains, which occurred
yesterday was a notable event in the
history of that Institution; and it has
been long time since there has been
such gathering under one roof of the
States officials, and others equally
prominent
Fifteen years ago, or in 1886, the
building on the hill with which all our
readers are familiar, attained its capa
city, and ever since that time the pa
tients have been increasing at the rate of
so year until 1,400 patients We're
housed in the room originally intended
for 800. Attention has been yearly
called to this constantly increasing over
crowding, condition which is unfair to
the patients sent there, for the reason
| that it is well established fact that
overcrowding tends to retard recovery.
But it was not until 1895 that measures
were taken which promised relief. At
this time an appropriation was given
which completed the foundation for the
new building, and while the building
has gone forward as fast as the necessary
appropriations could be secured, it was
not until last March that the building
was ready for occupancy.
| This new dormitory building is con-
structed of granite, to be in conformity
with the general plan of the main build
ing, but differs from it, as its name i'm
plies, in the fact that it is built on the
day room and dormitory plan. 1t cou-
sists therefore of four large day rooms
two for men and two for women each
capable of accommodating $50 patients
The stories above constitute the dormi-
tories which are directly over and of the
same size as the day rooms. These are
filled with single beds, and when night
l
comes the patients go up stairs to sleep.
In this way thorough ventilation 10
secured. The day rooms are ventilated
thoroughly at night and the dormitories
during the day time.
| In the centre of this building, and
separating the male and female wards.
are the physicians apartments, a large
associate dining room and kitchen, and
directly above is the large amusement
room where the exercises of yesterday
took place.
1t is sight worth witnessing to see
the patients in this building attend a
meal. On the stroke of the hour the
doors are thrown open, the patients
march in two-by-two, in an orderly and
systematic manner, and at the stroke OF
the bell take their proper seats at the
tables. A serving car rapidly serves
each table in turn, and the attendants
who follow after attend to the immedi-
ate needs of every patient. In this way
the-food is served directly from the
kitchen and ia hot and palatable, and
the waste is reduced. to the minimum.
The meal finished, at another stroke of
the bell, the patients arise and march
back to their respective day rooms.
Everything is done in thoroughly sys-
tematic manner and the building itself
| is neat, clean and attractive.
There is also an underground tunnel
900 feet long with rise of 100 feet
connecting this building with the main
building. Through this tunnel runs a
car on an endless cable, which is used
for the transportation OF patients and
supplies. 1t was through this tunnel
yesterday that the visitors were con-
Quoted to the dormitory building where
the exercises attending the formal open
ing were held. A special train on the
| D., L. g. W. was arranged for, which
connected at Morris Plains and Morris
town with all the regular trains and
carried visitors directly to the hospital
The exercises commenced at 1890 a.
M, with an organ recital by Frank Mil
ler, the we'll known organist of the NJ
E. Church, Washington Square, New
York. This organ recital was one Of
the features for the reason that in the
hands Of such an expert it showed off
to advantage the new organ in the hos
pital chapel, which is hardly week
old. Mr. Millers selections were well
chosen and were magnificently rendered.
Among the selections that he played
may be mentioned, Cavalleria Rusti
cana overture from Poet and Peasant,
Beethoven 9th Symphony, Handel's
4th Concerto, Coronation March from
The Prophet. and Grand March from
Tannhauser.
Dr. Buckley Of the Board of Mana
gers presided in his usually happy
manner.
Immediately following this the visitors
were conducted through the wards of
the main building, in which everything
was found to be in its accustomed
order and neatness, President Farrelly
of the Board of Managers leading and
escorting Gov. Voorhees,, Hon. S. a..
Little, for many years manager.
walked with ex-senator James Smith;