The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1901-03-07
PENNINGTON ASYLUM.
nnual Report OF Commissioners sub
mitted to Legislature.
s<Cottage Plan of Construction is Rad
ical Departure from the Usual
Style for Such Institutions


The report ofthecommissIon "hl'h
.1a- demonstration OfAsyIum No. +
At Pennington in charge "ili be
transmitted to the legislature to-
morrow.
I've cottages have been erected on
,he property purchased at Farming
.5on. and they are practically com
,Ie,ed. The commission has spent
he entire appropriation ofSl3O,ooO
. IN ne buildings and grounds and
tsks that this legislature approprl-
ate $3.50. 900. which it considers nee
q .ssary to complete the work on an
administration building, a cottage
or Violent patients, a dining-room
and kitchen. and a superintendent :
cottage. In fact. the commission
states that $4,000 more will thor
oughly equip the institution that IT
: nav accommodate 500 patients.
This sum is much less than has been
expended on other institutions Ofllke
haracter in the state.
The work OF the commission has
I oeen rather "a bold plunging out from
precedent in erecting the asylum.
The members of the commission are:
=. D. Allen of Butler, chairman; j. Ed.
Berry of Fulton, secretary; O. {. Clay
Of Canton, Jas. l.. Buchanan OF Call
rfornia and Dr. C. H. Rigg of Middle
town. The commission visited several
Institutions in the east. 1t was
1atruck with the many advantages OF
sthe dso-calle cottage plan, and that
was adopted. Work was commenced
son the five cottages at Pennington
5iast summer and has been pushed
rapidly. \ power house has been
erected and each building is connect
ed With 300 foot tunnel from the
power house. The tunnel carries all
the hot and cold water pipes and
electric wires. As the institution at
Pennington stands to-day it is Just
mali the size the plans were drawn
/ 1or
PROVIDES FOR MANY ADDITIONS
This does not interfere with the
working of the institution in any way
and gives it harmonious detail that
,ould not have been secured in any
other way. The plan provides for
Che addition of one or more cottages
1T n time, and the total number in
years to come will make a complete
,ity Each of the cottages is desig-
mated by the name of a member of
! he commission to facilitate better
a distinction of the buildings The re-
1 port says;
@s'he scheme adopted at this insti- |
I luton possess many advantages for
I The treatment OF the insane, over the |
{ Did style, referred to as conglomer-
-; ate or connected class of buildings. |
The buildings are located sufficient y |
! Ear apart to allow the free admission |
= Of light and air to every portion of |
chem; affords diversity of design in |
Ss.,e several buildings, without detri- |
ine.,t to the unitarian or artistic |
. appe2rance and suggests the environ |
nents of home life. instead OF a place |
Z 0f detention and incarceration The |
patients are grouped in separate cot |
cages and classified according to the |
various degrees of their malady, |
which fact alone has given splendid |
results and produced in every way |
eminent satisfaction.
"iEha buildings are two stories i'll |
leight,t She first story being used |
during thesGay time and has large |
, Sell-lighted Cay room connected with |
suita.k,ln- >oilet rooms. etc, while the
szsss~ nd story is used solely for sleep
ing quarters and contains a large
lormitory with necessary accessories.
The patients in all the buildings
except those i'll the violently insane
wards. the infirm and sick, who have
lining rooms in their respective
ouildingSl are given exercise three
roilnes each day in going to and from
he respective cottages to Il central
dining hall.
Each cottage is complete. 1t is
constructed OF brick with stone trim
ninrs. IL. II Hohenschild of Rolla,
he architect for the commission. has
lett no detail unfinished in the way
af sanitary perfection. heat light and
.rautral arrangement.
The Pennington asylum may be-,
come in time the pattern for all sim
liar institutions III the state. True