Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1903-06-12
THE HOSPITAL.
Plans Have Been Matured
and Accepted,
A Statement About the Preliminary
Work with Full Description of
what the Plans Conte plate.

mittee appointed for the purpose. and ac-
c,pted by the trustees. have been pre-
pared by Messrs. Kendall, Taylor
Stevens Of Boston and represent the re-
suits of a careful study of the problem
by all parties concerned. The purchase
of the site was agreed to early in 1901
although title was not secured till late
in the year. This purchase was the re-
suit of information given to the trustees
soon after their appointment to the effect
that the Hail place was to be sold at
once 1t was felt that there were very
few available sites for hospital and
that the advantages of this site should
be properly looked into before allowing
the opportunity to pass.
\ committee of physicians assisted
by Mr.. Gordon. the assessor, was APP
pointed and all available sites gone over
The result was a unanimous report in
favor of purchasing the Hemlocks. This
was accordingly done. and the choice
was undoubtedly a good one, although
its early purchase doubtless gave rise to
some misunderstanding as to prospects
Of immediate construction. After pay
ing for this property the trustee had
only S21.oro of accumulated income
available for construction. and as the
use of the fund for the sewing women
had not then been tested. they had at
that time no adequate knowledge of
. what amounts would be available in the
study Of the problem was sufficient to
show that a hospital which would per-
manenty answer modern requirements
could not be built for the sum then
available, and that it would he neces-
sary while plans were being prepared
to wait before actual building for the
necessary accumulation of income. They
decided to begin construction if possible
as soon as enough was accumulated to
give reasonable assurance of having
$4,000 to spend before completion. and
this mas now been done.
The committee on plans for the hospi-
tai. composed of Drs. Holton. Lawton
and Miller. was formed early in 1892. and
the present plans are the result of a very
careful canVassing of the entire problem
by both the committee and the trustees,
in the course of which many alternative
plans were worked over, and estimates
of cost figuerd out.
The final choice in favor of a one-story
rather than a two-story patients build
ing was due to the conviction that econ
omy of service would result from hav-
ing all patients easily accessible from
central point and that dispensing with
staircases. elevator and duplicate ser
vice rooms would more than compensate
for any extra cost of such construction.
To obtain result that in all essentials
would be up to the best modern require
ments without exceeding the cost limit,
has been no easy task. for moderate
sized hospital requires offices, kitchens,
laundry, operating department, matrons
and nurses quarters, heating plant, etc.
to very much the same extent a larger
institution. Therefore, while il would be
comparatively easy with a larger sum at
command to provide frst-class construc-
ton for a larger number of beds, it is
not easy to reduce the cost in proper
ton and give the same quality of service
to a smaller number of patients.
In endeavoring to work out the prob
lem the following main points have been
carefully kept in mind
To study: An arrangement of build
ings giving opportunity for additional
construction in case of need
To have the patients accommodated in
quarters that will far possible en-
body the best features of modern fire
proof hospital construction, and to have
those quarters so separated from all
kitchens, boilers, offices operating rooms,
etc, that the patients may be as free as
possible from all risk of fire and from
disturbance and may thus receive care
under the most favorable conditions.
To have first class operating depart
ment. separated from both patients and
public Offices
The problem has been made the more
difficult by the fact that the application
to hospitals of what are now accepted as
the best modern methods of tire-proof
construction is OF very recent Date ana
while II would nave peeh easy 10 puliu a
good example OF type mat Is now
rapidly being given up there are as
yet among hospitals OF moderate SIZE
very few examples to follow of construc-
ton that is likely to pass muster in the
future as hrst class.
In order not to slight in any essential
way the patients wards or the operat-
ing department, the architects nave
made the fullest possible use OF ofhces'
Kitchens, etc, OF the mansion mousse
when was found to be OF very good con-
strucuon, having been putt py the Well
known archtect, Rlchard hunt Inc
result OF their work, while not so impress
sive to the superficial view as the old
style block hospital, promises IN taclll-
ties TOR service TO the patent TO meet
the latest modern requirements IN way
that could not otherwise DE accomplished
with the means at hand
The following Is description OF the
hospital, which, with a rev unimportaht
alterations, is TO be putt IN accordance
with the subjoined plans and elevations
The present mansion mouse Is adapted
to its proposed use as an administration
building by making a very rev lneNpeh-
sive alterations and by small rear eN-
tension providing very ample service ac-
commodations, Kitchen laundry, store
rooms. and on the second floor rooms
for the help.
y large room at the right of the en-
trance is available for use as an office
and also for special use by an occulist,
laN Il. Tls a M al q