Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-07-06
WIDOWS ISLAND.
Thirty Patients Sent from
Insane Hospital.
Party Left Augusta, YESTERDAY,
for a Months Stop.
The Island Was Given The State BY The
:Uaited' Stats. III IN

Of the action taken BY the Legislature
last winter, in reference. to the prop
erty known as Widows island. in Pc
nnbscot bag. Ii was presented to the
STATE Of Maine for charitable purposes
with the provision that il should revert
70 lie United States provided the prop
erty was not utilized
After due consideration il was decid-
ed that 1t Nigh; be of service to utilize
IL Tor the purpose Of summer outings
Tor the Two hospitals for the insane
and with this understanding the Leg
lsl&tIlrr appropriated $4,000 To equip the
Institution, ana make il ready for the
reception Of q colony Of patients from
each Institution.
The appropriation was to be expend-
ed by the trustees, ana IN pursuance of
this ObJtct :. committc" composed Of
Hon. Charles T.. Field, of the board
OF trustees, Drs. Sanborn and Vaughan
supcrintendents Of the two hospitals
ANA NJ :. Campbell, steward ana treas
urcr Of The Augusta institution, We're
appointed q coniInittr, by =. trustees
to carry into execution the provisions
o: til" I.pr rOpriatip4.
M. C..r E.h.'II ,tj.i appol.,t"d as SEQ
lota!y IL ia. cumilittee. ..Id cntrusr
E.iIh til. .cfails, y Mich h.. has carri.-
liit" "Ntrnti a Thf eXcur ION stared
from nuEuSt.i, ~ III. SlS train, yest- r.
Gay in>i'..i48. composed of 80 pltir..t
t4.e" Attendants ana Dr. Macpor.-I
- thu mcdHs4 Ft1r 81 fila 'nsfitution,
no is " IL. resent FiI. $ii.t0rf as he
...'N.'jtial - ,harg. at the ,arty .tur-
ing the ua!uh':' suInlrn at the island.
Mr.. and Nj. CeL.3p!! ANA several
others ;'ccolnranit , I'M, Tut viii 70
turn III 4 Tow days.
The Augusta part y.,.rc ct al Ban
gor at the steamboat yI."r', where h
spe, ial car left then. by ~. Vaughan,
With Il dozen or more patti, Ms, Il super
visor, nightwatch an two de-,
attendants. Mr.. Fled, Of the boarl vi
trustees. accompanied them TO lnti.rl.
by III" same boat. The culinary dcpart-
nlelt Of the institution has n-t
equipped BY experienced cooks from ire
Augusta hospital.
'inc island had been thoroughly d.
TelpIcG by the general 80 'ernmc.t ii
the erection of a most sub. Ltntial BIC k
bUilding 50xlGo feet. tw" stolia IN
height, ANA in the crectiOussf Il COM
rnodiuuS wharf. The grounds Of tie rs
land had been develops by tn, CON
structiun Of substantial roads. viii u
will afford Il lin" opportunity an tin.
patients TO exercise.
1t has also = drc!r arteS!an Wcli.
which supplies Il good quality 1T Wa
tor for drinking and culinary purI .,Ses.
The action Vi tn" Legislature cont nr-
lated this projcrt in the dire ton o. an
additional! auxiliary i'll the further
ircatlnt nj ~ III" patients Of tn Two
intitutiOnS HlId while it must BE- ri.-
garded, IN its present stage, as expert
mental, yet it is reasonable to expect
that il will. if continued. enhance 1ht.
opportunities for establishing more "a
bust mcntsl and physical soundness,
ANA make POSSIBLE additional rccny-
cries The n.w departure should be re-
garded as Il further adjunct in treat
El"nt. ana the selection Of patients.
for this end is left entirely as disco
tinnary with the superintendent of tie
two hospitals. TIL" following letter vas
addressed by Superintendent S;tnborE.
to the relatives Of the patients WHOM
he had selected for The seashorc out
ing:
/ June Il. 1905.
sort Oh Widows island, in Pen1bsco:
bay, is being lnadc ready for the re-
ccpti0n of thh patients of this institu-
tior, and tie one At Bangor, and will
D. opened for occupation by the first
81 next m"mth. This property has been
presented hy the tgencrT government
to tho Stat. Of Maine for charitable
purposes.
The building is very commodiouS. AMI
is thoroughly equipped for the comfort
and maintenance of a. on more patients.
with :: sufficient number of attendants
ANA others to care for them during
thcir Temporary sojourn 1T the sea
shore.
Th' island IS supplied with excellent
water, and '1ho house is equipped with
neat electric lighting and telephone
communication. The rropo rty is passed
over to the trustees Of the two hospit ais
and is 20 be dedicated to the treat
mcmt Of such cases rs the superintend-
ents Of the two hospitals believe will
be benefited Ly a temporary seashnre
sojourn. fRS
The first party will he there a month
when they will return to tn" two hos
pitfalls and others take their places if
me experiment proves satisfactory. We
are Very hopeful that this auxiliary In
the treatment Of our patients will re-
suit i'll much benefit to all who take
advantage Of the oDpOrtuniticS il Of
fcrs. The State has appropriated suf-
hCient means so that no extra charge
will be made for the support If any pa
tient who lvails himself of this privi-
lcge. VIII YOU please write me on re-
ceipt Of this if it is your desire that
your relative shall become one of the
Harty2'-
1t j. pleasant TO state that the re-
sponTcs To the addressed letter were
most hearty and assuring AMI each
family indicated their desire that their
relative be allowed to take advantage
of the opportunities which they be-
lieyed SUCH 4 Contemplated plan would