The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-01-15
THB FARvIEW HOSPITAL.
Where It ls located and How che
Work In Proeresslne-A Beawti-
full site.

G. Rowland, of Pike Co.,, State Senator
from the 14th district, accompanied by
representatives of the three Honesdale
papers, visited Farview on Wednesday
afternoon last, and were courteously
given an opportunity 10 inspect the
grounds acquired by the State as
as the site for the new Hospital for
the Criminal Insane, and shown what
progress was being made in the work
estimated to cost the Commonwealth in
the end 81 100000.
The party were received atthe Farview
depot, on the summit of the Moosic, by
DR.. T. G. Fitzsimmons, of Carbond ale,
through whose liberality and influence
the six hundred and forty acres COM
prising the grounds of the institution
were practically donated to the State,
and the group at once started for the
scene of active operations. Contrary to
an impression which largely prevails, the
hospital buildings are not located on or
in the immediate vicinity of the picnic
grounds so long a popular place of sum-
mer resort for people in the Lackawax-
en- and Lackawanna Valleys. The State
grounds, it is true, extend to the site OF
what's known as "the first observatory,
but the main benefit to be derived from
their extension in that direction is the
control Of the abundant supply OF. pure
water which is there obtainable, and the
pleasure which its many rural and for
est attractions may afford visitors to the
great State institution.
To reach the real hospital site one
starts from the Farview depot in an ex-
actly opposite direction from the one he
would take if intending to visit the old
Farvlew summer resort. Following the
track back Honesdaleward for few
minutes walk, the old Gravity road bed
and the ancient Milford and Owego turn
pike, a portion of which it was found
obligatory to vacate, are passed, and one
comes on the left hand side OF the track
to long, one story building, erected by
the contractors, George A. Glenn & Co.,
Of Philadelphia, for the storage of ma
terial and supplies. A switch has been
run down from the main track along the
front of this shed, and many car loads
of building requisites, including 1000
bags of cement are already stored. This
cement is the same as is now being used
in the construction of dams and locks
on the Panama Canal, and is the pro-
duct of the Lawrence Cement Mills To-
Gated near Allentown, this State. 1t is
understood, however, that the shipment
here is in large measure experimental,
as its use cannot be determined upon
until after required expert tests have
been made. At this point also is now
being unloaded the carloads ofbitumen-
Gus coal which is used in steam m aking
for the excavating machinery.
From this point coming on down the
mountain nearly in the direction of Way
mart, when within about mile from
that village, the scene of real building
operations is reached. 1t is located on
what is known as the Alexander McNiil-
Ian farm, and the buildings will stand,
the main front facing east, almost look
ing at Honesdale, just on the opposite
side of the old Milford and Owego turn
pike from the Mcmillan homestead, and
overlooking one of the most beautiful
views Wayne county can present; even
the distant Catskill range being plainly
visible. 1t may be remarked in passing
that this house was built by Captain
George Rix, after whom Rix's Gap in
the Moosic was named, in 1915. He came
from New London, Conn.,, in the sum-
mer of 1870, and bought large tract OF
land on the east side of the mountain,
about mile west of Canaan Corners,
| where he made a small clearing and
built a log cabin. Twenty-one years
later he walked back to New London,
married Miss Benjamin, and brought
her to his new home on horseback. Five
children were the result of the union
and one of the daughters, Roxie, mar
, ried Alexander Mcmillan, rugged
Scotchman, who lived on a portion o.
, the homestead until his death, oc
cupying the house which now belongl
to the State. If George Rix could wake
) from Rip Van Winkle sleep of nearly
a century, and find the stately group OF
buildings which the Commonwealth il
constructing occupying a portion of hi
r wilderness tract on the eastern slope O.
} the Moosic, his surprise can scarcely bt
imagined.
Arrived at the site of the hospital the
party were were introduced to ]. M
Shirk, the architect, and William G
. Work, the contractors manager, botk
: very affable and courteous gentl o
Philadelphia, as well as Philonzo Eos
ter, of Carbondale, who is employed il
{ the Office, and did much toward max
ing the brief visit Of the visitors agree
{ able. Under the chaperonage of thes'
gentlemen, different portions of th'
Oroun1a vuhara VvOnk Vuaa nP0Or0aainc