The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1909-12-16

1t is in line with the steadily pro-
gressive growth of the city in recent
years to observe that, with the COM
pletion of the new maternity build
ing, the addition to Heaton Hospital
which will be ready for occupancy
early in 1910, Montpelier will possess
one of the most modern, thoroughly
equipped and efficient of the institu-
lions of like size in New England.
Heaton Hospital derives it's name
from it's founder, the late Hon. HO-
mer Wallace Heaton who purchased,
with hospital in mind. on April 1,
1895, of the Lane Manufacturing Com
pany, ten acres of high land near
Seminary Hill. On these grounds he
erected in 1895 and 1896, hospital
building which he decided to the fol-
lowing trustees: James w. Brock
l.. Bart Cross, Hiram A. Huse, Frank
A. Sherburne, Wallace G. Andrews,
John Mooney, George H. Guernsey,
George e. Taplin, and Charles H.
Heaton, the latter being his son
With the sum of 81 600 left by the
will of E. M. Irish, for many years
overseer of the poor, and with the
aid of numerous societies and indiv-
iduals, the committee was able to
furnish the hospital throughout and
to have it ready for the reception of
patients on the day following it's
dedication, August 5, 1896.
When Mr. Heaton's project be-
came known to Mr.. Irish, the latter
offered assistance but Mr.. Heaton
said, Il don't desire any money, but
when it comes to furnishing it, mon
ey will be needed
In his dedicatory address, Mr..
Heaton said that the site is full of
wonderful possibilities for the land
cape gardener and is susceptible of
great ornamentation and free from
the possibility of encroachment by
the erection of undesirable build
ings." The architect, member of a
Boston firm, said that in his extern
siveV riAvels he had come upon no
site more beautiful or which was
surrounded with so pure and invig-
Grating an atmosphere. The first pa
tient was received August 6 1896,
and, during the next two years, 1872
patients were cared for of whom 65
were discharged as we'll, 80 improv-
ed, were not improved and 16 died.
The medical staff included the fol-
lowing: Drs. c. E. Chandler, A. B.
Bisbee, d. G.. Kemp, j. E. Macom-
Der, M. F. Mcclure, C. n. Hunt, P.
S. Templeton, H. S. Boardman, |. H.
Fiske H. A. Fiske, NJ. S. Marshall,
W. L. Goodale, J. G.. DeQuoy and C.
A. Brown. The first superintendent
was DR.. o. l.. Watson, and the ma
tron, Miss Emma j. Witty.
A charter was granted the hospital
by the Legislature of 1896 and on
March /, 1897, the city of MONTPELIER
appropriated $4,000 for the institu-
ton on the conditions that the latter
should set aside five free beds for
the general and public uses of the
city; that the persons occupying
said beds shall be selected by the
city through the mayor and council
and the public use of said beds shall
be extended by the city only to those
persons for whose care said CITY
may be held responsible either on
the ground of residence or humani-
ty; such contract to be renewed. if
desired, yearly. The trustees re-
ported that, of So patients received
1.-THE first year, eleven were admitted
to the free beds,the first patient hay-
ing been brought in three weeks af-
ter the contract was signed and one
to four patients having since been
at the institutions under like condi-
Mons.
.ater $4,000 was the sum given the
pital by the city for the care of
sick and owing to a slight
sreement this sum was with
a few years ago but was again
|en to the trustees at the last
arch meeting.
During the first year, the medical