Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1914-07-30
New Hospital.

CONTRACTORS from WhOm btQS are So
licited have in hand the plans and
specifications for remodeling and en-
larging the Charles Town General
Hospital. The improvements, it is
hoped, may be completed before
winter.
The plans provide forthe addition
Of another story on top of the prescn,
building; radical arrangement of
its interior to conform to the general
plan of an enlarged structure, the
construction of an addition 20 by AZ
feet adjoining the present building
and three stories in height with spa
cious porches in rear of the old build
ing on a level with each one of its
floors.
Conveniences for nurses and ply
sicians, and comfort for patients were
the objects that guided the building
committee and the architects in pre-.
pairing the plans for the new struc-
ture. The people of the entire coun-
ty will marvel at their thoughtfulness
when the completed building is thrown
open for inspection this fall.
Red machine finished brick will be
used to face the walls of the new al
dition from grade to the third floor.
Arch brick will be utilized on the
third story for facing for stucco
work. The top story of the ole
building will be removed and new
story of frame, with pebble dash .ex,
terror will take its place.
The stairway in the old building
will give way to wider one to b.
built in that portion of it. From the
top Of the stairway, hall will extend
through the building from north to
south, and another one at right angles
to it, running through to the east side
of the addition.
In the basement will be kitchen,
boiler room with heating apparatus,
the machinery for operating an ele
vator, and cold storage room, Is
by 20 feet. All the floors and area
ways of the basement are to be OF
concrete. The first floor will be &C
cupied by a reception room, nurses
dining room, and sleeping rooms. On
the second floor, will be nine rooms
for patients, diet kitchen, and mum
erous linen closets. There will Be-
two large wards on the west side of
the third floor, an operating room al
the south end of the new addition,
with large window and skylight for
lighting, Sterilizing room, an ethe~
room, and surgeons and phys. clans
room.
An elevator shaft will extend from
the basement to the top floor, the
elevator for patients, will be operated
| by an electric motor. For the con
venience of nurses and patients Z
dumb waiter shaft will also be built
with waiter to run from basement
TO top floor. The building will be
wired for a two or three wire system
for the distribution of light. Electric
bells in the wards and patients bed
rooms will be connected with a bell
in the hall for the patients to sum
mon the nurses whenever needed.
Communication will be established be-
tween the head nurses room on the
first floor, and each of the rooms on
the second and third floors by means
fof speaking tubes.
The principles of sanitation will be
observed throughout the building.
Ivory cement plaster will be used
as a finish on the walls of all
the rooms, closets, and Railways, ele-
vator and dumb waiter shafts. White
hexagon ceramic tile will be laid in
cement on the floor and walls of the
operating room. Vitreous china in
strument lavatories will be placed II
the sterilizing and operating rooms
The three rear porches will have /
stairway from the third floor to the
ground, which will serve as a fire
escape for the occupants ofthe hos.
pital.