The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-11-25
sUPT. W. L. wAsSoN DEAD.
Was Head of Vermont State Hospital fol
the Insane.

Waterbury, NOV. 25.--,News of the
death of Dr. W. L. Wasson, superintend-
ent of the Vermont state hospital for
the insane, from pericarditis following
influenza, was received yesterday morn.
ing with genuine sorrow by all. Al
though critically i'll since week ago
Thursday, yet hope had been felt that
he would be spared to carry on his use
full work for the state. For the past
week the town has been tense with anx
iety and everything was kept as quiet
as possible about the hospital. The de.
yotion Of the patients and workers to
him has been noticeable in every way.
He had been superintendent Of the hospi-
tai since January, 1917, and for many
years before that was assistant super
intedent and pathologist.
Watson Lowell Wasson was born in
Minevile, N. ", Jan. s, 1874 son of Da.
vid and Charlotte lewis Wasson. He
was educated in the schools of his native
town and at Sherman Collegiate insti-
tute, Moriah, n. Y. He took one year
in college at Middebury, where he was
member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon
fraternity, and graduated from the nedi-
cal department of the IT, " NJ, class Of
1901. He was member of Alpha Kap.
pa and president Of his class, also promi-
nent in athletics.
Dr. Wasson also took short courses
in the pathological laboratory Of Royal
Victoria hospital, Montreal with DIR. Me-
Craze and DR.. ADAM and post gradu.
ate course with DR.. Southland at Harvard
Medical college.
He came TO Waterbury in 1901 and l3
years ago married Pearl, daughter of
Mr.. and Mrs George w Randall of this
place, Dr. Wasson was member of the
Washington county Medical association,
the Vermont Medical association and
the American Medical association, also
of the New England Society of Psychia-
try and was professor of mental diseas ses
at the University OF Vermont, which po-
sition he resigned when elected super
inteudent of the hospital, wishing to
give his time to the work of that insti-
tuition. He was also member of the
medical advisory board of Washington
county and of the volunteer medical
corps.
Locally, he was interested in the good
of the community. He was member
of the Twenty five club trustee Of
the Waterbury public library, member
Of Winoosld lodge, No. 40, f, and A. NJ,
Waterbury chapter, r, A. NJ, No. "a,
and Queen Esther chapter, No. 7, o. II.
S. He took his relaxation in outdoor
life, of which he was especially fond. He
was a member of the Canadian Scott
Fish and Game club and director of the
Lake Mansfield Trout club. He had writ
ten several articles for the Field and
Stream and Outdoor Life, as well as
those on mental diseases for medical
magazines. He was greatly interested
in agricultural progress on the state
farm and his own farm, as well as in
Vermont. DR.. Wasson was also gladly
welcomed to musical circles and helpful
in the Congregational church, which he
attended. In politics he was Republi-
can.
The(town mourns with the family and
the state with all, over the passing of a
man whose usefulness was untold and
whose knowledge of mental diseases is
surpassed by few in New England.
Dr. Wasson was the youngest of 10
children, of whom only one survives,
William Wasson, assistant county clerk
of Duluth, MINI. He also leaves neph.
ews and nicces and his widow Services
will be held at the hospital Tuesday
afternoon at 2 o'clock.