Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-10-28
Report on Condition
Norway Town Farm

The State Board of Charities and
corrections has issued the following
report of an inspection of the Nor
way town farm made September &c
last:
Administration = superintendent,
Daniel S. Chaplin. Mathematics.
Daniel Chaplin. Annual salary of
superintendent and matron 5000. Mr..
and Mrs. Chaplin have had fourteen
years experience. They have been
at Norway Town Farm for the past
three years.
A man is hired to assist superin-
tendent in summer. His salxry is
$4,000 pes month. The last thorough
inspection was made by a member
OF the Board of Overseers, Septem-
Der %, 1922, they being in habit of
making such Inspections
There are two women and two men
inmates, a. over sixty years of age.
Two of them are feeble minded. Dur
ing the past year the number Of. in
mates has been the same as at pres
cnt. Seven inmates can be comfort
ably cared for as at present equipped.
cipline-The inmates have a
sunny living room. They have daily
papers and magazines. Superinten-
dent and matron have taken inmates
10 ride in their automobile this sum
mer and matron took one of the in
mates to moving pictures recently
The place is homelike and inmates
appear to feel that they are a part of
matron's family. No religious SER
wees are held at institution. Inmates
have visitors. One inmate takes care
OF her own room and one does chores
and goes to village for provisions.
Bathing is required once a week and
, separate drinking cups and towels
are used. Each inmate has a sepa-
rate bed room, but there is only one
living and dining room for the in
mates of both sexes.
Tramps are fed and lodged, but
are not required to do any work to
pay for such accommodation.
Buildings and Grounds-The farm
is some distance from the main road
,, but is pleasantly located among the
hills. The house is built of wood and
contains fifteen rooms. 1t is in good
repair and has stairs which are easy
Tor old people.
Furniture and Equipment-There
is sufficient furniture, which is in
Sood condition. Inmates rooms have
! new iron beds. There is plenty of
good tableware. Inmates dining
table is covered with Il neat, colored
table cloth.
Cleanliness and Order-House is
kept clean and orderly. Food for
| inmates is kept in cellar and in re-
frigerator in matron's dining ROOM
There is a store room for other sup
plies.
The beds appear to be comfortable
They are clean and free from vermin.
There are spreads on the beds which
have been made from course white
bags.
Sanitation-There is running wa
ter in the house which comes from
a good spring situated on a hill.
Sink drain is built far enough into
field, so that no odor reaches house.
There are earth closets which are
kept in good condition. The house
is heated by a furnace and is lighted
by kerosene lamps. Inmate rooms
are kept warm in winter and are we'll
ventilated in summer. House is
equipped with two liquid fire extin-
guishers. One eXtinguisher is kept
in kitchen and the other in the front
hail. They were last recharged this
summer.
Matron would like to have chemi-
cal toilets purchased
Recent Improvements-Ma has
papered and painted four rooms and
has painted floor of a room during
the past year. Superintendent has
Gug out cellar under horse stable and
has built three pig pens there. New
iron beds have been purchased.
Superintendent has raised more
potatoes than he did last year. He
has also set out raspberry bushes
and strawberry beds.
Recommendation That chemical
toilets be purchased. Contemplated.