The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-10-25
| Johnson LEAVES REF0RnhIORY FOR
WINTER IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
.tue Can Show What Institution Can Do
Says Retiring Superintendent

farm and farm buildings improved.
At the Stevens Cottage, an entire new
story Is being added which will admit
OF more private rooms, while in the
east wing quarters are being fitted up
for industrial work. A small ward
is being fitted up on the first floor to
be used in case of sickness. The in
mates are taught, fancy work and
dressmaking, and already make their
own clothes. They are also taught
to do certain parts of the housework
and cooking under the direction Of
competent matrons. When the in
dustrial department is completed the
women will be taught other branches
of work. Farming Is carried on
quite extensively and one thousand
bushels of potatoes were raised this
year on the place. This will not be
enough however to meet the needs of
the institution for the coming year.
In addition to her work as superin-
tendent, DR.. Johnson does all the buy
ing for the place.
During the years which Dr. john
son has spent at this institution amidst
the immoral women of the state she
has dealt wisely with the conflicting
problems which have come to her to
solve. 1t is a mammoth task to
undertake and is filled with intricate
duties which are most difficult to per-
form. She said to the press, II have
enjoyed my work very much and shall
always take deep interest in the
Reformatory." When questioned fur
ther DR.. Johnson added, "The future
only can show what the institution can
do" 1t is evident however that these
women, who no doubt oftentimes have
been more sinned against, than sim
ing are In wholesome surroundings
and are being given advantages by
means of which. they can'restore them
selves to right living and learn trades
to make themselves useful citizens
in the state.
DIR. johnson succeeded Mrs. Cert
. rude s. Wight who was lthesdirst super.
intendent OF the Reformatory. She
was born In Skowhegan, April 20
1851 and Is the daughter of Thomas
Doty johnson and Susan Smith Clark
his wife. She Is descendant OF
George Puffer, Boston, 1910, of Ezekal
Johnson, DR.. George Crossman, Gov
Thomas Hinckley and on all sides
from old Colonial stock. She attend
ed the public schools, graduating
from Skowhegan high school and
Bloomfield Academy in 1879. She
studied medicine at the Bostotn Uni
versity School of Medicine, gradual
ing in 1883 with the degree of NJ. d.
After the death of her mother, DR..
Johnson passed sometime m post
graduate work in New York and Balti-
more, after which she was for several
years woman physician at the Mime
sofa State Hospital, Fergus Falls, an
institution numbering about 1000 pa
TENTS. She also had charge of the
Framingham Nervine for a time. DR..
Johnson is a member of the National
and State Homeopathic Medical So
ciety. She has been active in club
work. being an honorary member of
the Skowhegan Woman's Club and a
member of the Eunice Farnsworth
Chapter, d. A. r. The foregoing sta
tfstics in themselves prove that DR..
Johnson was well fitted for institution
al work and the courage of her pio
neer anscestos has been much in evi-
dence by the practical way in which
she tackled and handled the important
business of dealing with unfortunates
of this state.