Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-05-28
Editors Letter Box
Wonderful Changes
In the Methods
At the State Hospital
-ennehec journal.

Editor Kennebec Journal:
"When l first came to work at the
State Hospital, they employed only
one painter. Now, they have three
and three patients. There are two
patients, one of whom has been with
me Is years and the other II years,
who are still working in the shop.
There is no one left in the hospital,
who was there when l came to work
there. There is one man who came
to work on the same day of the same
year l did, who is there now.
II have seen some wonderful
changes in the hospital during my
time there. They moved 500 pa
tients to Bangor in June, 1901. They
started renovating the first female
wing and made a modern fire. proof
building. 1t took two years to finish
it, Then they took the second fe-
male wing and renovated it
throughout. Then they took the first
male and renovated it and made it
fire proof. Then they took the third
female. then the second and third
male. Then they took over the Ar
senal grounds and started renovating
the buildings down there. They
renovated the Burleigh pavilion and
the Burleigh annex. They then
renovated one of the buildings and
made modern kitchen and dining
room. Then they built the Criminal
building new. They renovated the
stone mansion, which is now occu-
pied by the treasurer. They then
renovated the kitchen, grocery store.
bake shop and the helps dining
room and made everything modern.
They put in a new refrigerating
plant at the same time. They then
renovated the chapel and built the
new Tyson building. After the Har-
low fire, they renovated the Harlow
and made modern fire. proof build
ing Of it. After the piggery was
burned, they built new, modern
piggery. They built a nice new barn,
called the Campbell barn, and re-
modelled the Farm house. They re-
modelled the male pavilion.
There have been some wonderful
changs in the methods of taking care
of the patients. They used to have
Il strong rooms on the male and
female sides. where they used to
keep the violent patients. There was
one man who had been confined in
OiS iOOlI IOI ySdlS. ne wore
out three hardwood floors walking
around. They used to have two
padlocks on his door, and he never
was allowed out of his room very
much. only for bathing. Then they
had to have four men every time he
took a bath. Now. this is all done
away with. They have no strong
rooms. They use no straight
Jackets nor muff1ers and do not
strap the patients to seats and beds.
as they used to. 1t is something
wonderful to see the changes in the
methods of caring for the patients
now and what they used to be %
years ago. There were wards that
/ used to dread to go into, under the
old reign. But now there is nothing
to fear.
Il have worked under three differ
ent superintendent and three stew
ard-and- treasurers. / think DR..
Tyson, the present superintendent,
and Mr., S. NJ. Tobey, the steward
and-treasurer, are two very efficient
men,. I have the highest regards for
them both" w. +. GOWELI.
Augusta. May q.
(Mr. Gowell retired a few DAYS
ago from service at this institution
covering a period of a quarter CEN
tury.-Ed)