USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > Newton, Garden City of the Commonwealth > Part 4
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George Hutchinson
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NEWTON HOSPITAL.
Dr. Francis George Curtis, Superintendent.
T HE Newton Hospital, an insti- tution of which Newton is justly proud, is situated near the junc- tion of Washington and Beacon streets, near the Woodland Station on the circuit. The hospital grounds cover about seven acres of high sandy land, admirably adapted for the needs of a hospital.
The growth of the hospital has been steady and progressive since its opening. Starting in 1886 with two small wooden buildings and accommodations for about twenty patients, it has reached its present size, with beds for one hundred and fifty patients and a record of nearly one thou- sand persons treated in 1900.
At the present time the hospital build- ings may be considered as comprising three groups - the main hospital, with its administration building and operating pavilion and medical and surgical wards for both sexes, and a building for private patients. Connected with this is the laundry and boiler house, the latter fur- nishing light, heat and power for the whole institution.
Situated on an elevation back of this group of buildings, but connected with it by a covered passage or subway, is the Pratt-Converse Nurses' Home, with ac- commodation for some forty nurses.
Still further to the rear is the infectious disease department, a group of four build- ings built by the city of Newton for the care of persons ill with infectious diseases. This department consists of a group of three brick buildings, a central adminis- tration building in the middle, and on each side, connected with it by open cor- ridors, a large ward building, one for the care of diphtheria and the other for scar-
let fever. A wooden building slightly removed from this group serves for the care and treatment of persons ill with smallpox.
The new brick buildings of this de- partment which have recently been opened for the reception of patients are models in their way, and will greatly improve the facilities of the city of Newton as far as the care and treatment of infectious dis- ease is concerned. They constitute a separate department under the control of an assistant superintendent and form an entirely distinct hospital, being dependent upon the main hospital for light and heat only.
The main hospital is built upon the pavilion plan. It consists of a central administration building, with offices on the first floor and the maternity ward above. Connected with this building by corridors are the ward buildings, two for medical cases, the Thayer ward for men and the Georgia A. Leeson ward for women. The surgical division consists of two wards also, the Mellen Bray for men and the Eldredge for women, and the Haskell-Emerson operating pavilion. Besides these wards there is the Eliza- beth Dennison ward for children and the Coburn private patients building.
The general plan of the ward buildings is the same throughout. It is a small semi-detached building with a ward capable of accommodating eight or ten patients at one end ; the rest of the building is taken up with bath rooms, lavatories and the necessary service rooms, besides two small rooms for isolation. The operating pa- vilion is a brick building with a hall run- ning through the middle. On one side
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of the hall are two operating rooms and a sterilizing room, and on the other an etherizing and recovery room and a pri- vate room for the surgeons.
The operating rooms are very fine. The floors are marble with a large glass section let into it under the operating table. The walls are marble for six feet up, and, above the marble, adamant plaster covered with several coats of enamel paint, which makes a very hard smooth surface, easily kept clean. The sterilizing room has a marble
length of the building. A long corridor runs through the centre of the building, with a ward at either end, each accommo- dating ten patients.
On each side of the long central corri- dor are service rooms, lavatories and bath rooms, as well as small rooms for patients who do not wish to go into the general ward. In each ward building is a suspect room separated from the rest of the build- ing, for the reception of patients whose cases have not been definitely decided.
NURSES' HOME, NEWTON HOSPITAL.
floor and adamant plaster, and is equipped with the necessary pressure sterilizers for dressings, instruments and water. The main hospital has accommodations for about eighty patients.
The new infectious disease department consists of three brick buildings, a central administration building with offices and kitchen and room for nurses and attend- ants above; connected with this are two single-story ward buildings. Each ward building is 120 x 37 and is entered by a short hall running at right angles to the
The floors of the buildings are of ter- razzo and the walls of hard plaster cov- ered with enamel paint. All corners are rounded and every precaution has been taken to render it as difficult as possible for infectious material to be retained about the floors or walls. Each ward building has accommodation for twenty-six patients.
The fourth building of this department is a small wooden structure separated from the others and used for the reception of smallpox cases. It can accommodate eight patients, four of each sex. The
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buildings of this infectious disease depart- ment were built by the city of Newton and owned by it, but under an agreement between the city and the hospital authori- ties the management is entirely in the hands of the hospital, and the members of the hospital staff treat the patients in this division, as well as those in the general hospital.
All classes of patients are admitted to the hospital, and they come not from New- ton alone but from neighboring cities and towns.
In certain respects the Newton Hospi-
tom has been followed since the hospital was first opened for the admission of pa- tients, and has been found to work well. There has never been any friction between the two schools, although they may have patients in the same wards. Another peculiarity is that physicians who are not members of the hospital staff are allowed to send patients into the private patients building and treat them there. In such cases the hospital assumes no responsibil- ity for the treatment, but simply furnishes the room, nursing and medicine required ; the patient being entirely under the con-
ELIOT CHURCH.
tal is different from most other general hospitals, and perhaps its most marked difference is in the fact that the two so- called schools of medical practice are rep- resented on its staff.
The staff consists of eighteen men, six surgeons who serve two months each, and twelve on the medical division, six from one school and six from the other. Of these one from each school is on duty at the same time, so that a patient admitted to the hospital is at liberty to have that method of medical treatment which he prefers, but having once made his choice he is not allowed to change. This cus-
trol of his own physician exactly as if he were ill in his own house.
The government of the hospital is vested in a board of twenty-eight trustees who are elected annually, but the actual work is done by an executive committee of nine members, of whom four are physi- cians, two from each school. These four physicians, who have always been mem- bers of the hospital staff, constitute a virtual Medical Board to whom any ques- tions directly bearing upon medical mat- ters are referred. In this way the staff have a representation upon the governing board of the hospital and know that in
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any question which closely touches upon them they are sure of having their side ably presented.
The growth of the hospital has been steady since its opening, and year by year the work has increased and broadened until at the present time it covers every branch of medicine and surgery. Con- nected with the hospital and under the same management is the training school for nurses, with about thirty-five pupil nurses. The superintendent of nurses is Miss Annie McDowell, who is also matron of the hospital. The course in
diseases. After the second year the pu- pils are sometimes sent out to nurse patients who are ill at home, in this way becoming accustomed to private nursing, which differs slightly from institutional work.
At the completion of the three years of training the pupils are required to pass an examination, and if this is satisfactory they receive a diploma. Up to the pres- ent time the training school has graduated about one hundred nurses.
The hospital depends for support upon its earnings and voluntary contributions,
RESIDENCE, AUSTIN R. MITCHELL, WALNUT STREET.
pupils getting their practical training by. working in the hospital wards and also from lectures by the members of the hos- pital staff. During the first year the pupils work in the wards under the direc- tion of a senior nurse, and as they be- come more familiar with the work are gradually advanced until they have charge of a ward under the supervision of the superintendent and her assistants. In this way they become familiar with all the necessary requirements of nursing, and trained in surgical, medical and obstetric work, and also in the care of infectious
the training school covers three years, the as it has a very small endowment fund, in no way adequate for its needs. The chief contribution towards the support of the hospital comes from the collection taken in the churches of the city annually on Hospital Sunday. The amount of this annual contribution has increased from about $1,500 in 1886 to nearly $10,000 in 1901, and is a gratifying testimonial of the friendly regard which the citizens of Newton feel toward the hospital.
The earnings of the hospital from care and treatment of patients are another source of income which has varied from $394.66 in 1886 to $21,623.10 in 1901, the largest
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annual earning having been $31,527.51 in 1900.
As the institution has enlarged its run- ning expenses have increased, and the fig- ures here run from $1,899.60 in 1886 to $32,830.41 in 1901. Here again the fig- ures for 1900 show the heaviest annual expense, having amounted to $36,563.36,
OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION, 1902.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES : Hon. J. R. Leeson, President. Hon. William P. Ellison, Vice- President. Edward E. Hardy, Clerk. George S. Bullens, Treasurer.
Mrs M. L. Bacon, Mrs. John T. Lodge,
Mrs. A. B. Cobb, Mrs. John Lowell,
Mrs. W. H. Coolidge, Mrs. E. H. Mason,
Mrs. W. H. Gould, Mrs. George W. Morse,
Mrs. E. B. Haskell, Mrs. J. Howard Nichols,
Mrs. C. W. Leonard, Mrs. N. Emmons Paine,
W. Claxton Brav,
George Hutchinson,
Frank A. Day, Charles S. Dennison, Hon. Joseph R. Leeson, Lucius G. Pratt,
A. Lawrence Edmands,
Hon. William P. Ellison,
Charles I. Travelli,
Col. Edward H. Haskell, Warren P. Tyler,
Dr. William O. Hunt,
Dr. F. E. Porter,
Dr. George E. May, Dr. E. P. Scales .*
The Mayor, Hon. John W. Weeks.
President of the Board of Aldermen, Alonzo R. Weed, ex-officio. Hon. Robert R. Bishop, Counsel.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE : Wm. O. Hunt, M. D., Chairman. E. P. Scales, M. D., Secretary.
W. Clayton Brav, Edward E. Hardy,
Hon. J. R. Leeson, G. E. May, M. D., F. E. Porter, M. D., George W. Shinn, D. D.,
W. P. Tyler.
Superintendent of Hospital, F. G. Curtis, M. D.
Matron and Superintendent of Nurses, Miss Annie McDowell. # Died August 14.
RESIDENCE, CHARLES F. CHENEY, WALNUT STREET.
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Rev. Geo. W. Shinn, D. D.,
NEWTON FREE LIBRARY.
By Miss Elizabeth P. Thurston, Librarian.
N EWTON'S Public Library had its origin in the Newton Book Club, an association formed at Newton Corner in January, 1848, with twenty-six subscribers. A year later the members of the Book Club, " desirous of promoting the cause of Intelligence and Literature," formed themselves into a cor- poration under the title of the Newton Library Association, and one hundred and seventeen volumes were given by the Book Club to the new organization. The library was opened Wednesday afternoon and Friday evening of every week.
The public-spirited citizens of Newton had for a long time wished to establish a free library open to all, and in June, 1866, a subscription paper was circulated to buy the lot of land 20,550 square feet upon which the present library building stands. The names of the subscribers were D. R. Emerson, J. C. Chaffin, Al- bert Brackett, Joel H. Hills, Joseph N. Bacon, Fred Davis, George H. Jones, William O. Edmands, H. D. Bassett, J. W. Wellman, I. T. Burr, F. Skinner, G. D. Gilman, Louisa S. Brown, A. B. Underwood, Aaron F. Gay, James French.
Later J. Wiley Edmands contributed $15,000 on condition that a like sum be raised by the citizens, for the erection of such a library building as should meet his approval. The subscription was raised, and in August, 1868, the corner stone of the building was laid.
The Newton Free Library was organ- ized Sept. 29, 1869, with a board of eleven managers, but the amount which had been raised was insufficient to meet the cost of the building and other neces- sary expenses, and at this critical moment
John C. Chaffin promised $5,000 pro- vided the remainder of the required sum be contributed. The amount was secured and the building was dedicated June 17, 1870. The library was opened with a collection of seven thousand volumes, obtained partly from purchase and partly from gifts. George W. Bacon was elected superintendent, and Hannah P. James and Cornelia W. Jackson librarians. In 1871 the Newton Free Library was in- corporated by the Legislature of Massa- chusetts.
The Newton Centre Library Associa- tion in 1873 presented its collection of between fourteen and fifteen hundred books to the Newton Free Library. In November, 1875, a tender of the library was made to the city of Newton. The gift was accepted, and the transfer was formally made March 16, 1876, the New- ton Free Library passing into the control of the city government for the free use of the citizens forever. The government of the library was placed in the hands of seven trustees elected by the city council, and the city has annually made appropria- tions for the support of the library since that time. In 1886 a special appropria- tion for an enlargement of the building was made, which gave the much needed room for the stacking of books and for the various departments of library work.
The library has steadily grown in size and usefulness in the community. In 1894 the West Newton Athenaeum with its fifty-five hundred volumes was given over into the hands of the Newton Free Library. A reading-room and reference library has since that time been maintained at West Newton. At the beginning of
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1900 the Auburndale reading-room was also put under the same management, and during the year the Newton Centre read- ing-room followed the same course. In January, 1901, the reading-room at New- ton Upper Falls became a fourth branch reading-room and reference library. Thus there are five reading-rooms in the city now - the one at the central library fur- nished with one hundred and twenty maga- zines and forty newspapers, the others with a lesser number each. There are about 55,000 volumes at the main library and upwards of 7,000 more at the branches.
The present management (1902) is in the hands of five trustees appointed by the mayor and approved by the board of aldermen. Mr. E. B. Haskell is the president, Mr. J. L. Clarke the secre- tary, and the other members are Mr. A. Lawrence Edmunds, Ex-Governor Will- iam Claflin and Hon. J. R. Leeson. The trustees annually appoint a superintend- ent, librarian and assistant librarians. They meet monthly except during the summer months.
The library is open every day except Sundays and legal holidays from 10 A. M.
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NEWTON FREE LIBRARY.
The library has four funds which have been given or bequeathed by Newton citizens, the incomes of which are used for the purchase of books, - the Alden Speare Fund, $1,000, given by Hon. Al- den Speare, especially intended for works upon manufactures and the mechanic arts ; a fund of $5,000 for reference books, given by John S. Farlow ; the Jewett Art Fund, $10,000, for art books, photographs, etc. ; and the Read Fund for books of a gen- eral nature, given by Charles A. Read, which furnishes from three to four hun- dred dollars a year.
till 8 p. M., Saturday till 9 P. M. The main reading-room from 8 A. M. till 9 P. M. ; the branches for seven hours every day.
Eleven delivery stations are maintained in the different parts of the city - at New- ton Centre, Newtonville, Newton High- lands, West Newton, Auburndale, Upper Falls, Lower Falls, Waban, Oak Hill, Chestnut Hill and Nonantum. Books are sent to these places one, two, three and six times a week respectively. Four of the stations are in the branch reading- rooms, the others are at stores, school- houses, etc.
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The librarian in 1885, feeling how im- portant is a close connection of the library and the schools, began extending especial privileges to the teachers of the public schools. The teachers were allowed a certain number of books for their own study and others for the use of the pupils. They have ever since been glad to avail themselves of the chance to make the wealth of the library of assistance in their work, and have asked for books and pic- tures for this purpose constantly.
There are nearly four thousand photo- graphs of paintings, sculpture and geo- graphical or architectural views which are in general circulation and are much used. They are circulated in portfolios made ex- pressly for the purpose, and are used by clubs, teachers, as well as by the general public. Stereoscopes with sets of views
of different countries are put into tin boxes and taken from the library. A collection of music is also much in demand.
The library has a very full card cata- logue ; a printed catalogue and bulletins are issued at intervals. Weekly lists of the new books are printed in the local papers. Every card holder may draw two books, presidents of clubs and clergy- men more. The old books too worn or soiled for general use are often contributed to the contagious wards of the Newton Hospital, to sailors on board of vessels, or to various places from Alaska to Tus- kegee.
The library has a circulation large for a place of the size of Newton. In 1901 the circulation was 160,935 volumes, 92,- 398 having been distributed through the agencies and 68,537 at the library itself.
VIEW IN NEWTON CEMETERY.
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GATEWAY, NEWTON CEMETERY.
NEWTON CEMETERY.
O NE of the most beautiful places in Newton is the Newton Ceme- tery, located on Walnut Street, practically in the heart of the city. Situ- ated on a rolling country of great natural beauty, the grounds have been so laid out as to take every advantage of nature, and the rolling landscape with its fine lawn ef- fects, beautiful trees, shrubs and shimmer- ing ponds is a marked feature of the city.
The Newton Cemetery was first con- ceived in 1854 when leading and influential citizens met together and after mature deliberation chose the present site. The name of Grove Hill Cemetery was first given, but upon the incorporation in April, 1855, it was changed to the Newton Cem- etery.
Dr. Henry Bigelow and Marshall S. Rice were the prime movers in the enter- prise, and the first board of trustees con- sisted of Rev. Barnas Sears, president ; Lemuel Crehore, Seth Davis, Rev. J. E. Woodbridge, M. S. Rice, John D. Towle
and Dr. Bigelow. Joseph W. Plimpton was elected clerk, and Joseph N. Bacon treasurer.
The nucleus of the present cemetery of about one hundred acres was a purchase of thirty acres, entrance to which was by way of Cemetery Avenue, off Homer Street.
In 1856 Walnut Street was laid out south of Homer Street and the main en- trance was planned on that street.
The plans and surveys for the laying out of the cemetery were made by Mr. Rice in consultation with Dr. Bigelow, and the result vindicates the wisdom of their selection for this important task.
The cemetery was consecrated June 10, 1857, after the corporation had passed through a severe financial experience.
In 1869 President George H. Jones, Warren P. Tyler and James F. C. Hyde were appointed a committee on a new entrance, and Mr. George F. Meacham was employed as an architect. The pres-
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ent graceful archway is the result of his efforts and cost about $4,500.
In 1885 Hon. John S. Farlow pre- sented the cemetery with the beautiful Bigelow Memorial Mortuary Chapel and Conservatory, a heavy Gothic stone struc- ture with open timber ceiling and terra cotta tiling dado. At the side and open- ing into the chapel is the conservatory, filled with tropical and flowering shrubs artistically arranged in rockeries amid fountains of flowing water. The chapel contains a tablet in memory of Dr. Bige-
apiece towards this worthy object. The total expense was about $5,200.
The Newton Cemetery was one of the first to require all work by private lot owners to be approved by the superin- tendent, the rule having been in force since 1859. In 1873 the matter of per- petual care was placed upon all lots sold, and hedges, iron fences and stone curb- ings have been barred since 1876.
William Melntire was the first super- intendent and served from 1857 to 1861, when he was succeeded by Mr. Henry
BIGELOW MORTUARY CHAPEL, NEWTON CEMETERY.
low and a bronze memorial of Mr. Farlow. It was dedicated Sept. 26, 1885.
A receiving tomb was erected by the town in 1861, but was removed in 1885 to make room for the Memorial Chapel, and a new tomb was erected at the joint expense of the city and the cemetery.
The Soldiers' Monument, a shaft of Quincy granite 28 feet in height, was au- thorized by the town in 1863 and dedi- cated July 23, 1864. Popular subscrip- tions of SI each were called and nearly $1,200 raised in this manner. Eleven hundred school children gave a dime
Ross. Mr. Ross served until his death in July, 1899, and gave to the work all of his thought and care. He was assisted by Mr. Charles W. Ross from 1874 to 1890, and by Mr. H. Wilson Ross since 1895. Mr. H. Wilson Ross was elected superintendent in 1899 and is also treas- urer of the corporation.
The present trustees are: Edwin B. Haskell, president, Otis Pettee, Warren P. Tyler, Edwin M. Fowle, clerk, Francis Murdock, Austin R. Mitchell, George Frost, Caleb F. Eddy and Edward L. Pickard.
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NEWTON CLUB.
CLUBS AND SOCIETIES.
THE NEWTON CLUB.
T HE most potent influence in the unification of the various wards of the city of Newton and in its social and material development was the organi- zation of the Newton Club in 1887.
This club, by bringing together various powerful social and financial influences, was the first great step in making Newton a city rather than an aggregation of little villages. These elements, by developing the social life of the city in new lines and on a broader and more generous scale, brought Newton to the attention of the whole state in a most enviable light and attracted to it the wealth and refinement that was seeking a suburban residence with city advantages.
The father of all other clubs in the city, it still retains its overpowering pres- tige and is the pattern for the newer or- ganizations and has been the model for all similar clubs throughout the country,
both on account of its liberal treatment of members and their families and for the high character and originality of its enter- tainments.
A neighborly chat between Congress- man Samuel L. Powers and Mr. William J. Follett was the atom from which grew the present Newton Club with a member- ship of four hundred gentlemen. The first meeting was held at the residence of Mr. A. R. Mitchell in Newtonville in the autumn of 1887, and the charter members were Hon. Heman M. Burr, Hon. Robert Bishop, Hon. William Claflin, Hon. Henry E. Cobb, Hon. Samuel L. Powers, Edward W. Cate, William J. Follett, James W. French and Albert S. Glover.
It was located at Newtonville in order that it might be convenient to all parts of the city, and its first home, the Hull man- sion, built in 1766, stood at the corner of Walnut and Austin streets from 1846 un- til its demolition some years ago.
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The first reception was held in this house Dec. 19, 1887.
Among the notable events in the his- tory of the club are the following :
Reception to Rear Admiral Lewis A. Kimberly, March 28, 1890.
Afternoon reception to Mrs. Benjamin Harrison, wife of President Harrison, and her daughter, Mrs. McKee, Sept. 26, 1891.
Newton Club Fête, Oct. 14-17, 1891.
Formal opening of present clubhouse, corner Walnut Street and Highland Ave- nue, Nov. 16, 1892.
THE HUNNEWELL CLUB.
T HE Hunnewell Hill Club was formed in 1895 in a dwelling house on Hunnewell Hill by a few of the residents of that locality and its mem- bership was strictly confined to that ini- mediate neighborhood. It was often called the " Kindergarten Club," yet it thrived and grew, and its predominant feature of tem- perance brought into its membership many who were heretofore unknown in club cir- cles. The growth of the membership to- gether with other influences became so
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