USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > Columbus, Ohio: its history, resources, and progress : with numerous illustrations > Part 29
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Under a joint resolution of the legislature, passed May 7, 1869, the trustees purchased of Alfred Heffner seven and one-half acres of land, lying immediately east of and adjoining the south- eastern portion of the asylum grounds, for fifteen thousand dollars.
In July, 1835, N. B. Kelley was appointed architect. Plans and elevations were agreed upon, based principally upon those of the asylum in Worcester, Massachusetts, then thought to be the most complete as a model. The plan was that of the center building afterward erected, with the lateral extension or "front wings." It was to accommodate one hundred and twenty patients. The directors having submitted their plans and esti- mates, the legislature almost unanimously made the necessary appropriation, in March, 1836. N. B. Kelley was appointed to superintend the construction of the building. The work was actively prosecuted, and on the 20th of April, 1837, the corner- stone was laid, as thus recorded :
" The foundation of the asylum was commenced this day at eleven o'clock precisely, the first stone of the edifice being laid at the northwest corner of the west wing, by one of the convicts of the Ohio Penitentiary. Present-Samuel Parsons, William Maclay Awl, N. B. Kelley, Wm. McIlvain, and Isaac Cool."
It is recorded that the building was completed on the 10th of November, 1839, and final settlement made with the superin- tendent. But an enlargement was soon found necessary. In 1843, the west wing, with the corner veranda, was commenced, and completed in 1845. The east wing, commenced in 1844, was finished in 1846. The center wing was built in 1847. The building was then considered complete. The cost of the entire structure was $153,821.84. Of this cost, the sum of $48,671.13 is to be credited to convict labor. The building had then a front of 370 feet, with a depth of 218 feet. It was quadrangular in
RICHES,SC. COLUMBU:
"CHRADER.DEL.
NEW HOSPITAL FOR LUNATICS.
349
STATE BUILDINGS AND INSTITUTIONS.
form and covered just one acre of ground. It was divided into 440 rooms, exclusive of the basement. For occupation by pa- tients were assigned 214 single and 5 double rooms, besides the 29 lodges.
THE ASYLUM BURNED .- At fifteen minutes past nine o'clock on the evening of November 18, 1868, the alarm was given that the Central Lunatic Asylum was on fire. No time was lost in making every possible effort to stay the awful calamity and save the unfortunate inmates. The city fire department was sum- moned by the alarm-telegraph and reported promptly for duty. The asylum machinery for fire purposes was put into speedy operation, and the work of removing the patients from the qurning building was attended to by the officers and employes of the institution. For a time it seemed impossible to save a single life in ward No. 6, where the fire originated. The smoke was so dense and suffocating that any attempt to go into the burning ward was at the peril of life. It was not until consid- erable water had been thrown on the fire that the work of re- moving the patients from that ward could be begun. There were forty-two in that part of the building, and all were saved alive, with the exception of six women who perished by suffoca- tion.
As to the origin of the fire, the superintendent, Dr. William L. Peck, says, in his report for 1869, that the fire was discovered in the clothing-room of ward No. 6 east. The only fire in any of the wards was that of the gaslights, and the supposition is that one of the mischievous patients lighted some combustible substance at one of the gas-burners, and threw it through the open transom into the clothing-room. The night on which the fire occurred was one of the most inclement of the season, and suitable quarters had to be forthwith provided for 314 insane patients.
These patients were temporarily taken care of in the institu- tion for the deaf and dumb, and in the hospital, the latter build- ing having escaped the general conflagration. They were even- tually distributed among the different lunatic asylums of the State.
350
STUDER'S COLUMBUS, OHIO.
The east wing, in which the fire originated, was occupied by female patients. At the time the alarm was given, there were about two hundred patients in the amusement hall, with ladies and gentlemen from the city, engaged in dancing. The fire at first did not excite much apprehension, as the general impression was that it could be easily subdued. But in a short time the supply of water gave out, and nothing remained but to abandon the main building to destruction.
SUPERINTENDENTS .- The following is a list of the medical gentlemen who have served as superintendents of the Central Lunatic Asylum from its origin to the present time. They all bore or bear the title of M. D .: William M. Awl, S. Hanbury Smith, Elijah Kendrick, George E. Eels, R. Hills. W. L. Peck, of Circleville, was appointed superintendent in 1865, and still holds the office. Since the destruction of the asylum by fire, he has been attending to the interests of the Central Asylum district, and superintending the grounds and farm embraced in the new purchase, and the construction of the new asylum.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES .- The following gentlemen compose the present board of trustees or directors of the asylum : L. M. Smith (president), Henry B. Curtis, W. B. Thrall, John Hunter, Philip M. Wagenhalls, and N. J. Turney.
REBUILDING THE ASYLUM.
On the 23d of April, 1869, an act was passed by the legis- lature, for the erection of a building on the asylum grounds, for properly accommodating four hundred patents, at a cost not ex- ceeding $400,000. Under this act the trustees engaged Levi F. Schofield, whose plans and estimates being approved, con- tracts were awarded, the work of taking down the walls of the old building was begun, and the ground for the foundations of the new building was formally broken on the 24th of October, 1869, Governor Hayes participating in the ceremonies.
A NEW SITE .- The legislature, on the 18th of April, 1870, passed an act for the sale of the old asylum grounds for not less than two hundred thousand dollars, and the purchase of other grounds in the vicinity of Columbus, for a sum not exceeding
351
STATE BUILDINGS AND INSTITUTIONS.
one hundred thousand dollars. Under this act the old asylum grounds were sold, and a purchase made of William S. Sullivant, for the minimum sum named in the act, of three hundred acres, bounded on the east by a line at right angles to the National Road, extending from the second mile-stone west of Columbus northwardly to the railroad from Columbus to Xenia, on the north by that railroad, on the south by the National Road, and on the west by a line parallel to the first-named line.
The new purchase was generally spoken of as the farm or land on "Sullivant's Hill," but the trustees say, in their annual report for 1870, that, " as appropriate to the wild beauty of its surroundings and other picturesque features, we have, at the suggestion of our 'lady matron,' [Mrs. W. L. Peck,] designated the place by the name of ' Glenwood.'" The view from the top of the hill is indeed beautiful, and, when the contemplated im- provements are made, the surrounding, as well as the distant scenery, will awaken the admiration of the spectator.
SALE OF THE FIRST SITE .- On the 3d of May, the governor , treasurer of state, and attorney-general opened the bids for the sale of the asylum tract, consisting of about seventy-three acres. The award was made to Wm. S. Sullivant, R. Jones, O. John- son, John L. Winner, A. D. Rogers, Fred. J. Fay, D. W. H. Day, J. G. Mitchell, James Watson, S. S. Rickley, W. B. Hayden, Charles Baker, W. B. Hawkes, John and T. E. Miller, and John Joyce, at two hundred thousand five hundred dollars, being five hundred dollars more than the minimum price fixed by the legislature.
The purchasers divided the cost of the purchase into twenty shares, of ten thousand and twenty-five dollars each, some of them taking two shares. They had the grounds platted, sub- divided, and laid out into lots, with handsome streets, avenues, and parks. To this important and beautiful addition to the city, was given the appropriate name of East Park Place.
BUILDING A NEW ASYLUM.
The directors took formal possession of the new site on the 5th of May, 1870; on the 6th, the first stake was set for the new structure, and excavation immediately commenced ; and on the
352
STUDER'S COLUMBUS, OHIO.
23d the first foundation was laid, with exercises, consisting of prayer by Rev. A. G. Byers, and speeches by Judge W. B. Thrall, Superintendent Peck, and others. On the 4th of July, the corner stone was laid, Governor Hayes presiding on the oc- casion, in the presence of many officers of the State, and a large concourse of citizens, the officers of the Grand Lodge of Ohio and other masonic bodies taking a leading part in the cere- monies. Various appropriate records and memorials, inclosed in a copper casket hermetically sealed, were deposited in a cavity of the stone.
According to the superintendent's report of November 15, 1870, foundation walls had been completed for the central or administrative building, 115 by 80 feet ; for the amusement hall, 120 by 80 fcet; for the four sections of wings, with their con- nections, covering a surface of ground, in the aggregate, 842 by 408 feet; and in addition to these outside walls, about 4,749 lineal feet of division walls within the area of the structure, making a total of 8,026 lineal feet of outside and division walls, or a mile and a half of wall, eight feet high.
The superstructure, which is still in progress, consists of, first, a cut-stone ashler stone, three feet four inches high, extending around the entire building, and backed up with brick, laid in hydraulic cement mortar. Of this cut-stone work, there are 15,118 square feet. The ashler course is surmounted with a cut- stone window-sill course eight inches in thickness, and it also runs around the entire structure, and measures four thousand four hundred and twenty-three lineal feet. On this cut-stone belt-course rests the brick-work proper of the superstructure.
The rear central wing is attached to the amusement-hall por- tion of the main asylum building, and extends to the rear of it, a distance of three hundred and twenty-five feet, and is to be three stories and basement high. Its west end is extended to the right and left, so as to give to the wing the form of the letter T. This west-end extension is to be two hundred feet long by forty-four feet wide, and two stories high. It is de- signed for the boiler-room, coal depot, and mechanics' shops.
The subdivisions of the main wing are as follows, beginning with the basement story: It contains the fan-room for forced
353
STATE BUILDINGS AND INSTITUTIONS.
ventilation, the kitchen store-rooms, bakery store-room, wash- room, store-room for laundry. supplies, steam-engine and pump- room, and water-tower section. First story above contains the kitchen, with its scullery and closets, bakery and bakers' store- room, wash-room, drying-room, and water-tower section. Within the second story is embraced a sitting-room and lodging-rooms for female employes; also ironing and drying-rooms. The third story has the stage or platform for amusement hall, the chapel, lodging-rooms for male employes, and the water-tower section with iron tank inclosed, with a capacity for fifty thou- sand gallons of water.
The tramway of the basement of the principal building is to be extended through the basement and first story of this wing, bringing all its several departments in direct and easy com- munication with the several sections of the main structure. This wing is designed to be built perfectly fire-proof, to be thoroughly ventilated, and to be fitted up with bath-rooms, closets, lifts, etc., sufficient to make it very complete in all its departments.
INSTITUTION FOR THE BLIND.
On the 11th of March, 1836, the general assembly appointed a board of trustees, consisting of Rev. James Hoge, N. H. Swayne, and Dr. William M. Awl, to collect information relative to the education of the blind in letters and mechanical arts. The information collected was communicated to the legislature, in December, 1836, in a very elaborate report. An act was passed April 3, 1837, making provisions for the education of the blind of the State. Fifteen thousand dollars were appropriated for the erection of suitable buildings, and ten thousand dollars for the purchase of books and apparatus.
The same trustees, in their annual report, dated December 14, 1837, state that they had obtained an eligible site for the build- ings, having been " successful in securing a lot of nine acres, a little removed from the plat of Columbus, on the north side of the National Road, at a very reduced price, which was imme- diately contributed by a number of benevolent gentlemen, all of them citizens of Columbus." Buildings for the institution commenced on this site in 1837, and were completed in 1839.
354
STUDER'S COLUMBUS, OHIO.
A. W. Penniman, a graduate of the Massachusetts Asylum, was the first instructor employed .. The trustees having rented suitable rooms, the school was opened in the Presbyterian Church, July 4, 1837, in the presence of the teachers and pupils of the Sunday-schools of Columbus, who, to the number of nine hun- dred, had assembled to celebrate the sixty-first anniversary of our national independence. On that day Mr. Penniman had but five pupils. By November following, the number had increased to eleven-four girls and seven boys. The school was removed in October, 1839, to the buildings erected for its accommo- dation.
SUPERINTENDENTS .- The following is a list of the principals or superintendents of the institution from 1837 to the present time : A. W. Penniman, William Chapin, George McMillen, Rufus E. Harte, Asa D. Lord, and George L. Smead.
TRUSTEES .- The following is a complete list of the trustees of the institution from 1838 to the present time : James Hoge, N. H. Swayne, Wm. M. Awl, John A. Bryan, M. J. Gilbert, Wm. Armstrong, John W. Andrews, Samuel McClelland, Joseph McElvain, J. R. Scroggs, A. P. Stone, F. C. Kelton, S. M. Smith, Richard Warner, Thomas Sparrow, E. K. Chamberlain, George E. Eels, E. C. Root, Henry Wilson, John Greenleaf, David Bobb, Hiram B. Smith, T. C. Mitchell, J. Green, S. H. Webb, John McCook, Oliver H. Perry, R. R. Sloan, John Greiner, Edward Jordan, F. C. Sessions, Royal Taylor, Stillman Witt, Henry C. Noble, and John H. Rodgers.
NEW BUILDING .- By an act of the legislature, passed May 6, 1869, the trustees-Francis C. Sessions, Henry C. Noble, and John H. Rodgers-were authorized to erect a building not to exceed in cost $275,000. Soon after another appropriation of $43,000 was secured, making $318,000 in all.
Plans for the new building were prepared by William Tinsley, of Cincinnati, as architect, which were approved by the board of trustees, the governor, auditor, and secretary of state, and bids advertised for, and the contract awarded.
The trustees, in their annual reports for 1870 and 1871, called the attention of the legislature to the building in progress, as prospectively one of the finest public buildings in the State. Its
355
STATE BUILDINGS AND INSTITUTIONS.
progress toward completion had reached a point to enable those who are unversed in the mysteries of the architectural art to grasp the full designs, and see it as it will appear when entirely completed. A very beautiful lithographic colored view of the new building appears as a frontispiece in this work.
There had been expended of the appropriations made up to November 15, 1872, on new building, $224,417.15, leaving about $100,000 of the sums authorized to complete the building. The trustees and architect are certainly deserving of great credit for the economical use of the large sums of money placed to their credit, and for putting up the most beautiful and best public building in the State at a much less cost than is usual for public buildings.
ARCHITECT'S DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDINGS .- The architectural ehar, acter is Old English, of the later period of Elizabeth, though there is evi- dently little or no expenditure in extrinsic ornamentation usual in structures making pretense to that name.
The cornices or eave moldings are of iron, as are also the several dormer- windows. The roofs generally are covered with a very uniformly colored blue slate; the hips and ridges, and the flatter parts of the roof, have also metallic coverings.
The central areaded portieo is of cut-stone, flanked on either side by cast-iron piazzas of the same general character and extending the length of the center or main front. From the cut-stone portion rise two oriel windows of the second and third stories; these with the Belvidere sur- mounting all, side turrets and the rear ventilators, and other parts to be referred to again, which are now of wood, and were so ordered, after plans for them in iron, and estimates of cost were submitted to the committee of the legislature appointed for the purpose of considering the fire-proofing.
The interior of the structure, on entering through the stone porch, is found to be a hall not unnecessarily large, from which the superintendent's and steward's offices and visitors' waiting-rooms are entered, and in eon- neetion with these are fire-proof closets, reception-rooms, library, water- closets, bath-rooms, and lavatories. Passing through the hall an interior hall is entered, above which, the main ventilator shaft rises to about 140 feet by 12 feet square-in part supported on iron columns and arehes, flanked by the arches of the strong or fire-proof rooms-a view is pre- sented of the main stairs, with ample first, and right and left seeond flights, leading to the chapel and seeond story. Before coming to the main stairs (which, with all the other stairs in the entire structure, is eon- posed of iron with freestone steps), corridors, ten feet wide, braneh off right and left, leading on either side to the male or female side, to sehool- rooms, teachers', guests', reception, and bath-rooms-above which, in the second and third stories, are hospital-rooms.
Hose pipes, from water-tanks, are provided, to be available on every floor at several points.
356
STUDER'S COLUMBUS, OHIO.
This description for one side of one story answers for each side of the four stories, the three upper ones being devoted to the pupils' dormitories, and these of size sufficient to give to each occupant a cubic space of 750 feet, with an abundant provision for constant change of air.
A large number of music-rooms, play or recitation-rooms, are provided at either side and in the upper part of the central building. The several stories, of which above those mentioned before, are appropriated as super- intendents, male and female officers' sleeping apartments ; lavatories and water-closets are placed on the several landings of the pupils' stairs, and on the first or ground floor side-entrances or porches.
Lifts or elevators were provided for on the corridors, but the architect and trustees recommend these shall be placed on the outside of the build- ing, and be separated by fire-proof doors.
Passing right or left from the main stairs, the dining-room, 70 by 50 feet, and 16 feet high, is found, warmed as before described for the corri- dors, and ventilated into flues surrounding the kitchen shaft, in which the kitchen is also ventilated, which is immediately placed beyond the dining- room.
The kitchen is 40 by 32 feet, lighted from either side, of same height as the dining-room, having a larger and smaller cooking range, and in con- nection cook's and steward's store-rooms, with cellarage beneath, and other store and domestics' sleeping-rooms over the kitchen and them.
Beyond these, and separated by large, well-lighted, and ventilated pas- sages, are the laundry, drying and ironing rooms at one side, with the bake-house and flour-store at the other; coal cellars under all these.
Still in rear of these, and separated from all by an open covered passage, is placed the engine-room, containing engine, pumps, etc.
Below the corridors, on the ground floor, are conveyed the several steam- pipes, hot and cold water, and gas-pipes, and the various escape-ducts from the water-closets, lavatories, and baths.
The several stories of the center and wings are 14 feet 6 inches from floor to floor.
Ascending the main stairs before referred to, the corridors, correspond- ing with those of the first story, are found, and beside it the passages, as- cending by gently inclined planes, to the chapel, an apartment 18 feet high at walls and 43 feet in center of room, capable of seating about 600 persons, lighted and warmed from the sides similar to the dining-room below it, with provision for ventilation. The roof of the chapel is open framed, bracketed, with an insulating space above the ceiling; an organ recess off the rostrum, at the further end, is placed between two retiring rooms, which open on the platform, and also to the corridor between the domestics' rooms, leading to the stairs between the laundry and bakery.
The center and rear, including chapel, etc., are divided into three com- partments by fire-proof doors, which, with four in the wings, make seven distinct ones, capable, on a moment's notice, of being effectually separated by doors so constructed and set as to resist a strong fire for a long time.
STATISTICS OF THE INSTITUTION.
The following table is inserted for the convenience of those who have not access to a file of reports. The table presents a summary of the progress of the institution. The statement of expenditures are taken from the reports of the proper officers.
1
der is
JOHN.BARRICK. .CIN.O .-
PHIO INSTITUTION FOR THE
PEAF AND DUMB.
357
STATE BUILDINGS AND INSTITUTIONS.
The expenses for the last year are found by deducting from the whole sum paid out the value of material on hand :
NO. OF PUPILS ADMITTED.
YEAR.
EXPENSES.
NO. OF PUPILS ENROLLED.
Yearly.
Total.
1837
$7,907 51
11
11
11
1838.
14,103 67
20
4
15
1839.
13,196 22
21
7
22
1840
11,871 16
25
6
28
1841
10,155 29
50
19
47
1842
9,664 68
56
16
63
1843
9,263 39
58
17
80
1844.
9,229 09
65
12
92
1845.
ยท 9,463 83
68
17
109
1846.
10,957 96
73
15
124
1847
9,937 12
68
16
140
1848
10,569 20
73
17
157
1849
10,446 95
67
14
181
1850
10,630 50
72
14
185
1851
11,101 93
69
14
199
1852
11,952 09
69
21
220
1853
11,916 13
69
11
231
1854.
11,828 66
64
14
245
1855
13,331 80
64
22
267
1856
14,319 32
60
13
280
1857
15,996 47
93
30
310
1858
18,887 65
105
22
332
1859
16,202 19
120
34
366
1860
16,626 24
120
17
383
1861
16,885 91
120
24
407
1862
15,294 42
120
25
432
1863
17,849 85
120
30
462
1864
19,891 38
135
39
501
1865
26,301 86
137
40
541
1866
27,694 58
150
44
585
1867
31,003 18
145
38
623
1868
33,346 35
144
29
652
1869
31,772 90
125
28
680
1870
31,348 37
119
27
707
1871
31,162 47
122
23
730
1872
29,225 00
112
32
752
THE DEAF AND DUMB INSTITUTE.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDING .- The building really consists of seven, suitably connected, and was erected at a cost of $625,000. It is built of brick, and is elaborately trimmed with lime and sandstone. The roofing
358
STUDER'S COLUMBUS, OHIO.
is of slate, the cornice of galvanized iron, and the balconies, pillars, rail- ing, and floor of iron. The number of bricks required was 8,000,000; the roof cornice is 3,800 feet in length; the gas-pipe laid is two miles long ; the interior walls and ceilings have a surface of twelve acres, and the floors a surface of four acres. The windows number 800. The front building, 270 feet in length, is surmounted by seven towers, the central one being 115 feet high, the two at its side 105 feet, and the four at the corners 97 feet. The center tower has been finished to the top, and, ascending by a spiral staircase, visitors have a magnificent view of the city. This front building is divided by a hall ten feet wide, running its entire length upon every story, each story above the basement being 15 feet high. The use of this building is for offices, library, museum, hospitals, parlors, sewing and store-rooms, and chambers occupied by the teachers, officers, and em- ployes, and a part of the pupils. Attached to the front building are three wings, running north, all invisible in the picture. The central wing, 90 by 40 feet, is occupied by the kitchen and adjacent store-rooms, the dining-room, and . a chapel 23 feet in height. The two exterior wings ex- tend north 115 feet, affording a hall the entire length, and adjacent rooms for baggage, clothing, washing, bathing, and water-closets. Attached to these exterior wings, and extending at right angles to them, 110 feet east and west, are two wings, 40 feet wide, called the boys and girls' wings. These are the parts of the building visible at the sides of the picture. The first story is used as a play-room. The second is the sitting or study-room, and is used out of school and work hours. The two upper stories are dor- mitories. The very fine opportunity for light and air is obvious to the eye. These side wings return by corridors to the central wing, which c ntinues by the bakery and store-rooms in the basement, and by corridors in every story, to the school building in the rear. This building, 115 by 55 feet, is invisible in the cut. It is three stories high, and contains twenty school- rooms. Still further to the rear is a building 62 feet square, from the cor- ner of which rises the ventilating shaft, 115 feet high, and visible in the cut directly above the girls' wing. This building contains the boilers, en- gines, and pumps, used for heating the main building, and for supplying every part with water. This is taken from a flowing well, with a capacity of 150 barrels an hour. The second story is occupied by the machinery and appliances of the laundry. At the extreme right of the picture ap- pears the barn of the premises. Between it and the boys' wing appears the east end of the shop building, which is 130 by 35 feet. Its upper story is divided between the printing-office and shoe-shop. The lower story, with the basement, is used by the State bindery. A weekly journal-the " Mute's Chronicle"-is published in the printing-office, and in the bindery is done all the book-binding required by the State.
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