USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Connellsville > Centennial history of the borough of Connellsville, Pennsylvania, 1806-1906 > Part 31
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Henry P. Snyder,
Connellsville, Pa.
Linford F. Ruth, Connellsville, Pa.
W. H. Hugus, Connellsville, Pa.
Rockwell Marietta, Connellsville, Pa.
Edmund Dunn, Connellsville, Pa.
Sixth: The number of trustees of the said corporation is fixed at twelve, six of whom are called permanent trustees, and are, J. C. McClenathan, Henry P. Snyder, Linford F. Ruth, Rockwell Marietta, Edmund Dunn and W. H. Hugus, all of the Borough of Connellsville aforesaid, and who shall hold their position during life, or during their residence in the Borough of Connellsville, and in the event of a vacancy by reason of the death or resignation or otherwise, of any one or more of the six permanent trustees, the remaining permanent trustees shall choose a successor or successors to fill such vacan- cies, and the remaining six trustees shall be chosen, three by the school board and three by the Town Council, from their respective memberships, who shall hold office during their respective term as such officers, and in the event of the failure of the said school board or Town Council to elect the trustee or trustees to which they shall from time to time be entitled, the board of trustees can fill such vacancy or vacancies. The
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PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS
trustees elected by the said school board are now W. S. Schenck, and E. C. Higbee with one vacancy existing to be filled, and the trustees representing the Town Council are Clair Stillwagon, with two vacancies to be filled.
Seventh: The said corporation has no capital stock and no shares of stock.
J. C. McCLENATHAN, (Seal)
EDMUND DUNN, (Seal)
R. MARIETTA, (Seal)
L. F. RUTH, (Seal)
W. H. HUGUS,
(Seal)
HENRY P. SNYDER, (Seal)
State of Pennsylvania, County of Fayette, ss :
Before me, the subscriber, a Notary Public, in and for the aforesaid county of Fayette, personally appeared J. C. McClen- athan, L. F. Ruth, and Rockwell Marietta, three of the sub- scribers to the above and foregoing certificate of incorporation of the Carnegie Free Library, who in due form of law acknowl- edged the same to be their act and deed.
Witness my hand and official seal this 4th day of January. 1904.
Byron Porter, N. P.
In Re-Incorporation No. 361 March Term, 1904.
of In the Court of Common Pleas
Carnegie Free Library of Fayette County.
DECREE.
And now, June 21, 1904, certificate of incorporation having been presented to me, a law judge of Fayette county, accom- panied by proof of publication of the notice of such applica- tion, as required by the Act of Assembly in such cases made and provided, and having perused and examined the said in- strument and having found the same to be in proper form and within the purposes named, in the first clause in the second section of the Act of the General Assembly of the Common- wealth of Pennsylvania, entitled "An Act to provide for the incorporation and regulation of certain corporations" approved April 29th, 1874, and the supplements thereto, and the same appearing lawful and not injurious to the community, it is or- dered and decreed that the said certificate of incorporation be and the same is hereby approved, and that, upon the recording of said certificate and this decree, the subscribers to the said certificate and their associates shall be a corporation for the purposes and upon the terms stated in said certificate.
Attest :
ROBERT E. UMBEL,
PETER E. SHEPPARD.
Law Judge.
Proty.
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE
On May 24th, 1904, the resignation of William H. Hugus was received by the Board and accepted. Mr. Clair Stillwagon was elected to fill the vacancy as a member of the Board of Trustees.
On July 1st, 1904, the Trustees met and proceeded to organize under the charter and elected the following officers: Dr. J. C. McClenathan, President; Rockwell Marietta, Vice-President; H. P. Snyder, Secretary ; L. F. Ruth, Treasurer. The President, Secretary and Treasurer were appointed a committee to prepare by-laws.
At a special meeting on September 22, 1904, called for the purpose, the by-laws were read, discussed and adopted. BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE CARNEGIE FREE LIBRARY.
Dr. J. C. McClenathan, President,
Rockwell Marietta, Vice-President.
H. P. Snyder, Secretary,
L. F. Ruth, Treasurer,
Dr. H. F. Atkinson,
Edmund Dunn,
Robert Felty,
Nicholas Hoye,
Rockwell Marietta,
Dr. J. C. McClenathan,
L. F. Ruth,
W. S. Schenck,
H. P. Snyder,
Clair Stillwagon,
Robert Welsh.
THE COTTAGE STATE HOSPITAL.
A fact of supreme import to all is, that we are subject to disease and injury. To those of the medical profession, whose work is with the sick and suffering, the great boon of this wonderful decade, with which no other can be com- pared, is "That the leaves of the tree of science have been for the healing of the nations." This is the Promethean
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PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS
gift of the past century to man, says Prof. Osler. Many men, as well as the surgeons of the town, can well remember the harrowing sights that frequently met their gaze at the railroad depots when the mangled mine and railroad em- ployes were unloaded, with no place to care for them, but Pittsburgh hospitals, over fifty miles away. Often the long ride and loss of time was more than poor nature could endure.
These sights were so often repeated that the attention of our lawmakers was attracted to this region and after repeated efforts made to the State Legislature, a suitable law was passed.
The first act, donating $12,500 to the town, if a like amount be furnished by the citizens, after a stormy life of a few months, which added no lustre to the names immediately connected with it, passed from the statute books.
But those whose business it is to save human life and to alleviate suffering, not daunted by their first failure, took new courage and soon had another act passed by the Leg- islature, incorporating our Cottage State Hospital.
It is one of four hospitals erected by an Act of the General Assembly of the session of 1887 and approved by Governor Beaver, June 14, 1881, entitled
"An Act to provide for the selection of sites and the erec- ture of State Hospitals thereon for injured persons to be located within the bituminous coal regions of the Commonwealth, to be called the State Hospital for injured persons in the bitumi- nous and semi-bituminous coal regions of Pennsylvania, and for the management of the same and making appropriations therefor.
Section 1. Be it enacted, etc., That the Governor of this Com- monwealth shall, as soon as practicable after the passage of this Act, appoint six Commissioners, one of the said Commis- sioners to be appointed from each of the six existing inspection districts of the bituminous and semi-bituminous coal regions of the State, whose duty it shall be to select sites and erect hos- pitals thereon for injured persons to be located at some points within the bituminous and semi -- bituminous coal regions of the
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE
State, comprising the counties of Allegheny, Bedford, Fayette, Greene, Somerset, Washington, Armstrong, Beaver, Indiana, Westmoreland, Cameron, Clarion, Crawford, Clearfield, Elk, Erie, Forrest, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Venango, Warren, Blair, Bradford, Cambria, Centre, Sullivan, Clinton, Huntingdon, Potter, Lycoming and Tioga, who shall serve without compensation, other than their necessary traveling ex- penses incurred while in discharge of the duties herein described and set forth.
Sec. 2. Said Commissioners shall within four months after the date of their appointment, select tracts of land of suitable area and character for the purpose named in section first, within the said described region.
Sec. 3. Said tracts of land, so selected, shall be approved by the Governor in writing and the deed for the same shall be taken in the name of the Commonwealth, in fee for any land donated for the purpose aforesaid.
Sec. 4. The said Commissioners shall adopt such plans for said hospitals, as shall involve expenditures, exclusive of the land, of not over sixty thousand, or twenty thousand dol- lars each, when completed: provided, that the plans of the buildings shall be approved by the Board of Public Charities: Provided further, that the land, before provided for, shall be donated.
Sec. 5. The said Commissioners shall have power to fix the salary of the superintendents of construction, and such other persons, as they may think necessary to employ in order to secure the proper and economical constructions of the build- ings: Provided that the total expenses of said buildings shall not exceed sixty thousand dollars.
Sec. 6. To enable the Commissioners to make necessary preparations for the erection and completion of the buildings herein provided for, the sum of thirty thousand dollars is hereby appropriated, annually, for the years A. D. 1887 and A. D. 1888, to be drawn from the State treasury, as may be required in the erection of the buildings, herein before described, on warrants signed by the chairman of the Commission and countersigned by the president or general of the Board of Public Charities.
Sec. 7. Said Commissioners shall proceed to erect said buildings and complete the same, at as early a period as possible compatible with the economical, substantial and skillful execu- tion of the work, and shall make report to the Board of Public Charities of the amount of money expended by them and of the progress made in the erection of the buildings, semi-annually at least, and oftener, if so required by said board.
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PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS
Sec. 8. The said Commissioners, on the completion of said hospitals, shall surrender their trusts to the Board of Managers, to consist of nine members for each hospital, to be appointed by the Governor from the counties named in the first section of this Act. Said managers or trustees shall be a body politic or corporate by the name and style of the trustees of the Cot- tage State Hospitals for injured persons of the bituminous and semi-bituminous coal regions of Pennsylvania, for which they are appointed. They shall serve without compensation, other than necessary traveling expenses incurred in the discharge of the duties pertaining to the above-named institutions, and such expenses shall be paid out of monies in the State treasury, not otherwise appropriated, and shall manage and direct the con- cerns of said institutions, and make all necessary by-laws and regulations not inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of the Commonwealth.
Sec. 9. That these hospitals shall be especially devoted to the reception, care and treatment of injured persons, and that, in the order of admission, this class shall have precedence over paying patients.
Sec. 10. It shall be lawful for the trustees of said hospital to receive contributions or donations from any person, firm or corporation offering to contribute or donate any money or other valuable consideration, whether by will, deed, gift or other- wise, to aid in the support, maintenance and for improving the property of said hospital: Provided, that the proceeds of all contributions or donations received by the said trustees, under the provisions of this section, shall be especially appropriated for the purposes herein stated: Provided further, that an item- ized statement of the same, showing the whole amount of money received by the said trustees, under the provisions of this section, and the name or names of any persons, firm or corpora- tion contributing or donating the same, together with an item- ized statement of the expenditures of said money, shall be made quarterly, under oath, to the Auditor General, the same as statements for State appropriations are now required by law.
Sec. 11. That the Governor, judges of the several courts of record of this Commonwealth, inspectors of mines for the region and members of Legislature, shall be ex-officio visitors of the institution.
Approved: The 14th day of June, A. D. 1887."
As directed by the above Act, the Governor appointed Henry Warner of Allegheny County, J. M. Reid of Fayette County, John J. Spearman of Mercer County, David Cam-
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE
eron of Tioga County, the Commissioners to select sites and erect thereon the hospitals. Henry Warner refused to serve and in his place S. H. French of Allegheny County was appointed. By this commission, Connellsville was selected as one of the locations for a hospital, the other hospitals were located at Mercer, Philipsburg and Bloss- burg. A committee of five was elected to select a site for said hospital in Connellsville, namely, Col. J. M. Reid, Capt. E. Dunn, Dr. J. C. McClenathan, Col. B. F. Boyts and J. D. Frisbee. This committee, after examining a number of sites, selected the present beautiful location. It is situated upon a two-acre tract, upon high ground, out of the din and noise of the business part of the city. From its broad porches a good view can be had of a large part of the town and surrounding country. This site was pur- chased by Colonel J. M. Reid and donated by him to the State. The plans and specifications for the building were prepared by James H. Windrim of Philadelphia and ap- proved by the State Board of Charities. Bids were received for the erection of this building and the contract let to the firm of James Calhoun & Co., for the sum of $13,400, on July 20, 1889. Its erection was commenced on Sep- tember 9, 1889, and the building was completed and taken off the hands of the contractors on May 31, 1890. On October 9, 1890, the Governor, James A. Beaver, appointed the following persons trustees for the hospital :
Col. J. M. Reid, James Cochran,
Chas. Davidson, James Magee,
T. H. White, Peter Wise,
Geo. W. Neff, Capt. J. S. Schoonmaker,
D. S. Atkinson.
On October 17th, the Trustees met in Connellsville and organized by electing J. M. Reid, President ; T. H. White, Secretary ; and Charles Davidson, Treasurer. This Board of Trustees has been changed at various times by resigna- tions and deaths. Among those who have served on this
COTTAGE STATE HOSPITAL
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE
Board are Dr. J. J. Singer of Connellsville, James Carrigan of Scotdale, H. C. Huston of Connellsville.
The Board is at present composed of the following persons : Col. J. M. Reid, President ; Dr. T. H. White, Secretary ; Charles Davidson, Treasurer ; H. S. Spear, Dr. J. B. Ewing, Dr. G. W. Neff, D. S. Atkinson, Dr. H. F. Atkinson, H. P. Snyder.
At a meeting of the Trustees, held January 6, 1891, a general plan of managing the Hospital was adopted and by-laws for its regulation read and approved. The by-laws, after stating the time of the meeting as the second Monday in each month at 11 o'clock A. M. and recounting the duties of the officers of the Board, state that five members shall constitute a quorum for business except for the election of officers and surgeons and for the discharge of an officer or surgeon, for which purpose "the consent of a majority of all the members of the Board shall be necessary." It provides for an executive committee of five persons, who "shall have the management of the affairs of the Hospital, shall require from the Superintendent as often as they see fit full information of the condition of the house and its inmates, shall have power to make regulations for the internal management of the institution and, under the Board of Trustees, shall prescribe the duties of the Superintend- ent." They shall appoint two of the members a Visiting Committee, the admission of patients shall be under the control of the Visiting Committee, but no person, except in cases of emergency, shall be committed without an exam- ination by one of the surgeons of the staff. The Executive Committee shall nominate to the Board suitable persons to fill vacancies that may occur on the Surgical Staff. They shall superintend repairs and improvements ordered by the Board. "The Hospital Staff shall consist of a sufficient number of 'Regular Surgeons' to serve in pairs for three months, and a number of consulting surgeons from the District." The entire control of patients, as to their regimen and treatment, shall be under the Hospital Staff. "Vacan-
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PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS
cies in the Hospital Staff may be filled at any regular meet- ing of the Board, by the election of persons nominated by the Executive Committee of the Board." The Hospital Staff may adopt rules and regulations in harmony with the By-Laws and the Act of Assembly governing the Board of Trustees for their own government. "The Superintend- ent shall be a female trained nurse, who shall, in addition to her duties as nurse shall act as Housekeeper and be directly responsible to the Board for the expense account of the Hospital." In addition to the Superintendent, two female trained nurses are employed, two pupil nurses and two male orderlies and the usual household help.
The formal opening exercises of the Hospital were held in the Opera House, January 27th, 1891, followed by a reception in the evening at the Hospital. The Hospital was opened for the reception of patients February 1st, 1891. The Board of Trustees selected the following surgeons to take charge of the Hospital for the first year: Drs. Ellis Philips, J. D. Jackson, J. C. McClenathan, R. Torrence, T. H. White, M. B. Shupe, Geo. M. Gallagher, L. P. McCor- mick. From this number Philips, Jackson and Torrence have resigned and their places have been filled by Drs. H. F. Atkinson, J. H. Coll, R. S. McKee. (T. B. Echard and E. B. Edie have been added to the staff as assistants.) The surgeons, when they entered upon their duties, which were often onerous and required much time, did so without compensation. Few and far between have been the thanks that any of the surgeons have received for their work in this institution, until recently when the small amount of $50.00 per month has been given to each surgeon when on duty. From $15,000.00 to $20,000.00 worth of surgical work annually has been done by the surgical staff in this Hospital. When the Hospital was opened Miss A. R. Gad- dis was elected Superintendent. She entered upon her duties February 1st, 1891, but owing to some disagreement with the Board of Trustees, resigned November 15th .1891. The Superintendents who have held the position are as follows:
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE
Miss A. R. Gaddis, from February 1st, 1891, to No- vember 15th, 1891.
Miss A. R. Furgeson, from November 15th, 1891, to June 11th, 1896.
Miss A. M. Hooper, from June 11th, 1896, to Sep- tember 1st, 1897.
Miss E. V. Fast, from September 1st, 189?, to Sep- tember 1st, 1899.
Miss May McClure, from September 1st, 1899, to Sep- tember 1st, 1902.
Miss Florence Haldeman, from September 1st, 1902, to September 21st, 1905.
Miss Mable Craft, from September 21st, 1905, to date.
The number of patients that have been so seriously in- jured that they have been placed in beds in the wards are as follows per year. This does not include those cared for by the Hospital as visiting or out-door patients, that have been able to go to their homes after dressings.
During the year :
Year. Number of Patients.
Year. Number of Patients.
1891
91
1899
300
1892
113
1900
367
1893
134
1901
390
1894
181
1902
428
1895
281
1903
521
1896
205
1904
301
1897
236
1905
448
1898
281
1906
408
From 75 to 207 out-door patients have been treated per year in addition to the above list. There have been admitted to the Hospital for treatment since its opening. 4,819 patients. A very large proportion of the cases are seriously injured, or for some reason are not desirable cases for the home surgeon to treat. Nearly all the deaths occur within a few hours after they are admitted, and result from the shock or the severe nature of their injuries. The number of capital operations performed range from
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23 in the first year to 100 the past years. These operations consist chiefly of amputations, abdominal sections, treph- ining of the skull, etc. The expense per day for the treat- ment has varied with the change in the cost of living from $0.86 to $1.20.
The number of beds in the Hospital is 38; frequently more than this number of patients are in the Hospital, then cots have to be used. The appropriation by the State for maintenance for the first four years was $5,000 per year ; as the number of patients increased, the cost increased until a large deficit existed, then the appropriations were in- creased to $7,500 per year. During the last few years the appropriations have been increased to $10,000 per year.
A large number of patients who have been injured, when on duty, that are employed by the different coal and coke companies, and the railroads, now pay $3.50 per week to the hospital for their treatment ; also some private cases are admitted for operations, by the members of the Staff of Surgeons, who pay $7.00 per week for the nursing and board, so that under the present conditions the Hospital does not need to be worried by a debt or deficit.
STATE ARMORY.
This institution had its origin in an Act of Assembly approved May 11, 1905, as follows :
An Act for the appointment and maintenance of a Board, to be known as the Armory Board of the State of Penn- sylvania, and for the payment of its expenses, and for providing, managing and caring for armories for the use of the National Guard of Pennsylvania, through- out the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and making an appropriation for the same; authorizing the State Armory Board to receive from counties, cities, munici- palities and other sources, donations or contributions for the purpose of this Act.
SECTION 1. Be it enacted, etc., that there shall be ap- pointed within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, an
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE
Armory Board, to consist of the Governor, the Adjutant General, and five persons to be appointed by the Governor, of whom three shall be officers of the National Guard, whose duty it shall be to provide, manage and care for armories for the use of the National Guard of Pennsylvania.
SEC. 2. That the Armory Board, as appointed, is here- by empowered and directed to erect or provide, anywhere within the limits of this Commonwealth, upon such terms and conditions as shall be decided upon by said Armory Board as most advantageous to the Commonwealth, armories for the use of the National Guard of Pennsyl- vania, which armories shall be used for drill, meeting and rendezvous purposes by the organization of the National Guard occupying same, and in which shall be stored and safely kept all property of the United States or of the Commonwealth, issued to such organization for military purposes.
SEC. 3. The members of said Armory Board shall per- form the duties imposed upon them by the provision of this act without any compensation for their services; but their actual necessary expenses, incident to the location and es- tablishment of such armories, shall be borne by the Com- monwealth of Pennsylvania, and payable from the appro- priation made for armory purposes.
SEC. 4. That the said Armory Board shall have full authority to purchase ground in the various localities, throughout the Commonwealth, where it shall be deemed necessary to provide armories ; said ground, in each instance, to be purchased in the name and for the use of the Com- monwealth of Pennsylvania ; and, upon the ground so pur- chased, the Armory Board is authorized and directed to erect, for the use of such company, battery, troop, battalion, or regimental organization, an armory to be used for meet- ing, rendezvous and drill purposes, and in which shall be stored the ordnance stores, quartermaster stores, and other property issued to the organization occupying said armory. When such armory or armories are erected or provided, the
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ARMORY FOR COMPANY "D" IOTH REGIMENT INFANTRY N.G. P. CONNELLSVILLE , PA.
THE W.G. WILKINS CO ARCHITECTS, PGH.
THE STATE ARMORY
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE
said Armory Board shall have charge thereof and arrange for its occupancy and use under the direction and responsi- bility of the senior officer in command of such company, battery, troop, battalion, or regimental organization.
SEC. 5. That the Armory Board, hereby appointed, shall also constitute a board for the general management and care of said armories when established, and shall have the power to adopt and prescribe rules and regulations for their management and government, and formulate such rules for the guidance of the organization occupying them as may be necessary and desirable.
SEC. 6. The term of each appointee shall be for five years from the date of his appointment. In case of vacancy in the Armory Board, by death or otherwise, the Governor shall have power to fill the vacancy.
SEC. 7. That such Armory Board shall have power to receive from counties, cities, municipalities, or other sources, donations of land or contributions of money to aid in providing or erecting armories throughout the Com- monwealth for the use of the National Guard of Pennsyl- vania, and which shall be held as other property for the use of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; and such coun- ties, cities or other municipalities are hereby authorized to make such contributions for the purpose of this act.
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