USA > Pennsylvania > Blair County > Altoona > Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens > Part 30
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Salaries and wages $11,002.35
Provisions
11,331.19
Dry goods and furniture
2,130.58
Clothing and shoes ..
1,770.43
Medicine and equipments
474.23
Fuel, light, water and telephone.
4,434.67
Examination of insane.
153.00
Repairs
894.09
Constable and justice fees.
85.53
Printing and stationery.
282.49
State hospital and maintenance.
784.32
Improvements
8,318.43
Transportation and traveling expenses.
1,684.29
Outdoor funerals
1,194.50
Outdoor physicians and relief.
9,424.79
Total $56,579.21
Receipts from all sources. 16,857.31
Net cost to taxpayers .. $38,721.90
CHILDREN'S INDUSTRIAL TRAINING HOME.
From the time of the introduction of the policy of dispensing the public charity through the almshouse, people of all ages were kept in the same institution. In 1891 an act was passed by the legislature requiring that when any children under the age of sixteen years shall be found to be dependent or neglected, the proper authorities are required to have such children committed to some suitable institution, or to the care of some respectable citizen of good moral character, or to the care of some training school. The act further provides that it shall be lawful for the parents or anyone having the right to dispose of a dependent child to enter into an agreement with an in- corporated institution for the purpose of caring for or placing in homes such children. The rights of parents or guardians are to be sur- rendered to such institutions to put them into some friendly home where they may be adopted and reared as children of the home into which they are taken.
Farm expenses
2,693.32
212
HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY
In accordance with these humane provisions of the law for the proper care and training of dependent children the "Children's Aid So- ciety of Western Pennsylvania" was estab- lished in 1895. The first officers were Mrs. Dr. Bruner, Mrs. George Harper and Mrs. Letta Wilson. They were authorized to se- cure homes for the friendless and for each one so placed they drew an order from the court for $1.25 per week. While this arrangement did a good work, it did not give the satisfac- tion desired, and at a conference participated in by Judge Martin Bell, the county commis- sioners and the directors of the poor, a new project was introduced, looking towards the establishing of a permanent institution. The Franklin high school building, now the Col- legiate Institute of Martinsburg, was leased in 1897 as a children's home. It was given in charge of Mrs. Shaffer. After a year or two she was succeeded by Miss Grace Varner. The new movement was so successful and satis- factory and such a decided improvement over the former method that the couny officials felt justified in making it more permanent. They, therefore, in 1901 purchased a three acre plot of ground on a beautiful elevation on the bank of the Juniata river, adjacent to Williamsburg. They proceeded at once to erect a suitable building. F. J. Shollar of Altoona was au- thorized as an architect to design a suitable structure for the purpose. The contract for the erection of the same was awarded to W. H. Laughlin & Son, of Altoona. The contract work amounted to $12,629. It was completed in 1902, and in the same year all the children who were the wards of the county were taken there, and Sarah Murray was appointed the superintendent of the institution. She con- tinued in charge for several years and was succeeded by Miss Linda Burger, who re- mained in charge until April 1, 1910.
The building is two and a half stories above the basement. It is brick cased and has a spacious porch in front and one end. The basement is used for storage, laundry and heat- ing purposes. Wide and convenient halls and stairways communicate with all the rooms.
There is a large and conveniently arranged kitchen with a larder on one side and a dining room on the other. Besides the rooms for daily occupation there is a parlor, public and private office, school and bath rooms. From the heater in the basement the temperature is kept at a uniform degree throughout the build- ing. By this arrangement no more covering is needed for beds in winter than in summer. The walls are papered and tastefully hung with portraits and pictures of scenery. Potted greenery adorn the windows, the floors are covered with oilcloth, thus giving the place a pleasant, homelike appearance. The building is electrically lighted.
The children of school age receive the same instruction from a competent teacher that is given in the public schools. A room is fur- nished with desks and all the necessary para- phernalia for school purposes provided and the usual time of school hours is devoted to in- struction for eight months of the year. The girls are also taught sewing, cooking and gen- eral house work. There is no industrial train- ing for the boys except work in the garden in its season.
The institution is called the Children's In- dustrial Training Home. For admission, ap- plication is made to the directors of the poor under a sworn statement that the right to the child is relinquished by the parents and the county commissioners are empowered by virtue of an order from the court to have such child adopted into some good and respectable per- manent home in the state. The age limit is between two and sixteen years. At the begin- ning of 1909 there were in the home sixteen boys and ten girls. During the year there was admitted twenty-eight boys and twenty girls, making a total of seventy-four for the year. Out of this number fifty were placed out in homes.
BLAIR COUNTY HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.
Annual Report.
To the Directors of the Poor of Blair county :
The following is a report of the Blair county hospital for the insane for the year 1907 :
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
213
Men Women Total
No. in Hospital Jan. Ist, 1907.
57
57
I14
Admissions during the year.
46
41
87
Stage curtain
I
Table cloths
13
Towels
136
Tea towels
149
Curtains
46
Mattresses
3
Dresser scarfs
8
'Kerchiefs
12
Collars
Embroidery.
Shirt waists
3
Dress skirt
I
Belts
4
ARTICLES REPAIRED IN SEWING-ROOM AND WARDS.
Dresses 734
Skirts
448
Underwear 986
Men's clothing 1,333
35
On the farm and at stables.
816
. . .
816
Garden
I20
....
120
Milking
900
....
900
Hauling coal, ice, etc. .
125
....
125
Grading lawn and road.
1,673
1,850
3,619
In kitchen and dining-room
365
2,920
3,285
Sewing-room
60
2,306
2,366
Painting
100
100
Shoe-shop
30
....
30
Carpenter-shop
60
....
Tailor-shop
35
....
35
Mattress-shop
10
. .
IO
Quilting
40
40
Specially employed
365
365
For neighboring farmers.
75
. .
74
On state road ..
18
....
18
Cleaning reservoir
15
....
15
ARTICLES MADE IN SEWING-ROOM AND WARDS DURING THE YEAR.
Aprons
147
Chemises
125 16
Coffee-sacks
Corset covers
3
Center pieces
4
Dresses
81
Drawers
5
Mittens
12
Eating bibs
6
Iron holders
20
Laundry bags
2
Ladies' ties
14
Ladies' cuffs
30
Night-gowns
48
Quilts
.3
Pillow cases
16
Sheets
162
Carpet-rags, lbs.
100
Dresser scarfs
15
Bandages
1,015
Skirts
75
Strait jackets
5
Shirt waists
5
Discharges during the year.
28
24
52
No. in Hospital Jan. Ist, 1908.
75
74
149
RESULTS OF THE YEAR.
Discharges
Men
Women Total
Recovered
6
6
12
Improved
9
4
13
Unimproved
I
I
2
Died
II
14
25
On parole
IO
II
21
CONDITION OF THOSE IN HOSPITAL JANUARY 1, 1908.
Men Women Total
No. in Seclusion
0
I
I
No. in Restraint
0
3
3
No. taking Medicine
25
28
53
No. Employed
45
45
90
NUMBER OF DAYS WORK DONE DURING THE YEAR.
Men Women Total
Days
Days
Days
Aprons
Stockings . 1,583
Since the opening of the hospital for the in- sane, it has been our aim to make the institu- tion, a hospital for the cure or improvement of the patients rather than using it for a big jail in which to detain them. To secure the best results, we must get the patient at the onset of the attack and to this end we ask the earnest co-operation of physicians and relatives, and implore them not to bring patients here as "a last resource," when perhaps the patients have reached the chronic stage and the opportunity to benefit them has passed.
Another obstacle in the way of a permanent recovery is encountered as the patients are convalescing. At this stage, while yet here under the rules and discipline of the hospital and free from all responsibility, the patient feels, and it seems to his eager relatives, that he is perfectly well; but the grave danger in taking the unstable mind away from the con- trolling influence of the hospital and throwing it on its own resources, is the liability of a re- lapse, which too often means a decline into an incurable state.
We are bending every effort to find employ- ment for our patients, firmly believing that it plays a large share in the cure of insanity by deviating the mind from delusions, releasing the pent up excitement, stirring up dull and sluggish circulations and building up healthy
....
1,673
Ward work
1,769
730
730
Laundry
. .
60
214
HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY
bodies, the lack of which is often the cause of the mental condition.
The farm, garden, roads, wards, kitchen, dining-room, mattress shop, laundry, etc., fur- nish excellent employment for our patients. Summer with its busy times, gives us little trouble in this line; but in the winter, especially with the men, it is impossible to find work for all and we must fall back to amusements and reading.
The mattress factory, shoe-shop and quilting room have only recently been installed, but promise to not only furnish employment, but will be of considerable economic value.
The board of directors has generously agreed to furnish needed trees and shrubbery as the grounds are extended. Several large shade trees have already been transplanted on the lawn. It will take many months to com- plete the work on the grounds, but it will be a source of employment for our patients and will be free from expense to the county.
Since the occupancy of the hospital, the problem of getting a sufficient water supply to it has been under discussion, but we are glad to report that at last a contract has been let to lay a four inch main to the mountain source.
Considerable improvement in appearance and sanitation has been and is being made by interior painting. This work is also done with- out cost, by two of our patients who are painters by occupation.
We have cause to be thankful for and proud of our chapel, which has been furnished with stage scenery and a piano at a total cost of but $232. Here some eighty patients attend religious services each Sabbath and enjoy the monthly entertainments during the winter.
Plate glass panels and grill doors have been placed at the side entrances which adds to the lighting and ventilating of the halls. Practical guards have been secured for all the windows on the mens' wards, making it impossible for the most violent to escape. The old ones cov- ered only half a window. They will be used to cover the unprotected half of the windows on the womens' wards. .
Rooms have been furnished for the accom- modation of private patients. These rooms afford this class of patients all the advantages to be had in the more expensive private insti- tutions. Needless to say, they are nearly al- ways occupied and the revenue therefrom has been a great financial benefit to the institution. When the hospital was opened there were no private patients. The roll now shows ten pri- vate and twenty-five semi-private cases. This means an increase of over $3,000 annually to our funds.
All of the work done in the laundry and dining-room is done by the patients. The greater part of that done in the kitchen, on the farm, lawns and garden is also done by them. The saving of expense to the county can be readily seen and it is due largely to this method that the hospital has been placed on a paying financial basis, instead of being a great expensive drain on the tax-payers of the county.
Though Blair county and other counties have gone to the expense of building institu- tions for their unfortunate insane, thereby re- lieving the state of part of its burden and the state institutions from their greatly over- crowded condition; yet the state not only fails to appropriate sums to these county institutions as it does to state hospitals, but it also fails to give them an equal amount of maintenance per capita. It is to be hoped, however, that at the meeting of the next legislature, this in- justice will be righted.
CONTRIBUTIONS.
We take this opportunity to thank all friends of the institution for so generously supplying us with books, magazines, county papers and other gifts all of which do their part in direct- ing the thoughts of these people into right channels.
We also wish to thank the board of directors and the employees for their hearty co-operation in this year's work.
THOMAS F. NEIL, M. D., Superintendent.
215
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
REPORT OF
THE STEWARD OF THE BLAIR COUNTY ALMSHOUSE FOR THE YEAR END- ING MARCH 31, 1908.
To the Directors of the Poor, Blair County, Pennsylvania :
In submitting our first annual report, we beg to state that many improvements have been made, most of which were absolutely necssary: The dairy room, and the room in which the slaughtering is done, required re- pair. The spouting on buildings had to be replaced. Steps leading to the various out- buildings were also renewed. Old and worn-out walks relaid. The fence enclos- ing yard where insane were formerly exer- cised has been removed. Other "eye-sores" such as dilapidated buildings, dog kennels, etc., have been cleared away. The laundry machinery has been given a general over- hauling, which has greatly increased its ca- pacity. The heating plant, which we found to be working badly, has been improved, and we are glad to state that two of the three boilers furnished ample heat for the in- sane hospital, almshouse and contagious disease hospital. Here steam is generated, for all purposes, cooking, heating and power. By making the necessary connec- tions, we now drive the threshing machine, fodder-cutter, chop mill and cream separa- tor with power derived from the heating plant. The visitor as he enters the heating plant, located between the twin institutions. could scarcely realize the vast and varied work the power here generated performs.
We have the past year fitted up a com- plete shop for new and general repair work. This has been done without any expense to the taxpayers. The equipment consists of blacksmith shop, turn lathe, drill press, wood planer, jointer, rip saws, etc. This machinery is driven by an eight-horsepower engine, which derives power from the heat- ing plant. This is one of the most com- plete shops in the county.
During the past year the interior and porches have been painted. The walls
nicely stenciled and floors treated to a coat of paint, which not only adds to the appearance but makes them much easier to clean. The main office has been painted and papered, which makes it one of the most cosy rooms in the institution. Swing doors have been placed in hallways leading to water closets, which makes same more private. Wardrobes, something much needed, have been built in women's dormi- tories.
The store room, formerly located in the basement, has been removed to room di- rectly beneath the office, where it is not only more convenient, but secure as well.
The lawn has received careful attention. New terraces have been built and sodded. The front terrace has been nicely lettered in small flowers, spelling "Blair County Home." The space surrounding the foun- tains, formerly neglected, has been sym- metrically laid out in flower beds, walks and driveways. This work has been directly under the supervision of the matron, and is regarded as an artistic piece of land- scape gardening.
We found in taking charge of the institu- tion the need of storage room for wagons and farm implements. To supply this need we now have in process of erection a large wagon shed, and corncrib combined, which when completed, will add creditably to the institution.
The farm has been carefully cultivated the past season, although we were in many ways handicapped in the start we are pleased to say the yields, barring the un- favorable season, have been very satisfac- tory.
In our estimation it is highly important that every effort be put forth to so increase the fertility of the soil as to make this one of the most productive farms in the county. During the past season we have handled this farm with only two paid employes. Whilst it required patience to get much work out of the average inmate, we have no cause of complaint, inasmuch as our meth-
216
IIISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY
ods of exacting labor from this class of peo- ple usually proves effective.
.
We have found that to handle an institu- tion of this kind economically, requires skill, judgment and executive ability. The class of people who find their way into a county home are, as a rule, men and women who have failed to make life a success. The ma- jority of them do not appreciate the care they receive at the hands of the frugal and industrious. The least cause is made the subject for complaint ; but we have them and must provide a home, the question of comfort and economy in providing for their welfare arises. A farm has been provided wherein healthy employment may be fur- nished inmates; but unfortunately, none are farmers, and just here we would add, farm- ers should be congratulated that none of their number are to be found in our county home, which speaks well for the tiller of the soil. The absence of men experienced in farm work handicaps the successful man- agement of the farm. However, we have bridged this drawback by educating men in the handling of team and plow.
Our aim is to furnish employment to all; but unfortunately during the summer sea- son, a time wherein work can be found for all, we find ourselves hampered by a scar- city of help. In the spring many of them leave the home; to become wandering "Willies" and a nuisance to the public, by tramping about the country, begging, steal- ing, and perhaps working a little, and thus exist during the summer season. When the chill November winds begin to blow, we find them gathering into our alms- houses, at a time of year when we have no work for them to do. Here we must clothe, feed and warm them at the expense of the taxpayers. Some method should be de- vised to retain this hobo element in the home during the summer season and com- pel them to work, that they may become at least partially self-supporting. In supply- ing the needy with alms, much care should be exercised in order to guard against pau-
perizing and degrading the recipients more and more with each cent's worth that is given to them, thus rearing an unhealthy class of citizenship, unhealthy in both mind and body, and ever increasing the vast army of tramps that infest our country. The almshouse is intended to relieve the dis- tress, found to exist among our people; but also we too often find that instead of good, evil is wrought by extending help to people who, when misfortune overtakes, then they at once throw up their hands and cry for aid. Our aim in the position we occupy is to encourage the weak, lift up the fallen, and above all, to banish the saloon, the fac- tor that is filling our almshouse, insane hospital, jails and penitentiaries with a mass of helpless humanity.
CLOTHING MANUFACTURED-HOME. -
Aprons
93
Children's Dresses
15
Infants' Dresses 12
Women's Dresses 6
Infants' Clothes 96
Pillow Cases 124
Skirts 128
Towels 127
Sheets
III
Infants' Clothes
36
FARM AND GARDEN PRODUCTS.
Potatoes, Bushels 1,000
Corn, Bushels 1,900
Oats, Bushels 1,275
Wheat 597
Rye, Bushels
I33
Sauerkraut, Barrels
13
Beets, Bushels
35
Turnips, Bushels
250
Onions, Bushels 15
Applebutter, Quarts IIO
Hay, Tons 50
Men Women Child'n Total
Population. of Almshouse for
the fiscal year ending March 31, 1908 104
32
4 140
Admitted during the year . 62
33
16
III
Discharged during the year .. 58
13
15
86
Died during the year. 14
7
2
23
Males Females Total
Children Born during the year. 2
8 IO
Inmates cared for during year
307
Tramps fed and lodged.
.
298
Children placed in Industrial Home, Williamsburg 8
Reviewing the past year's work enables 11s to see where some mistakes have been
217
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
made, however, taking into consideration the fact that we previously had no exper- ience in institution work, we are gratified to know our efforts have met the approval of the board of directors, and I trust-also that of the public.
R. W. ROBISON, Steward.
Following is the report of Dr. J. M. Som- mer, Jr., superintendent of Blair county hospital for the insane, submitted at recent meeting of the board of directors of the poor :
STATEMENT FOR YEAR 1909.
Warrants drawn in 1909 and
bills remaining unpaid
Jan. 1, 1910. . $25,115.64
Supplies on hand Jan. I, 'og .. 135.70
Provisions received from
Almshouse 4,555-57
$29,806.91
Less-
Amount warrants drawn 'og chargeable to '08. 921.97
Supplies on hand Jan. I, '10 1,604.48
Gross cost for the year '09
$27,280.46
CASH STATEMENT.
Received from state ... $9,766.01
Proportion chargeable
'07-'08 for money with- held by Auditor General,
quarter ending Aug. 31, 'og, earned in 'og, there- fore credited
638.44 6,391.81
Cash due from state.
Cash received from private patients
6,816.84
Cash due for private pa- tients
698.75
Profit from truck-patch, mattress room and chick- ery
826.22
$25,133.07
Less cash received from
state credited to Dec. '08 ..
923.85
Cash received for private
patients credited to '08
and previous
598.06
Cash received for private
patients credited to 'IO. .
64.00
$1,585.91
$23,552.16
Net cost to county for '09 $3,728.30
Number of patients in hospital Jan. 1, 1908. .129 Jan. 1, 1909 . 142
Jan. 1, 1910 .207
1908
1909
Number of admissinos.
85
I4I
Average number patients each year 146 186
Gross cost of each year .. $21,425-33 $27,280.46
Cash or credit for each year 15,143.73 23,552.16
Cost to county for each year. 6,281.60 3,728.30
Average number patients treated each year 146 186
2.82 3-100 Gross average cost of maintenance 2.82 2-10 Net average cost of maintenance to county .95 9-10 .38 53-100
[These figures are the absolute cost for 1909, includ- ing permanent improvements, such as new roadway, street electric light line, trees, nightwatch time clock, etc., totalling about $1,800.]
In comparing the figures of the state- ments for 1908 and 1909, it must be remem- bered that the - population has increased. On January 1, 1909, there were 142 patients in the hospital; on December 31, 1909, there were 207, an increase of sixty-five in one year. This meant the purchase of sixty beds, bedding, furniture, etc. It meant an increase in the number of attendants, be- sides the increase in maintenance; there- fore the gross expenditure for 1909 must be greater than in 1908. The per capita cost of maintenance in 1908 was $2.82 2-10 per week; that of 1909 was $2.82 3-100. The actual cost from January 1, 1909, to January 1, 1910, was $27,280.46. The cash receipts for the year, together with credits carried over into 1910, but earned in 1909, was $23,552.16, leaving a net cost to the county of $3,728.30, or รก per capita cost to the county of .38 53-100 cents per week. If the indigent patients of this county, 175 in number, December 31, 1909, were con- fined in state hospitals, the cash outlay per patient would be $1.75 per week, or a total of $15,925 per year.
At the last session of the legislature a bill was passed increasing the maintenance al- lowance from the state to county hospi- tals from $1.50 to $2 per week for each patient treated in such hospitals. This bill became operative July 1, 1909. With the number of indigent patients we maintain, this will make a net increase of about $5,000 per annum in the income of the hospital. The private patient account was also in-
$2,526.45
218
HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY
creased by nearly $3,000 over that of last year.
On January I, last, when I assumed charge of your hospital for the insane, there were 142 patients in the hospital. During the year 14I were admitted, thirty-two dis- charged, cured or convalescent, twenty-four died and forty-nine were paroled in care of their friends (nearly all those discharged were first paroled). Of those remaining in the institution, five are bedfast; the balance are for the most part in good physical health. The number in the hospital Janu- ary I, 1910, was 207, or an increase of sixty- five in one year.
It was early recognized that an adequate store room and a system to check all goods coming into and going out of same must be devised. An unused portion of the base- ment about 12x65 feet was partitioned and shelved. Larger quantities of goods can now be bought at a time at a lower cost and issued as required. An order and voucher system has been inaugurated.
The grounds surrounding the buildings were practically bare. Much grading had to be done, the previous fall allowed not be- ing sufficient to carry water from the build- ings.
All able bodied patients were required to work on the grade on all seasonable days, beginning about March I, the number em- ployed being from forty to sixty men daily. About 9,000 cubic yards of earth were moved and about 1,000 square yards of sod planted. Excavation and grading for about 2,000 feet of roadway fifteen feet wide, lead- ing from the home entrance to and around the hospital buildings, was made. Suffi- cient limestone was quarried on the farm to make a stone bed for the road from eleven to eighteen inches, depending on the na- ture of the ground. Twelve hundred tons were crushed for top dressing, the whole rolled with a steam roller. About 250 trees were planted, a large number being orna- mental evergreens. Some evergreens were transplanted from the forests, among them
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