USA > Wisconsin > Racine County > Racine > Racine, belle city of the lakes, and Racine County, Wisconsin : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. I > Part 34
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Owing to some opposition that developed, the "favorable action" predieted by the editor did not materialize at the next meeting of the Board of Supervisors. But there is no question that the sentiment in favor of the removal of the poor farm to the insane asyhun grounds is growing, and it is only a question of time when the arrangement will be carried out.
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HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
COUNTY INSANE ASYLUM
As early as 1855 the Poor Commissioners reported that there were two insane persons in the poor house and asked the Board of Supervisors to erect a separate building for their accommoda- tion. The board appropriated $600 for a building for insane in- mates of the poor house, but it was several years before any movement was inaugurated for the establishment of an asyhim to be used for the care and treatment of the insane of the county.
In 1882 a proposition to erect such an asylum came before the Board of Supervisors, several of whom were in favor of proceeding at once to erect a building. Nothing was done, how- ever, until about six years later. On November 26, 1888, the board voted to issue bonds to the amount of $40,000, in denomi- nation of $500 each, payable at the rate of $5,000 annually, and bearing interest at the rate of 5 per cent. The proceeds of the sale of such bonds were to be used to ereet an asyhun for the insane. A suitable traet of land near Gatliff. in the Town of Mount Pleasant, was purchased and the work of erecting the buildings was pushed forward with such energy that the insti- tution was opened on December 18, 1889, with three patients. The first Board of Trustees was composed of L. C. Klein, John T. Rice and N. Lytle. In May, 1890, the number of patients had increased to fifty-four.
On the night of February 19, 1904, the asyhun was com- pletely destroyed by fire. There were then 133 patients in the institution and some of them were rescued with great difficulty. But through the heroic efforts of Superintendents Oversen and Harden and their wives, all were saved. It was a cold night and some of the inmates, after they were brought from the burning building, tried to get back to their warm beds. Others wandered away during the excitement, and still others danced with glee as they watched the flames consume the only home they had known for months. The morning of the 20th saw the insane asy- hun a heap of smoldering ruins. The Free Will Baptist Church at Mygatt's Corners, near the asyhun, was opened to the trus- tees and a number of the inmates were quartered in the church until more permanent arrangements for their care could be made. Farmers in the neighborhood took several of the milder cases into their homes. Before the close of the day following the fire all were accounted for and comfortably housed.
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The origin of the fire is not certain. It was the rule of the institution that the patients retire at eight o'clock in the even- ing. About half an hour after all had retired, Albert Terhune, one of the patients, came rushing into the dining-room and noti- fied Supt. Frank E. Oversen that there was a fire in the attic. All the fire-fighting apparatus possessed by the institution was at once brought into requisition and the employees did all they could to save the building from destruction. Seeing their efforts futile, they turned their attention to saving the contents of the office and such rooms as they could reach without danger. The records and much of the furniture were thus saved. Doctor Oversen gave it as his opinion that the cause of the fire was a defective hot air pipe from the furnace and stated positively that none of the patients were permitted to have matches in the attic, or anywhere else about the building.
Immediately after the fire the Board of Supervisors took steps to rebuild. On April 18, 1904, the firm of Chandler & Park, architects, were commissioned to prepare plans and specifica- tions, and on May 2d bids were advertised for, proposals to be received until the 10th of July. On July 13, 1904, the contract for the new building was awarded to Hanson & Lester, of Chip- pewa Falls, Wisconsin, for $81,841.77. The cost of the old asy- Inm - the one destroyed by fire - was $58,341.36, so it can be seen that the board, in rebuilding the asyhun. acted upen the theory that it was better to build for the future as well as the present.
On November 29, 1904, the board authorized the issue of $100,000 of asylum bonds, payable at the rate of $6,500 annually and bearing interest at the rate of + per cent per annum. The last of these bonds fall due in 1923. Hanson & Lester hastened the completion of the building as rapidly as it was possible to do. and in the new asylum Racine County has one of the best institu- tions of that class in the state.
SUNNY REST SANATORIUM
In 1911 the Wisconsin Legislature passed an act authorizing County Boards of Supervisors to purchase sites and ereet hospi- tals or sanatoriums for the care of persons afflicted with tuber- culosis. It was also provided that all sites should be approved by the State Board of Control before buildings were erected
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thereon. Under this act the Board of Supervisors purchased twenty acres of ground in the Town of Mount Pleasant, about a mile southeast of the County Insane Asyhn, which site was approved by the state board, and made an appropriation for the establishment of an institution to be known as the "Sunny Rest Sanatorium." The building, which cost about thirty thousand dollars, was opened for the reception of patients in August, 1913. Originally, accommodations were provided for twenty-four pa- tients, but by inelosing some of the porches additional room was obtained, and in July, 1916, there were thirty-six patients in the sanatorium.
Upon the opening of the institution a board of three trustees was appointed, and the same board was in charge on August 1, 1916. George N. Fratt is president: John B. Simmons, secretary. and the third member of the board is S. M. Reinardy, of Bur- lington. Dr. John H. Hogan is the physician in charge, and Mrs. Elizabeth Carpenter is the matron. The establishment of the Sunny Rest Sanatorium is another evidence that the people of Racine County are fully alive to the requirements of modern civilization in caring for unfortunates. The equipment of the Rest is of the most approved character and the treatment of patients is along lines suggested by the most eminent specialists, who have made a special study of the "Great White Plagne."
HOME FOR FEEBLE-MINDED
Although this is a state institution, it is located within the limits of Racine County, and is therefore entitled to recogni- tion among the county's charitable institutions. In 1912 the State Board of Control, in a visit to the Home for Feeble-Minded at Chippewa Falls, observed that the institution was very much crowded and recommended the establishment of an additional home. The Legislature of 1913 acted upon the board's recom- mendation and made an appropriation for the purchase of a sito and the erection of suitable buildings.
Immediately after the passage of the act, some of Racine's active business and professional men set themselves to work to secure the location of the new home in the county. Three of the five members of the State Board of Control visited the site selected by the Racine men, which selection was indorsed by the Racine Commercial Club, and expressed themselves favorably.
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The result was that 565 acres in Section 25, Township 3, Range 20, were purchased by the state as a location for the home. This tract lies in the southeastern part of Dover Township, about a mile and a half west of Union Grove and directly north of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. Through the influence of the citizens of Racine, the railroad company agreed to build a switch running into the grounds, a fact that no doubt had some influence upon the state board in the selection of a location.
The appropriation of 1913 was not immediately available and some time elapsed before the work of building was com- meneed. On August 1, 1916, a few of the buildings were com- pleted and work was being pushed forward on the others with a view of having the institution ready for imnates by JJanuary 1, 1916. The site is one of the most desirable in the county, if not in the state, the tract of land lying upon the ridge that separates the waters of the Root and Fox Rivers, with a rolling surface and the very best of drainage.
SAINT LUKE'S HOSPITAL
In 1871, Rev. E. C. Porter, Rev. James De Koven, Dr. John (. Meacham and a few others co-operated in renting a small house and opening a hospital. The first patient was received on Christmas Day, 1871. At first, the hospital was supplied with but two beds, but soon after it was opened two others were added. During the first year twenty-one patients were treated. On April 15, 1872, the founders incorporated under the laws of the state and the institution took the name of St. Luke's Hospital. for the reason that most, if not all, the incorporators were mem- bers of St. Luke's Episcopal Church. The beds, bed-clothing and furniture were given by the women of Racine and Racine College.
The success of the hospital during the first year of its exist- ence awakened considerable interest and on Christmas Eve, in 1872, a meeting was held in St. Luke's Church to consider ways and means of making it a permanent institution. Speeches were made by Charles E. Dyer, Doctor De Koven and others, but it was not until the following May that anything definite was accom- plished. Then A. G. Hartshorn and a few others turned over to the hospital $800, with one year's interest, a part of the fund raised the preceding antin for the relief of sufferers from the great Chicago fire. A little later the German School Society
ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL, RACINE
THE SHORES OF LAKE MICHIGAN
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HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
added $150 to the hospital fund. Other contributions, none of them very large, came in from time to time and a committee was appointed to examine building sites, with a view of purchasing. and report as to the best location for a hospital building.
Thus matters stood at the beginning of the year 1875. On January 17th of that year another meeting was held in St. Luke's Church at which the following committee was appointed to solicit subscriptions to a building fund: Rev. E. C. Porter, Simeon Whiteley, Frank Schneider, H. T. Fuller, T. G. Fish, William M. Kay and W. T. Lewis. In April, 1875, Rev. E. C. Porter and wife offered to donate two lots on the corner of Thir- teenth Street and College Avenue for a hospital site on twe conditions: First, that within five years a building to cost not less than five thousand dollars should be erected on the premises; second, that said building, when completed, should be used ex- clusively for hospital purposes for five consecutive years. About this time George HI. Clarke, an architect of Chicago. submitted plans for a hospital building, with a capacity of forty beds, the estimated cost of which was $12,000. After modifying the plans to reduce the cost, a campaign was started to raise the money necessary for the erection of the building. The amount raised was not sufficient to build according to the plans submitted by Mr. Clarke, and W. H. Amos, of Racine College, came forward with a new plan for a building to cost not more than $5,500. His plans were adopted and the corner-stone was laid on Sep- tember 21, 1876, by Rev. Arthur Piper. The cost of the building when it was finished was $5,500.49, only forty-nine cents more than the original estimate. It was opened in February, 1877. with eleven beds.
During the first fifteen years of the hospital's career, nearly all the patients treated were charity cases, so that the expense of the institution had to be met by contributions. The Ladies' Guild Society of Racine College and Mrs. E. C. Porter each contributed $250 per year for several years.
In 1891 the hospital was leased to the Danish Hospital Asso- ciation, which remained in control for about fifteen years, when the institution passed back to the original management. During the time the Danish Hospital Association was in charge. William Horlick built the addition known as the Alice Horlick Memorial Hospital, at a cost of about ten thousand dollars. Also, during
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HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
this time, the Florence Nightingale Society of charitable women was organized for the purpose of "maintaining a free bed or beds at the hospital known as the St. Luke's and Alice Horlick Memorial Hospital, for charity patients." The fund contributed by the Florence Nightingale Society was used for the establish- ment of the department known as the "Maternity Home."
When the old organization resmed control of the hospital, it assumed the liabilities of the Danish Hospital Association, which were all discharged in course of time, and the hospital is now in a more prosperous condition than at any time in its his- tory. A training school for nurses has been established, with a three years' course, an addition to the Maternity Home was made in the summer of 1916, doubling its capacity, giving it sixteen beds. The property is now valued at $50,000. St. Luke's and the Alice Horlick Memorial Hospital has no resident medical staff, but is open to any regnlar licensed physician for the treat- ment of patients or the performance of operations. Miss Marie Villman, a graduate of the St. Luke's Training School and a registered nurse under the Wisconsin laws, is in charge; the chief nurse in the operating room is Miss Julia Pavek, also a graduate of St. Luke's and a registered nurse; and Miss Louise Brown, a graduate of the nurses' school in Milwaukee and legally registered, is in charge of the maternity department.
SAINT MARY'S HOSPITAL
This hospital, condneted by the Catholic Sisters of the Fran- eisean Order, was started in 1882 as a branch of St. Anthony's Hospital of St. Louis, Missouri. It is located at the corner of Sixteenth Street and Grand Avenue, and from a small begin- ning has grown to be the leading hospital of Racine. The orig- inal building was enlarged in 1889, another addition was made in 1897 on account of the pressing demands for more room, and since the beginning of the present century still greater demands have been made, bringing the institution up to its present pro- portions.
Although a Catholic institution, so far as ownership and management is concerned, it receives patients without regard to their religions affiliations. The hospital now has accommodations for eighty patients. In commection is a training school for mirses. Sister M. Angela is the superior and the training school is in
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HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
charge of Sister M. Bernarda. There is no medical staff, but the hospital is open to all reputable physicians, who have the priv- ilege of visiting patients there just as if they were in their own homes. When first started. the institution was aided by dona- tions and subscriptions, but in recent years it has been self- sustaining. the number of pay patients far outnumbering the charity cases.
TAYLOR ORPHAN ASYLUM
A short distance southeast of the City of Racine is the Taylor Orphan Asylum, which was founded by Mrs. Emeline A. Taylor, widow of Isaac Taylor. in pursuance of his wishes. In her will she left a fund of $30.000 to be held in trust to erect an orphan asylum and support the same, and named as trustees Mrs. Sarah E. Dyer, Mrs. Sylvia Goold, Mrs. Margaret Porine, Mrs. Mary Murray and Mrs. Charlotte Tapley. Then, after disposing of certain property, the will "gave and devised all the residue of the estate to the Taylor Orphan Asyhim." The will further pro- vided that the women should elect ammally four men to act with them as a board of directors.
On June 8. 1867, the trustees named in the will organized as a corporation, when William P. Lyon. Dr. J. G. Meacham, Sr .. William T. Van Pelt and James HI. Kelley were elected annual members of the board. The asylum was opened on July 17. 1872. the birthday anniversary of the founder. Since then it has re- ceived, housed and cared for nearly four hundred children and has expended in this work over three hundred thousand dollars.
On June 2. 1875, eight years after the incorporation of the institution, the board reported a fund of $132.354.70. invested in first mortgage securities on real estate and municipal bonds, Five years later, through good management, the fund amounted to $140,000, which included the direct bequest of $30,000 and the residue of the Taylor estate, above mentioned. The institution has not only been self-supporting. but the income has been large enough to increase the permanent fund to nearly two hundred thousand dollars. Much of this prosperity has been due to the wise investments made by Charles H. Lee, who was for twenty- five years connected with the asyhim.
The asyhun has always been conducted along the lines laid down by its founder and benefactor for the orphan and half- orphan children of Racine County. Among the features of the
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HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
institution are a comfortable school-room and a chapel, in which religious services are held regularly on Sunday afternoons, the aim of the managers being "to give to the children under their care such instruction as will make them self-reliant and indus- trious; to surround them by influences which will develop their moral character and make them useful members of society; to give them such a home that they will always remember with gratitude and affection the names of Mr. and Mrs. Taylor."
The trustees named in Mrs. Taylor's will were appointed for life. As they were called away by death their successors have been appointed by the survivors. The trustees in 1916 were: Mrs. C. R. Carpenter, Mrs. A. J. Lunt, Mrs. Wililam E. Lewis, Mrs. May Wackerhagen and Mrs. J. G. Chandler. The male members of the board of directors were: David G. Janes, Wil- liam E. Lewis, Joseph Hocking and Frank W. Lovejoy.
OLD LADIES' HOME
This institution, also known as the " Pahneter Home for Old Ladies," was founded by JJohn H. and Eliza D. Palmeter, a child- less couple, who felt that their property could be left to no better purpose than to found a home for old women. Before Mr. Palmeter's death he and his wife often talked the matter over. His will left the estate to his wife, with the understanding that upon her death it was to be conveyed to a board of trustees to be applied to their long cherished aim. Before the death of Mrs. Palmeter the Old Ladies' Home was incorporated, with Mrs. Eliza D. Palmeter as president; Miss Sarah M. Morrison, Mrs. Charlotte Tapley, Mrs. Charles H. Lee, Mrs. F. M. Fish, Stephen Bull and E. C. Deane as the first board of trustees.
The estate was valued at $60,000, about one-third of which was used to erect a store building, the income from which was to be used for the maintenance of the home, and the remaining $40,000 was to be held in trust as an endowment fund. Among the property owned by the Palmeters was the parcel of ground at the corner of Sixteenth Street and College Avenue, where the home now stands. No buildings were erected until the income from the endowment I'und was sufficient for that purpose, the trustees desiring to hold the principal of the fund intact.
In March, 1905, the home was completed and opened for the reception of inmates. Accommodations are provided for twelve
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HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
old ladies and the institution is now filled to its capacity. Mrs. Otis W. Johnson spent about one thousand dollars in beautifying the grounds and the charitable women of Racine raised money for the purchase of furniture. Aside from these donations, the institution has been supported by the Palmeter bequest. This home and the Taylor Orphan Asylum are the only endowed char- itable institutions in the county and are really more philanthropic than charitable. Each inmate of the home is required to possess money or property to the amount of $300. If she owns more than that amount the balance is invested by the management and the income paid to the occupant. In 1916 the management of the home was vested in Miss Sarah M. Morrison, president; Mrs. Charles H. Lee, vice-president; Mrs. George Miller, David G. Janes, Mrs. William Van Arsdale, Mrs. H. E. Redmond, C. C. Gittings, C. E. Wells and Fulton Thompson. Mr. Janes is treasurer and Mrs. Emily Ratcliffe is the matron in charge.
CENTRAL ASSOCIATION
One of the most unique institutions in Southeastern Wiscon- sin is the Central Association, whose work is along different lines and conducted in a different manner from that of the ordinary charity organization. It dates from 1910, when representatives of the Associated Charities, the North Side Boys' Club, the Day Nursery and the Big Sister movement met for the purpose of amalgamating all these social service activities and placing them under the control of one board of directors. The result was the "Central Association." About two years later the association purchased the old Sidney A. Sage homestead on Wilson Street, to which were added rooms for a gymnasium and the day nursery. The property, including the new additions, is estimated to be worth $25,000.
The work of this institution is divided into departments, viz .: The family department, which in the early part of 1916 was under the management of Miss Jane M. Knight and Miss Eleanor Schoenberger; the Big Sister department, under the man- agement of Miss Kate L. Mehder: the day nursery, of which Mrs. John R. Evans has control; the boys' department, under the charge of Samnel Lewenkron, and the girls' department, at the head of which is Miss Stella Blake. The last named department was added after the association was formed by taking the Girls'
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HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
Club clubs into the arrangement. Much of the success of the association is due to the efforts of Miss Lydia C. Wallis, who vis- ited eastern cities to study the plans and methods of settlement workers, and who was the executive secretary of the association for two years or more after it was organized. On August 1, 1916, Miss Gladys Blocki was the general office secretary.
Among the features of the association house is a "hospitality room" for homeless wayfarers, who can there find a place to rest until they obtain employment. Meetings of a social character are held on Sunday evenings. In the winter months these meet- ings are held in the house and during the warm weather upon the lawn. Foreigners are taught the English language and the duties of citizenship, and the boys and girls, from the youngest up. are tanght industrions habits. When old clothes come into the asso- ciation house, they are ripped to pieces by the older children, that they may be made over into garments. Younger children are kept busy by having them cut pictures from newspapers and magazines and paste them into scrap books, but the association proceeds on the theory that "the devil finds some mischief still for idle hands to do, " and all must work.
The boys and girls who enjoy the privileges of the gymnasium and reading rooms are required to pay an annual fee of five cents. The amount thus acennilated is small, but it makes the youth feel that they are paying for their privileges and does not rob them of that spirit of independence which is the heritage of every American citizen. Women who are compelled by circum- stances to work away from their homes during the day, have learned that their little children will receive good care in the day nursery department, and it is said that many little ones seem happier in the nursery than they do in their homes. If a boy is forming bad associations and taking his first lessons in vice, Mr. Lewenkron, or some member of the Boys' Club, seeks him out and endeavors to have him join the ranks, where he will be surrounded by better influences. The Big Sister department does the same thing for wayward or incorrigible girls. In fact, the whole work of the association is based upon the hypothesis that it is better to reform the youth than to punish the criminal after he or she has grown up to mature years.
The association is supported by vohmtary contributions and, although it is only about five years old, nearly one hundred of
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BATHING SCENES AT NORTH BEACH
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HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
the Raeine manufacturers have recognized its value as a social service organization and pay to the association five cents per month for each of their employees. And the greatest phase of the work is that it teaches the beneficiaries to help themselves. Such charity as the association gives is not doled out in a way to humiliate the recipient, but in a way that permits him to retain his self-respect and strive for better things.
CHAPTER XXI
NOTABLE PIONEER HOMES
CAPTAIN KNAPP'S CABIN -JOEL SAGE- A. P. DICKEY -THE FLEMMING HOUSE -CAPTAIN GUILBERT -CHARLES HERRICK -THE TERBUSH HOUSE - TIMOTHY WELLS - THE PENNSYLVANIA IIOUSE - THE BRYAN HOUSE-THE CLANCY HOUSE-L. S. BLAKE-DR. B. B. CARY - WILLIAM H. LATIIROP - MOSES VILAS -ELDAD SMITH - THOMAS J. EMERSON-HOTELS OF EARLY DAYS-THE BAKER HOME- STEAD -OTHER OLD TIME HOUSES.
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