Twenty-first annual report of the Trustees of the State Lunatic Hospital at Northampton : October, 1876.

  • State Lunatic Hospital (Northampton, Mass.)
Date:
1877
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Twenty-first annual report of the Trustees of the State Lunatic Hospital at Northampton : October, 1876. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    In our last published report we mentioned the acquisition of a tract of about five and a half acres of land adjoining the hospital premises, upon the eastern boundary, which had long furnished sites for a saw-mill, a brick-yard, and several small dwellings. Much the larger part of that tract was purchased at the administrator’s auction of the real estate of the late Samuel Day, to whose homestead lot it belonged, and of which it constituted nearly one-half in superficial area. Upon the other half of the lot stood the homestead buildings. They consisted of a brick dwelling-house, 40x30 feet, and two stories in height, with an adjoining wooden building about 60x20 feet, and one and one-half stories in height; two barns, one 80 and the other 55 feet in length, and a tobacco barn 150 feet long by 30 in width. The situation of this land is such as to render its acquisition desirable, for the purpose of enlarging the front grounds and perfecting the shape of the hospital farm. In consequence, however, of the value of the buildings, it had been held at so high a price that we had not considered it best to purchase it. The buildings were not needed for the hospital, and we thought it impru¬ dent to sacrifice a large sum in consequence of them. About three months ago this obstacle was removed, the property purchased for $6,000, and paid for from the working fund of the hospital, on the day upon which the deed of conveyance was executed and delivered. The situation of this tract being taken into consideration, its fertility and its improvement of the hospital premises in utility, convenience and comeliness, it is believed that, at the price paid, every man of sound judgment and a reasonable and proper modicum of taste would approve the purchase. Soon after the acquisition of the estate, it was decided to remove the larger of the two barns to a site west of the large barn in the rear of the hospital. In consequence of its great length, and the weight of its slated roof, the intervening hill was so great an obstacle to its removal whole, that it was decided to take it down. This has been done, and the barn, reconstructed, is now ready for use upon its new site. The injuries to which the hospital farm has been subjected in by-gone years by the flow of surface-water in its course to the larger channels, was described in the last year’s report of
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