Danville State Hospital is the oldest operating State Hospital in Pennsylvania. It was the third hospital built in Pennsylvania.
On April 13 1868, an act of legislature began the search for a location for a hospital for the insane. "By an act of the Legislature approved April 13, 1868, a commission was appointed to select a site and erect a hospital for the insane for the northern section of the state, composed of the counties of Monroe, Carbon, Pike, Wayne, Susquehanna, Wyoming, Luzerne, Columbia, Montour, Sullivan, Bradford, Lycoming, Tioga, Clinton, Center, Clearfield, Elk, Cameron, McKean and Potter. Dr. J. A. Reed, superintendent of the Dixmont Hospital for the Insane, Dr. John Curwen, superintendent of the State Lunatic Hospital at Harrisburg, and Dr. Traill Green, of Easton, constituted this commission.
After visiting a number of localities a farm of 250 acres was selected at Danville, Pa., at a cost of $26,600 of which the citizens of Danville had generously contributed $16,123.12.
The North Branch Canal, beside the Danville State Hospital Gate
This farm was situated on the north branch of the Susquehanna River, about one mile east of Danville. The land was originally a tract owned by pioneer Daniel Montgomery, cofounder of Danville and for whom the town was named. He willed it to his son, Daniel Strawbridge Montgomery, who gave it to his daughter, Margaret. Margaret married W.W. Pineo. As Executor of her Estate, the latter conveyed it to the State Hospital.
The Original Danville State Hospital, Before the 1881 Fire
The hospital was to model the Kirkbride system - a central administration building, with connected wings. " 1143 feet in length, three stories in height, with three transverse wings on each side four stories in height, giving a capacity of 350 beds for each and accommodation for the necessary employees.
The outer walls were constructed of stone procured from a quarry adjoining the property, stuccoed without, hand troweled lime finish within, with brick partitions, hard-wood finish of Georgia pine, and slate roof, the construction being of the so-called slow-burning type.
The building was fronted by a lawn of 45 acres, eventually laid out by Donald G. Mitchell, and, being on a slight eminence, overlooked the Susquehanna, which latter supplied the water and received the sewage.
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1869, August 26 - The cornerstone for Danville State Hospital was laid by Governor Gearly.
At 11am, a procession headed by "a band of music" headed to the spot, where the exercises were opened in prayer by the Rev. Dr Hogson. Governor Geary then laid the corner-stone with the customary formality, depositing in the box a collection of papers pertaining to the special objects of the institution, together with coins, newspapers, and other objects of interest. Speeches and addresses were given, and letters were read.
All the stores were closed from 10-2, and the rolling mills and other manufacturers closed, in order for all to be able to attend.
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November 1869
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1872, November 6th - First patient received at the new Danville State Hospital.
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1872, November 6th - First patient received at the new Danville State Hospital.
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The Women's Ward, Danville State Hospital
Women's Wing
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1883, January 23 - First female patient received in the rebuilt Danville State Hospital, after the 1881 fire had destroyed the original women's wing.
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1884 The reconstruction of the administration section of the Main Building was completed, a 600 seat amusement hall is constructed on the fourth floor.
In 1916 A moving picture machine was purchased through the efforts of Mrs. Meredith, the wife of Dr. Meredith. It was replaced by a replaced with a "sound film machine" in 1932
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1884 The reconstruction of the administration section of the Main Building was completed, a 600 seat amusement hall is constructed on the fourth floor.
In 1916 A moving picture machine was purchased through the efforts of Mrs. Meredith, the wife of Dr. Meredith. It was replaced by a replaced with a "sound film machine" in 1932
Modern view of the 4th floor auditorium
Large windows, and beautiful paintings, in the 4th floor auditorium
The ceiling mural in the 4th floor auditorium
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Palm Trees were grown in the greenhouse at Danville State Hospital. The trees, in planters, would be moved to the front lawn in the summer months.
Greenhouse at Danville State Hospital
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In September 1888, Ira Milton Lewis wrote a letter to the newspaper about his second stay at Danville State Hospital. Read it here:
In his 1888 letter, Lewis mentions the fountain in front of the building.
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1890 The river becomes contaminated as a result of discharging hospital sewage directly into the river. 3,368 yards of pipe are laid to extend the discharge pipe to a "safe point" below the town.
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Residents at Danville State Hospital 1890
Occupational Therapy Ward 1890
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1893 16 in the first class to graduate from the new Training School for Attendants.
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September 1896 A fire destroys the main barn.
The Farm at Danville State Hospital
Truckloads of peas would be brought to the hospital to be shelled, and green beans to be snapped, The patients would sit outside and get them ready for canning.
A fire in 1964 destroyed the dairy barns and five silos.
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Quarantine - 1902
From May 1 to May 19 1902, employees were quarantined at Danville State Hospital due to an outbreak of smallpox.
An early quarantine building on the property
1915 Typhoid Fever breaks out at the hospital, and 15 deaths occur. 195 cattle and 164 swine are killed due to Aphthous Fever.
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May 8th 1918 The first section of the Male Industrial Building was destroyed by fire.
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Thanksgiving 1906 - the Danville State Hospital served 100 turkeys (equal 1700lbs), 425 mincemeat pies, & 20 bags of potatoes.
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1907 Graduates of Danville State Hospital School Of Nursing:
Dan Stewart, Ada Weaver Evans, Crissie Wards Leiby, Daisy Moore, Bessie Connors, Nora Grone Hallman, Ella Freeman, Lillian Dieffenbacher Coates, Jennie Scurry, Lulu Hamor, and Adelaide Gay
Edgewood Nurses Home, State Hospital Danville Pa
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Between 1924 & 1929, Swimming pools, tennis courts, and a baseball field were constructed
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In 1932, Ole Battleship, the carp that lived in the fountain at the state hospital died
See more photos of the fountain, and read bout ole battleship, here
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A Diagnostic Clinic Building opened at Danville State Hospital on Thursday February 15 1934. It was the first unit of its kind in connection with a mental hospital, representing "a new step in the process of treatment of mental illness."
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A two story stone building that housed the laundry, carpenter and plumbing shops at the Danville State Hospital burned to the ground on March 16th 1937. Six married employees who had apartments on the second floor lost all of their possessions.
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Construction Photos
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Photo dated 1948
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DSH was able to discharge 698 patients in 1957.
Records showed that about 900 patients at DSH had never had a visit from family in the entire time they had been admitted at the hospital. For some patients, "this goes back 40 years."
April 28th 1963
5,000 Attend Open House At D.S.H.
Approximately 5,000 persons from all sectors of Central Pennsylvania attended the annual Danville State Hospital Open House program at the institution on Sunday.
All facilities were open for inspection except the hospital proper and the tuberculosis ward. Visitors selected the areas they were interested in, and the nurses and attendant conducted them on the tours of the facilities. Open house prevailed from 1:30 to 4:30 p. m.
All facilities were open for inspection except the hospital proper and the tuberculosis ward. Visitors selected the areas they were interested in, and the nurses and attendant conducted them on the tours of the facilities. Open house prevailed from 1:30 to 4:30 p. m.
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1964 Fire destroyed the dairy barns and five silos.
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Protesting the proposed transfer of patients from Farview Hospital for the criminally insane to Danville State Hospital. March 14 1974
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READ MORE
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Authors note - A young girl from the Danville State Hospital came to stay with my great grandmother, sometime in the late 1960's. Catherine, who was mentally handicapped, had had a child at 14, and what little I know of her early life was quite tragic. Her child remained at the Danville facility, where he, from what I know, received excellent care. His disabilities were severe, and he died, if I remember correctly, in his early teens. My family was not wealthy. Quite the opposite in fact. Catherine served as a sort of housekeeper, and occasional babysitter for me once I was born, but it would be hard to characterize her as a servant, it just wasn't that type of home. More of a companion, who did her share of the housework and chores in exchange for room and board. I admit I was too young to have any true idea of how the situation worked, and I may have the details wrong - looking back now, I wonder if it was more of a foster care type of situation. I do remember that years later Catherine had to move into an apartment in Lewisburg, we visited her there.
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Authors note - A young girl from the Danville State Hospital came to stay with my great grandmother, sometime in the late 1960's. Catherine, who was mentally handicapped, had had a child at 14, and what little I know of her early life was quite tragic. Her child remained at the Danville facility, where he, from what I know, received excellent care. His disabilities were severe, and he died, if I remember correctly, in his early teens. My family was not wealthy. Quite the opposite in fact. Catherine served as a sort of housekeeper, and occasional babysitter for me once I was born, but it would be hard to characterize her as a servant, it just wasn't that type of home. More of a companion, who did her share of the housework and chores in exchange for room and board. I admit I was too young to have any true idea of how the situation worked, and I may have the details wrong - looking back now, I wonder if it was more of a foster care type of situation. I do remember that years later Catherine had to move into an apartment in Lewisburg, we visited her there.
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Ledgers - https://digitalarchives.powerlibrary.org/psa/islandora/object/psa%3Adshpl
http://dsh.thomas-industriesinc.com/DSH_SiteMap.htm
https://www.asylumprojects.org/index.php/Danville_State_Hospital
May 25 1869 - Ground broken at Danville for the new State Hospital for the Insane
February 1869
August 1869
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This is my favorite building in all of Danville. I love every part of the history of it. Thank you for sharing
ReplyDeleteI would like to hear about what took place at Danville regarding the "Peonage" era, when the "self sufficient" aspect of the residents stopped.
ReplyDelete