560 - HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.
CHAPTER II.
HOSPITALS.-ASYLUMS.-CEMETERIES.-GRAVE ROBBING.
*ST. VINCENT HOSPITAL
THIS institution was established in October, 1855, by the Rev. A. Campion, Pastor of St. Francis de Sales Church, Toledo. It is under the direct jurisdiction of the Grey Nuns General Hospital of Montreal, an institution established as a permanent Asylum for the homeless poor of every class, sex and age. The parent Hospital was founded in 1738, by Madam D'Youville, who with her devoted companions extended aid to the suffering, irrespective of creed or nationality.
In 1853, Right Rev. Amadeus Rappe, accompanied by Mr. H. L. P. Machen, went to Montreal to procure Sisters of Charity for care of orphan boys in Cleveland. As that City had already the advantage of having the Ladies of the Sacred Heart, it was thought best to defer the matter for two years. In 1855-the two years having expired-Rev. A. Campion went to Montreal to claim for Toledo the Sisters promised Cleveland. The inducements he offered were far from attractive. He drew a graphic picture of the dreary locality; the prevalence of malarial disease, resulting from stagnant pools and swamps found everywhere in the then unhealthy City, giving it the name of "Grave of the United States."
On October 24, 1855, Sister H. Blondin, as local Superioress, with Sisters Brady, Hickey and Monarque, with a young girl, Eliza Holmes, started for Toledo, arriving at that place on the 27th. They were met by the Ursuline Sisters, who had been in Toledo' about a year, and remained with them nearly two weeks, when they removed to a two-story frame building on Superior Street near Cherry. Here, by earnest solicitation of alms from the citizens and donations by the charitable, they were able to continue their benevolent work. Being compelled to seek another house, in May, 1856, the Asylum was moved to a building offered by Mr. Frederick W. Bakewell on Erie Street, which was so poorly constructed that it could not be made comfortable, and other quarters became necessary. In March, 1857, two acres of ground was purchased from Mr. D. B. Scott on Cherry Street at $1,000 per acre on time. Subscriptions toward a building fund were immediately solicited, and enough money secured by July to warrant the com-
* By William C. Chapman, M. D.
mencement of the building. Delays were frequent, by reason of lack of funds, but by borrowing, sufficient money was obtained and by the 12th of August, 1858, everything was so far completed as to allow of occupancy. This building was of brick, 40x50 feet and three stories high. The Orphan Asylum building thus completed was intended for both Asylum and Hospital. At the solicitation of Mr. Dennis Coghlin and Dr. S. F. Forbes, sailors were permitted to enter for treatment, the first patients being four sailors who were injured by falling into the hold of a vessel, who were received on the 21st of August, 1858. From that event is dated the commencement of the Hospital. The building was soon overcrowded, and a small frame house was constructed for inmates separate from the main one. This building was consumed by fire in 1860, with three inmates-two orphans and a woman. Subscriptions were immediately taken for relief. Protestants as well as Roman Catholics subscribed largely. The City was divided into districts; Dennis Coghlin. Peter Lenk, Frank J. Scott and Valentine `'all circulated subscription papers. Large amounts were also received from St. Louis and Montreal, and as a result the center building of the Orphan Asylum was completed by the fall of 1861. This was divided into two large hospital wards, and a few for private patients, together with rooms for the use of the Sisters.
In 1863, adjoining land owned by Mr. E. P. Bassett, was offered for sale, and the Sisters were able to purchase 8 2/3 acres at $700 per acre; and in 1866, another 1 1/2 acres were purchased from Dr. W. W. Jones, at $1,000 per acre. The whole tract now owned is 12 acres, upon which the new Hospital has been built. In March, 1875, the building of the present St. Vincent's was begun and completed in July of the next year, at a cost of over $63,000; of this sum there is still unpaid $56,000, upon which the Sisters pay interest. It is a brick building, three stories high above the basement, comprising a center 120x68 feet, with wings extending on either side 46x50 feet, with commodious porticoes. The center or main building comprises the wards, chapel, parlors, community rooms, apothecary's room and office. A central corridor divides the wards. The wards on the first floor are appropriated to resident old and infirm men, and the help. Those on the second floor are occupied
HOSPITALS.-ASYLUMS.-CEMETERIES. - 561
by the male patients, the marine patients on one side and the general patients on the other. The wards on the third floor are occupied by female patients on one side, and resident old and infirm women on the other. The wings are divided into thirty rooms, occupied by private patients and boarders. They are entirely separated from the main building, with which they communicate only by the outside galleries. The apartments of the North wing are fitted up in style of comfort and elegance. The South `wing is intended for resident boarders. The treatment of the sick is provided for by the formation of a medical staff composed of distinguished physicans and surgeons of the City.
The following named physicians form the medical staff of this hospital:
Surgeon in Chief-John W. Bond.
Consulting Surgeons-W. W. Jones, S. F. Forbes, James Coldham, S. W. Skinner, .J. T. Woods. Consulting Physicians-"S. H. Bergen, W. T. Ridenour, G. Fenneberg, H. M. Schnetzler, C. H. Reed.
Attending Surgeons-G. A. Collamore, A. W. Fisher, W. Cherry, S. S. Thorn, G. W. Bowen, .T. H. Curry.
Attending Physicians-C. A. Kirkley, J. M. Waddick, H. A. Root, W. C. Chapman, M. Jungbluth, J. T. Lawless,
H. M. Schnetzler, President of Staff.
C. A. Kirkley, Secretary of Staff.
Medical Board--W. W. Jones, S. F. Forbes, S. H. Bergen, H. M. Schnetzler, James Coldham, S. S. Thorn, W. T. Ridenour, W. C. Chapman,
Jno. W. Bond, President of Board.
W. C. Chapman, Secretary of Board.
PROTESTANT HOSPITAL OF TOLEDO.
In September, 1874, steps were taken by the Woman's Christian Association for the establishment in Toledo of a Hospital, for the benefit of such persons as might have need of accommodations to be furnished thereby. The following ladies were then appointed as a Board of Trustees for such purpose, to wit : Mesdames Ira L. Clark, Geo. Stebbins, H. M. Clark, Fred. Prentice, John N. Stevens, A. E. Scott, I. N. Poe, Plympton Buck, W. Waddick, S. Suydam, Perry Crabbs, and James H. Maples; and Messrs. Wager Swayne, Robert Cummings, Wm. H. Scott and H. S. Walbridge ; and Drs. S. S. Lungren and S. H. Bergen. The Hospital was intended to be unsectarian as to religion, and irrespective of methods in medical practice. The property on Union Street, now (1887) occupied by the hospital, was purchased for $8,000, and the first patient admitted in October, 1874.
In December, 1876, it being thought best by both the Woman's Christian Association and the Hospital Board, that the Hospital should become an independent organization, it was incorporated under the name of " The Protestant
*Deceased.
Hospital of Toledo," when the property was passed over to the new organization, in consideration of its assuming all liabilities and maintaining the establishment on the basis proposed. Throughout, the institution has labored tinder great disadvantage from lack of adequate accommodations and from limited financial means. And vet, as shown by the tenth annual report of the Secretary, over 700 patients have been cared for during the first decade; the current expenses, amounting to over $13,000, have been met; while $8,000 has been paid for the property. Considering the serious embarrassments under which the managers have labored, these results may be accepted as both creditable and hopeful. Although since 1876, the medical care of the Hospital has been in the hands of the Lucas County Hommopathic Society, its doors have been at all times open equally to physicians of whatever form of practice, who might see fit to attend upon the inmates.
In March, 1887, it was decided by the managers to proceed to the erection of a new Hospital building, and also to combine with the institution of an " Old Man's Home." Steps to that end have already been taken, and it is hoped that during another year an establishment will be furnished which will be a credit to Toledo.
The present officers of the Hospital are as follows :
President-Mrs. I. L. Clark.
Vice President-Mrs. 1. N. Poe.
Secretary-Mrs. A. E. Scott.
Treasurer-Mrs. H. H. Pierce.
Managers-Mesdames I. L. Clark, I. N. Poe, S. S. Lungren, A. E. Scott, Geo. Stebbins, John Farley, R. D. Flinn,* J. N. Stevens, J. G. Gould, W. T. Rowsey, S. W. Nettleten, H. H. Pierce, E. P. Raymond, Alonzo Chesbrough, F. C. Chapin, G. W. Hart, W. S. Thurstin, F. Trowbridge, W. Kline, T. P. Brown, AV. B. Scott, A. L. Spitzer, J. Daiber, S. C. Schenck and C. W. Hussey.
Advisory Board-Messrs. H. S. Walbridge, Leander Burdick, J. K. Secor, F. C. Chapin, T. C. Row
land, W. S. Thurstin, I. N. Poe, C. A. King, J. H. Bowman, C. H. Buck, Richard Waite, W. H. Scott, P. F. Berdan*, E. H. Van Hoesen and S. R. Maclaren.
CARE FOR THE INSANE.
Ohio has nothing to be ashamed of, in the treatment given to her unfortunate citizens with" minds diseased." No Western or Southern State, and very few States in other sections, are in advance of her in that respect. The Asylum at Columbus was among the first in the country in such provision ; and as with increasing population the demand for such accommodations has advanced in magnitude, the call has been most promptly and liberally met in new institutions.
And what is said of the State, is as true of many Counties of Ohio, by which, as the State's
*Deceased.
562 - HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.
facilities became exhausted, local provision was made, to the end that no unfortunate resident should suffer from lack of proper care. Lucas County was not backward in such provision. In 1871, an Asylum in connection with, but practically separate from, the County Infirmary, was established, in which ultimately accommodations were furnished for 100 patients, who were to be supplied with as complete facilities for care and treatment as the circumstances would permit. The original purpose was to provide for County demands only; but as the resources of the State became exhausted, limited accommodations for State patients were furnished in the local Asylum. This arrangement has continued until this time.
In view of the increasing demand for accommodations for the care of the insane of the State, the Legislature, in April, 1883, provided for a Commission whose duty it was made to determine upon a plan by which such provision should be made, and to select a site for such new institution as they should decide upon.
The Commission appointed for the purpose, adopted the Detached-Ward System, and fixed the location near the City of Toledo, upon a tract of 150 acres of land donated for the purpose by Lucas County. The site is upon the old United States Military Road leading from Fort Wayne, on the Detroit River, to Fort Meigs, on the Maumee River, and about four and a half miles from the business center of Toledo; having a frontage on the turnpike of 3,200 feet. The surface is even, and is 49 feet above Swan Creek, which is near by on the North, and the Maumee River on the South, at a common stage of water, affording ample means for perfect drainage. The soil is dry, and easily brought to a high state of cultivation, and is well adapted to Asylum purposes. The buildings are to be upon lines, at no point nearer than 450 feet distant from any public highway.
The location having been made by the Commission remote from either of the existing Asylums for the Insane, the Governor appointed George L. Johnson and John W. Fuller, of the City of Toledo ; Wm. 1+7. Haynes, of Fremont ; John W. Nelson, of Bryan ; and Robert G. Pennington, of Tiffin, Trustees, to proceed with the erection of the buildings under the plans and specifications adopted by the Commission. The Trustees organized by choosing Mr. Johnson as President, and Mr. Nelson as Secretary pro tem.
The plan of this Asylum is a somewhat radical departure from that of any other institution for the insane in the State, and one of two or three only of similar design in the country. It will comprise, when completed, about fifty buildings, and is known as the Detached Ward, or Cottage Plan, as distinguished from the old or "Kirkbride System," and will have a capacity, without crowding, for accommodating 1,060 inmates. The following-named buildings constitute the plan, as adopted by the Trustees, to wit:
Administration building.
Kitchen and Bakery building.
2 Dining and Employes' buildings.
1 Laundry building.
1 Boiler House and Fuel building.
1 Store building.
1 Chapel building.
2 Hospital buildings, to contain 60 patients.
2 Infirm ward " " 120 "
2 Strong " " 144 "
4 Pavilion " " 136 "
4 " " " 200 "
4 " " " 176 "
4 " " " 120 "
4 " " " 104 "
The contract for the erection of these buildings was let in June, 1884, to M. J. & Wm. Malone, for $399,763. This amount has been increased by improvements in execution of contract. The buildings are now (November, 1 ) substantially completed and the Asylum nearly prepared for patients. The total cost of the establishment, including furniture and furnishings, is placed at $750,000, which will provide for 1,060 inmates and 212 employes, at a cost of $707.15 per patient, against an average cost for each patient in 31 Asylums, of $1,175.
Following is the official roster of the Asylum for 1887 :
Board of Trustees-R. G. Pennington, Tiffin, President; J. W. Fuller, Toledo; W. E. Haynes,
Fremont; John H. Doyle, Toledo; D. W. H. Howard, Wauseon.
Architects-E. O. Fallis, Toledo ; I. W. Yost, Columbus.
Superintendent of Construction-James Winans.
Superintendent-H. A. Tobey, M. D.
Assistant Physicians-H. C. Eyman, M. D.; S. W. Skinner, M. D.
Secretary-H. A. Tobey.
Matron-Mrs. M. C. Tobey.
Steward and Financial Officer-Alfred Wilkin.
Engineer, F. E. Peck.
Electrician-T. W. Day.
CEMETERIES.
The first provision made in Toledo for the deposit of the dead, consisted of about two acres of land set apart for that purpose about 1830, by Dexter Fisher. It was part of 80 acres owned by Mr. Fisher, and lay on the South side of the public road from Port Lawrence to Tremainesville, and near the crossing of Madison aid Seventeenth Streets. It was used for several years and until about 1840, when it was abandoned for such purpose. The body of the 80-acre tract now constitutes Mott's First and Second Additions to Toledo.
Early in the history of Vistula, a small piece of ground now at the crossing of Lagrange and Bancroft Streets, was to a limited extent used for burial purposes. It was on the road from "Lower Town" to Monroe and Detroit ;
HOSPITALS.-ASYLUMS.-CEMETERIES. - 563
hence, the story of the man who stated that upon inquiring his way to Detroit, he was told to take "the most traveled road," and soon found himself in a grave-yard. These grounds were not used to great extent, and were wholly abandoned about 1838.
In 1838, the proprietors of Port Lawrence plat set apart lot No. 859 (corner of Dorr and Lenk Streets), for burial purposes ; and in January, 1839, the City Council made provision for fencing the land and laying it out in lots. Ere long, however, the property was sold for taxes, and thus passed out of the hands of the City.
The first permanent provision by the City of Toledo for the burial of the dead was made in 1839, when eight acres of land was purchased of B. F. Stickney. It lay outside the City limits, and has been known as Forest Cemetery. From time to time, as occasion demanded, the grounds were cleared and platted for market. By 1865, the accommodations of the premises had become so far exhausted, as to make further provision necessary, when a committee consisting of James C. Hall, Wm. Baker and D. E. Gardner, was appointed by the City Council, whose duty it was made to make examination of lands near to the City, with the view of ascertaining the most desirable location for a new Cemetery. After careful examination these gentlemen made report recommending the purchase by the City of portions of Sections 22 and 23, Washington Township. The Council finally concluded that the location was too remote from the City, and made purchase of 18 acres adjoining Forest Cemetery, making a total of 26 acres. Since that extension (now 22 years), the rapidly increasing population of the City has with corresponding rapidity reduced the accommodations of these grounds, making necessary other provision. To this end, by an association of citizens, Woodlawn Cemetery Association was-organized in December, 1876, and the following named Trustees elected, to wit Wm. St. John, C. B. Phillips, H. S. Walbridge, J. L. Stratton, B. F. Griffin, Heman D. Walbridge, H. S. Stebbins, D. W. Curtis and Edward Malone. After careful examination of various tracts, it was found that the land recommended by the Council Committee in 1865, was most suitable for the purpose. It was known as the Richards farm, lying Northwest of Ottawa River and containing 160 acres, and was purchased. Steps were at once taken for laying out the grounds for the purpose of the Association. The area is comprised in 79 sections, containing about 8,000 lots and 5,000 single graves, with the requisite space for carrying out the park plan. The grounds lie favorable for convenience in use and beauty and taste in arrangements. The main improvements consist of a receiving vault, a chapel, an office, an artificial lake, a system of sewerage, . with drives and avenues. The prices of lots vary from 25 cents to $1.00 per square foot. The grounds were formally dedicated on Sunday, October 21, 1883, the services being participated in by Revs. D. G. Strong, Wm. W. Williams, B. A. Wood and J. A. P. McGaw; by Messrs. F. R. Williams and S. C. Bennett, and Misses Genevra Johnson and Mary Spencer, as singers ; Mrs. Heman D. Walbridge reciting a poem, and Mr. W. H. Maher reading an original poem. H. S. Walbridge, President of the Association, addressed the audience in explanation of the action of the Board in connection with the grounds. The present officers of the Association are as follows :
President, Horace S. Walbridge.
Vice President-Joseph K. Secor.
Treasurer-Edgar H. Van Hoesen.
Clerk-Thomas H. Walbridge.
Trustees-H. S. Walbridge, J. K. Secor, J. J. Barker, A. E. Macomber, S. M. Young, W. S. Brainard, Robert Barber, C. F. Curtis, Dennis Maloney, A. Burger, Dr. O. S. Brigham, Dr. Albert Claypool.
Superintendent and Engineer-Frank Eurich.
In this connection the following list of the principal Cemeteries of the United States, with the dates of their establishment and areas, will be of interest:
Name. Location. Established. Acres.
Mount Auburn Boston 1831 130
Laurel Hill Philadelphia 1836 200
Greenwood Long Island 1838 450
Green Mount Baltimore 1839
Mount Hope Rochester 1845
Alleghany Pittsburgh 1845 360
Cave Hill Louisville 1845 200
Spring Grove Cincinnati 1845 600
Hollywood Richmond 1847 95
Forest Hills' Boston 1848 200
Cypress Hill Long Island 1848 400
Calvary New York 1848 100
Evergreen New Haven 1849 40
Oak Hill Georgetown, D. C 1849 35
Bellefontaine St. Louis 1849 332
Forest Lawn Buffalo 1850 250
Woodland Boston 1851 100
Evergreen Brooklyn 1851 340
Lutheran New York 1852 400
Elmwood Memphis 1852 80
Fairmount Newark, N. J 1855 60
Swan Point Providence 1858 250
Rose Hill Chicago 1859 250
Newton Boston 1860 80
Oak Ridge Springfield, Ill 1860 75
Woodlawn New York . 1863 400
Crown Hill Indianapolis 1863 360
Oakwood Chicago 1864 300
Mountain View Oakland 1865 200
Cedar Hill Hartford 1868 254
Woodmere .Detroit. 1869 200
West Laurel Hill Philadelphia 1869 115
Lake View Cleveland 1870 300
Riverside Cleveland 1875 102
Woodlawn Toledo 1876 160
Oakwood Troy, N. Y
Forest Hills Utica, N. Y .
Forest Home Milwaukee 200
Lone Mountain San Francisco
564 - HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.
Beside the Cemeteries above mentioned, are the following, within the City, or used for the burial of the dead from the City, to wit
COLLINGWOOD CEMETERY.-Phillips Avenue, near Duke Street, West Toledo ; in connection with West Toledo Methodist Episcopal Church.
ST. FRANCIS DE SALES.-Northwest corner Lagrange Street and Manhattan Road ; in connection with St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church.
ST. MARY's.-Northwest corner Lagrange Street and Manhattan Road ; in connection with St. Mary's Catholic Church, and adjoining the grounds of St. Francis de Sales.
ST. PATRICK'S.-South side Wayne Street and between Western Avenue and Gibbons Street; in connection with St. Patrick's Catholic Church.
ST. PETER'S.-Southeast corner of Western Avenue and Wayne Street ; in connection with St. Peter's Catholic Church.
CEMETERY BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION.-Cemetery East side Maumee River, opposite Water Works; designed chiefly for burial of Jewish persons. Officers of the Association : N. D. Oesterman, President; S. Van Noorden, Vice President ; J. Simon, Secretary ; L. Geleerd, Treasurer.
WILLOW CEMETERY.-In Oregon Township, near Toledo City line, and between Woodville and Grasser Streets. It belongs to Oregon Township. On these grounds is the monument, erected mainly by members of Ford Post Grand Army of the Republic and citizens of East Toledo and Oregon.
CALVARY CEMETERY.-On Dorr Street and adjoining the Agricultural Fair Grounds. It contains about 60 acres of land ; is designed for the use of all Catholic Churches, and was dedicated in November, 1887, by Bishop Gilmour, of Cleveland Diocese.
GRAVE ROBBING.
The first case of "grave robbing" in the Maumee Valley, probably, occurred at Fort Meigs, in 1823, when the body of Bailey Blaikesley was disinterred. It was found partly dissected, in the barn of a Surgeon. A public meeting was held, a committee of which reported that under the law, all that could be done was to " prosecute the accused for larceny, in taking away the shroud or winding sheet of the dead ; " whereupon, the meeting entreated and advised the parties concerned "to leave the place in 90 days." All did not accept this invitation, one of them continuing there for nearly 60 years beyond the " 90 days " named for his departure. The deceased was a young man who had been in the neighborhood about a year, and was attended by one of the physicians charged as above. Among the citizens taking part in the meeting referred to, were Samuel Hubbell, Wm. Pratt and Samuel Spafford. It may justly be stated in this connection, that the facilities enjoyed in this region by medical practitioners and Surgeons at that time for the study of the human system, were very meagre, in comparison with those supplied by the various Medical Schools of the present day: and the opportunities for obtaining subjects for dissection correspondingly less than now. Hence, there may well be liberal allowance made for any vigorous efforts by practitioners to secure such means for the study of their profession.
At his store in Toledo in 1838, C. G. McKnight sold "Miles's Compound Extract of Tomato-a sovereign remedy for fevers of all kinds-warranted to cure if directions were followed." Until that time and thereafter, the Tomato had been popularly known as the "Love Apple," was cultivated to very limited extent, and almost wholly as a garden ornament. Its flavor was such as to require cultivation of taste for it, while there was more or less prejudice against it on the score of its alleged poisonous qualities.