The New Hampshire State Hospital was established in 1842, the seventeenth such hospital in the United States and the seventh in New England. Planning for the Hospital began in 1830 as the condition of the insane began to awaken a deep interest in the hearts of philanthropic persons in the State. At the time, the insane existed in deplorable conditions ranging from confinement in chambers lacking heat to imprisonment in county jails. Others remained homeless wanderers. After numerous studies and discussions, the Legislature chartered the New Hampshire Asylum for the insane in 1838. (The name was changed to the New Hampshire State Hospital in 1901). It took three years of debate to determine a site for the Hospital. In 1841 it was decided to locate in Concord. With a $9,500 grant from the city 120 acres was purchased. This extensive space allowed the Hospital to include a farm and to be self-sufficient. The pleasant, natural environment, in which the patients could live and work, was considered highly therapeutic. The Hospital grounds were continually improved by extensive plantings. Prominent architects, including several with national reputations, designed the State Hospital buildings. They were considered state-of-the-art for their time.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 01:25:24 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015