On January 20, 1837 the Vermont Phoenix published the following announcement regarding the opening of a new establishment in town. Read on to see how the Brattleboro Retreat was first presented to the public.
VT. Asylum For The Insane, Open
The Trustees of the Vermont Asylum for the Insane would announce that this institution is now ready for the reception of patients. The building is finished in a manner adapted to the classification and convenience of its inmates. The two wings are so constructed as to afford pleasant and commodious rooms, and that the sexes may be entirely separated. Rooms are prepared for the sick, removed from all annoyance, where the immediate relatives and friends of the patients can if they desire, bestow their kind attentions and sympathy. Experienced nurses and attendants are procured, and none will be retained except this who are kind and faithful to their trust. – No harsh treatment will ever be for a moment allowed.
Several rooms are prepared in the centre building for those who require additional accommodations of attendants and luxuries, which will be furnished according to the desires of friends and the compensation to the institution. For this class of patients, superior accommodations are offered. They will be received into the immediate family of the Physician, and not only be under his constant care and watchfulness, but partake of all the enjoyments of social life.
Arrangements are alos made for the reception and accommodation of persons, who though not insane, are afflicted with nervous diseases, requiring medical treatment. Pleasant and well furnished rooms, and good board in the family of the Physician, will be afforded; and from his experience and study, he will be enabled to adopt a course of treatment more likely to be successful than that of ordinary physicians who have not made such diseases their peculiar study.
Due provision has been made for the exercise, amusement and employment of the patients. Connected with the Asylum is a Farm of nearly 50 acres, in which the patients wil be employed in gardening and farming, in such a degree as shall be conducive to their health. Such employments are now admitted to be among the most important and successful means of restoration, and in this respect this institution has a decided advantage over any other in this country. Battle-doors, chess, draughts and the like amusements will be afforded. The females will be employed in knitting, needlework, painting, &c. Carriages will be provided for the daily riding of the patients in suitable weather, and they will take their daily walks with nurses and attendants. A small and select Library, the newspapers of the day and several Periodicals, will be furnished for the patients.
The situation of the Asylum is healthy and delightful. It has the appearance of a cheerful country residence, and every resemblance to a place of confinement has been carefully avoided. Immediately in front of the institution is presented a landscape of a rich and cultivated meadow, extending in the distance into picturesque and romantic scenery, so well adapted to arrest and remove the morbid fancies which enslave the minds of the insane. The view is also enlivened by the passing and repassing of carriages and travelers on two large thoroughfares, in front of the institution. Though retired, it is yet in the immediate vicinity of the village, and the grounds about the establishment are tastefully laid out in beautiful walks and ornamented with many rare and valuable trees, shrubs, and plants, all of which conspire to make the abode of its inmates at once pleasant and cheerful.
The whole will be under the charge of Wm. H. Rockwell, M.D., who for the last several years has been connected with the well known Retreat for the Insane, at Hartford, Ct. From his experience under Dr. Todd, and his success and devotedness to this branch of his profession, the Trustees are confident in the belief that all that kind, assiduous and skillful treatment can contribute towards the restoration of reason will, with the blessing of God, be accomplished at this Asylum.
Terms of Admission
For convenient accommodations in the wings, Three Dollars per week.
For those who require a room in the centre building, from Five to Twelve Dollars per week, according to the accommodations required.
(In consideration of the assistance rendered to the Institution by the State, and from a desire to extend its advantages to all classes of community, the Trustees have determined to receive indigent patients at an extremely low rate – less than they can be maintained properly, elsewhere.)
Indigent patients in this state, whose disease is not of more than three months standing, Two Dollars per week, provided that a certificate is lodged with one of the Trustees signed by a majority of the Selectmen of the town where the patient resides, stating that they are of the opinion that said patient or his or her parents, or husband, (as the case may be) does not possess property to the amount of one hundred dollars. No patient however shall remain in the institution upon said terms over six months, as that term will generally suffice to determine whether the case is probably curable or not.
Boarders laboring under nervous disease will be received at reasonable prices according to accommodations required.
No patient will be received for a less term than three months, and payment for that term will be required in advance. If the patient should recover before the expiration of that term, the pay for the unexpired time will be refunded. If the patient remains longer than three months, the subsequent payments will not be required in advance, but only for the time the patient remains.
N.B. It should be borne in mind that in the first three months of insanity the chances of recovery by proper treatment are vastly greater than at any subsequent period. Insane persons should therefore on the first appearance of the disease, be placed under curable treatment.
Application for the admission of patients may be made by letter or otherwise, to Dr. Wm. H. Rockwell, or either of the Trustees.
– Samuel Clark, John Holbrook, Epaphro Seymour, John Holbrook – Trustees
Brattleboro, Dec, 5, 1836
Publishers of newspapers in this and the adjoining states will aid the cause of humanity by giving the above one or more insertions in their papers.
