Butler Hospital

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Butler Hospital
Established 1844
Opened 1846
Current Status Active
Building Style Pre-1854 Plans
Architect(s) William Tallman & James Bucklin
Location Providence, RI
Architecture Style Gothic Revival
Alternate Names
  • Butler Hospital for the Insane
  • Butler Health Center



History

The facility was founded in 1844 as Rhode Island's first exclusively mental health hospital. Industrialist Cyrus Butler donated heavily to the hospital, and it was named in his honor. Local Yankee philanthropist Nicholas Brown, Jr. also bequeathed a large amount of money to construct the hospital.[1]

The land Butler Hospital sits upon was originally purchased for a price of $6,000, and the original building was approximately 100,000 square feet and constructed at a cost of $89,000.

Dr. Isaac Ray, the hospital’s first superintendent, believed that each patient should be treated humanely in a clean, safe environment. His beliefs in the healing effects of quality care and the legal rights of mentally ill patients provided an important foundation upon which Butler Hospital developed its reputation. Today, the sprawling campus is 110 acres and houses 35 buildings, which are home to many of Butler’s services and programs. Many of the original, historic red-brick buildings built in the 1800s remain standing and are still in use, today.[2]

Images

Main Image Gallery: Butler Hospital


References

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butler_Hospital Butler Hospital – Wikipedia
  2. https://www.butler.org/news/butler-hospital-prepares-to-celebrate-175th-anniversary Butler Hospital Prepares to Celebrate 175th Anniversary