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==History==
 
==History==
In 1850, Dorothea Dix persuaded the General Assembly to appropriate money for a state-run psychiatric hospital in Raleigh. By 1875, an estimated 700 North Carolinians were classified as “insane” and not receiving proper care. One hospital thus proved insufficient to meet the needs of the State’s mentally ill. Therefore, on March 20, 1875, the General Assembly voted to provide $75,000 to establish a second state hospital. Four western North Carolina cities, Statesville, Hickory, Asheville, and Morganton, competed to become the home for the institution that was to be known in its early years as the Western North Carolina Insane Asylum. Morganton was selected.
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In 1850, Dorothea Dix persuaded the General Assembly to appropriate money for a state-run psychiatric hospital in Raleigh. By 1875, an estimated 700 North Carolinians were classified as “insane” and not receiving proper care. One hospital thus proved insufficient to meet the needs of the State’s mentally ill. Therefore, on March 20, 1875, the General Assembly voted to provide $75,000 to establish a second state hospital. Four western North Carolina cities, Statesville, Hickory, Asheville, and Morganton, competed to become the home for the institution that was to be known in its early years as the Western North Carolina Insane Asylum. Morganton was selected
  
Gifts and purchases resulted in 263 acres being acquired by the State in 1875. Work began almost immediately. As an economy measure, 50 convicts were released from penitentiaries and brought to Morganton to help make bricks for the hospital’s first building. The brick contractor was responsible for the feeding, safekeeping, and return of the convicts. Realizing that the building under construction would not provide adequate space and due to insufficient funding to expand its size, the General Assembly appropriated an additional $60,000 in 1877 for another wing. Five years later, in December 1882, the Avery Building and its south wing were completed. Dr. Patrick Livingston Murphy was hired as the first superintendent, a position in which he served for 25 years.
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Gifts and purchases resulted in 263 acres being acquired by the State in 1875. Work began almost immediately. As an economy measure, 50 convicts were released from penitentiaries and brought to Morganton to help make bricks for the hospital’s first building. The brick contractor was responsible for the feeding, safekeeping, and return of the convicts. Realizing that the building under construction would not provide adequate space and due to insufficient funding to expand its size, the General Assembly appropriated an additional $60,000 in 1877 for another wing. Five years later, in December 1882, the Avery Building and its south wing were completed. Dr. Patrick Livingston Murphy was hired as the first superintendent, a position in which he served for 25 years
  
 
In early 1883, the General Assembly directed that Dorothea Dix Hospital and the Western North Carolina Insane Asylum determine between themselves which of the State’s counties each hospital was to serve. On March 7, 1883, a line was drawn following the western boundary of Rockingham, Guilford, Randolph, Montgomery, and Richmond counties.
 
In early 1883, the General Assembly directed that Dorothea Dix Hospital and the Western North Carolina Insane Asylum determine between themselves which of the State’s counties each hospital was to serve. On March 7, 1883, a line was drawn following the western boundary of Rockingham, Guilford, Randolph, Montgomery, and Richmond counties.
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The name of the hospital was changed from the Western North Carolina Insane Asylum to the State Hospital at Morganton in 1890. This name was retained until 1959, when it was changed to Broughton Hospital after then Governor J. Melville Broughton.
 
The name of the hospital was changed from the Western North Carolina Insane Asylum to the State Hospital at Morganton in 1890. This name was retained until 1959, when it was changed to Broughton Hospital after then Governor J. Melville Broughton.
  
During the early years of the hospital’s existence, many of the male patients worked on the hospital’s roads and grounds. A road was built to the hospital from the town of Morganton with the help of Broughton Hospital patients. Additional land was purchased, and by 1893 the total campus acreage was up to 331.
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During the early years of the hospital’s existence, many of the male patients worked on the hospital’s roads and grounds. A road was built to the hospital from the town of Morganton with the help of Broughton Hospital patients. Additional land was purchased, and by 1893 the total campus acreage was up to 331
  
 
By May 1899, the eastern dividing line for the Western District was changed to the western border of Granville, Durham, Chatham, Harnett, Cumberland, and Robeson counties. Additional buildings, including an airing court, a summer house for women, a bowling alley and billiard room, a bake house and dairy, a greenhouse, and a new stable and farm house were added to the campus. Yet additional land was purchased in 1900 at the Hunting Creek Bridge, and a golf course, which was used by patients and staff, was built near the Farm Colony.
 
By May 1899, the eastern dividing line for the Western District was changed to the western border of Granville, Durham, Chatham, Harnett, Cumberland, and Robeson counties. Additional buildings, including an airing court, a summer house for women, a bowling alley and billiard room, a bake house and dairy, a greenhouse, and a new stable and farm house were added to the campus. Yet additional land was purchased in 1900 at the Hunting Creek Bridge, and a golf course, which was used by patients and staff, was built near the Farm Colony.
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In the early 1900’s, the colony treatment approach was adopted, which resulted in the establishment of a number of detached residential units where patients could live in smaller groups in less of an institutional atmosphere. The colony houses were constructed to resemble other farmhouses in western North Carolina. Gardens, vineyards, and orchards surrounded these homes, as actual farming operations were undertaken to keep the custodial-care patients productively occupied. There were three colony groups involving ten buildings, which housed about 350 patients.
 
In the early 1900’s, the colony treatment approach was adopted, which resulted in the establishment of a number of detached residential units where patients could live in smaller groups in less of an institutional atmosphere. The colony houses were constructed to resemble other farmhouses in western North Carolina. Gardens, vineyards, and orchards surrounded these homes, as actual farming operations were undertaken to keep the custodial-care patients productively occupied. There were three colony groups involving ten buildings, which housed about 350 patients.
  
Influenza and pneumonia hit the hospital in 1901. At that time, the hospital served 52 counties in North Carolina. In 1903 the Harper Building opened, and in 1906 a large, new laundry was constructed. An amusement hall was also planned in front of the Scroggs Building at the strawberry patch, which is now the location of the Geropsychiatry parking lot and Watkin’s Garden. By 1908, buildings to house female tuberculosis patients and the Nurses’ Home were completed. The subsequent year, a new kitchen and bakeshop followed, along with a building to house male tuberculosis patients. In 1910, plumbing was replaced in the Avery Building, iron beds replaced wooden beds, and granite steps in the front of Avery Building were replaced with marble steps.
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Influenza and pneumonia hit the hospital in 1901. At that time, the hospital served 52 counties in North Carolina. In 1903 the Harper Building opened, and in 1906 a large, new laundry was constructed. An amusement hall was also planned in front of the Scroggs Building at the strawberry patch, which is now the location of the Geropsychiatry parking lot and Watkin’s Garden. By 1908, buildings to house female tuberculosis patients and the Nurses’ Home were completed. The subsequent year, a new kitchen and bakeshop followed, along with a building to house male tuberculosis patients. In 1910, plumbing was replaced in the Avery Building, iron beds replaced wooden beds, and granite steps in the front of Avery Building were replaced with marble steps
  
 
Meanwhile, a state-level hospital commission was formed to inspect and supervise the hospitals. As far as treatment planning, there were daily staff meetings at the hospital where each patient’s case was presented and reviewed.
 
Meanwhile, a state-level hospital commission was formed to inspect and supervise the hospitals. As far as treatment planning, there were daily staff meetings at the hospital where each patient’s case was presented and reviewed.

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