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| | ==History== | | ==History== |
| − | The Asylum for the Chronic Insane of Milwaukee County, located in the town of Wauwatosa, was erected in 1888 through the efforts of the State Board of Charities and Reform and the members of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors. At that time it was claimed by the State Board of Charities and Reform that the buildings should have capacity for 100 inmates only, as a greater number would be detrimental to the best welfare of the patients generally, and that an estimate of $60,000 would be sufficient for the erection of such buildings as were desired. The county not having the necessary funds on hand, six-year 4 per cent county bonds were issued and sold at a premium of $100.
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| − | The buildings were erected without extra cost over and above the contract price, and were finished and occupied in 1889. The writer of this article was elected by the Board of Supervisors as one of the three trustees for the new institution. Some time after this the Board of Trustees was increased to five members, to be appointed alternately by the Governor and the Board of Supervisors.
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| − | Mr. Fred Wilkins was appointed superintendent through the suggestion and recommendation of the State Board of Charities and Reform. As a landscape gardener could not be had, Mr. Wilkins personally laid out the grounds.
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| − | At first there was no resident physician at the institution. Dr. Hay (now head of a private sanitarium at Stevens Point, but at that time a resident of Milwaukee) was appointed to visit the patients a certain number of times each week.
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| − | Dr. Venn succeeded Mr. Wilkins as superintendent and Dr. Hay as physician. He remained a little less than two years and was succeeded by Dr. William F. Beutler as superintendent and medical officer, who has held the position up to the present time to the entire satisfaction of the Board of Trustees. Before coming to the institution Dr. Beutler had been an assistant for six years under Dr. White at the Milwaukee Hospital for the Insane.
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| − | At the opening of the institution places were found for 120 patients, the first allotment being from the Milwaukee Hospital for the Insane, from which institution the majority of cases since received have come.
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| − | At present (1914) there are 285 patients in the asylum. To provide more room for new patients, 309 acres of land have been procured by the State Board of Control. There is now being erected one building each for men and women and a large refectory, which will increase the capacity of the asylum about 350 beds.
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| − | On January 1, 1915, Dr. J. T. Klein was appointed first medical assistant, being the first assistant appointed to this asylum. There is an honorary medical and surgical staff, subject to call at any time; the internes at the county hospital, which is located within five minutes' walk of the asylum, are also subject to call in cases of necessity, by courtesy of the superintendent of the hospital, who is a member of the honorary staff of the asylum.
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| | ==Images of Milwaukee County Asylum== | | ==Images of Milwaukee County Asylum== |
