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Northern Hospital for the Insane In 1870 a law was passed authorizing an additional hospital for the insane. After an examination of several sites in different parts of the state by a commission appointed for that purpose, choice was made of the location offered by the citizens of Oshkosh, consisting of 337 acres of land, about four miles north of the city, on the west shore of Lake Winnebago. The necessary appropriations were made, and the north wing and central building were completed and opened for the admission of patients in 1873. Further appropriations were made from time to time for additional wings, and in 1875, the hospital was completed according to the original design, at a total cost to the state of six hundred and twenty-five thousand two hundred and fifty dollars. Since that time some additional land has been purchased, the original buildings modified, and others erected. This hospital will now, without crowding, suitably accommodate 650 patients. In December, 1873, Dr. Walter Kempster, of Utica, New York, was elected superintendent and continued to act as such by successive reelections, until the close of the term ending July 1, 1884, when he was succeeded by Dr. R. M. Wigginton, who had had several years' experience as assistant and superintendent in the State Hospital for the Insane near Madison. Upon the close of the official year, July 1, 1887, Dr. Walter Kempster was again elected superintendent, but after serving three months, he resigned the position, and Dr. Charles E. Booth, of Elroy, Wis., was elected his successor. On July 21, 1891, Dr. W. F. Wegge, of Milwaukee, was elected to succeed Dr. Booth, and became superintendent August 1, 1891. Dr. Wegge resigned October 1, 1894, and Dr. D. G. Hathaway, of Wauwatosa, was elected his successor. Dr. Hathaway resigned July 1, 1895, and was succeeded by Dr. W. A. Gordon, of Oshkosh. There has been paid from the state treasury up to October 1, 1896, for real estate, buildings, improvements, repairs and current expenses of the hospital, in all the sum of $3,855,604.04.
The average number of patients in the hospital in the past year has been 566, as against 556 the previous year, and the current expenses $114,525.94, as against $121,106.41.
The Blue Book of the State of
Wisconsin. Complied and published under the direction of Wm. H.
Froehlich, Secretary of State. 1901. page 516 WIGenWeb Project Resources Back to State Institutions Page Photos on this page courtesy of Penny Postcards from WI ~ a USGenWeb Archives Site. (Use your back brower button when returning from the thumbnail photos.) |