HISTORY OF WOOD COUNTY



   The present officers are: W. H. Bean, Vesper, president, board of trustees;
F. S. Gill, Wisconsin Rapids, vice president; L. E. Colvin, Marshfield, secretary;
L. E. Gilson, superintendent; Mrs. L. E. Gilson, matron; and Dr. R. P. Potter,
Marshfield, physician.
   Mr. Gilson has been superintendent since the beginning of the institution.
Truly great works (and the Wood County Hospital is one of these) are almost
invariably the reflection of a single predominating character. Back of the
success
we chronicle here there is such a one-Mr. Gilson. With whole-hearted devotion
to the work and with a combination of qualities peculiarly adapted to its
execu-
tion, the success of the project is but a reflection of his success, and
justice requires
that this be borne in mind in contemplating the institution as it exists
today.
   The hospital building itself is 284 feet east and west by 196 feet north
and
south; it has two stories and basement, and is built of brick, with double
walls
and air space. There are two-story open-air galleries 60x14 feet, and the
exterior
has been beautified with vines, etc., so that, set as it is in the midst
of a beautiful
lawn with gravelled drives and walks, it presents a most artistic appearance.
The two wings of the building form the wards, and- the central part contains
offices
for the superintendent and matron, reception room for visitors, etc., with
the
superintendent's apartments and three guest rooms on the second floor. The
central portion also contains the main dining hall on the first floor, with
fireproof
kitchen in the rear, and below the dining hall a large recreation room, containing
billiard and pool tables, bowling alley, moving picture apparatus, phonograph,
etc. These devices are in daily use, and add much to the comfort and happiness
of the patients. The wards, and, in fact, the entire building is equipped
with the
most modern conveniences, including beautiful tiled baths, clothes-airing
racks,
etc.
   Across the road from the main building are the farm buildings, all of
which, in
addition to being model equipment, are remarkable in that they have been
built
by Mr. Gilson with the aid alone of the inmates of the institution. Considered
in
this light, the interior of the horse barn is one of the most remarkable
pieces of
construction ever accomplished. Stall partitions, box stalls, gates, etc.,
are all
built of wrought-iron pipe, painted a battleship grey, and so fashioned as
to be-
ornamental as well as extremely practical. All of this construction, even
down
to the manufacture of the patterns for the castings forming the joints, has
been
effected by the patients of the institution.
   The development of the resources has been brought to a point where the
hos-
pital is almost capable of carrying on its existence independently of the
outside
world. Not a pound of meat has been bought for years, the slaughter-house
which
forms a part of the main hog barn furnishing meat from the pens, for immediate
consumption or for curing in the smoke-house located in the basement of the
main
building; 18 acres of perfectly-kept garden provides fresh vegetables; 650
chickens;
supply their products; two orchards furnish an abundance of fruit; during
1922
4,000 quarts of berries were preserved, all of which were grown by the institution,
which even raises its own tobacco. One hundred fifty head of horned stock,
110
hogs, and 20 horses are kept. Outside of the patients, only 17 persons, including
the superintendent, matron, and seven nurses, are employed to carry on this
great,
enterprise. Besides all permanent improvements, $142,895.89 in cash has been



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