Birth - The Lost Asylum
Ron Samuel A. Eddy, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Fairfield State Hospital, in a ceremonial speech on June 10, 1931 said that comparative figures appeared to show that Connecticut was proportionally less sane, than it had been 65 years prior.
Mr. Eddy went on to explain that a survey of 1886 showed there were 706 insane persons in the State. While in 1931 there were 5,462 insane persons confined in the 2 state hospitals for the insane, and about another 170 in the Hartford Retreat.
He further explained that in 1800 the population of the State was approximately 500,000 while in 1931 it was over 1,600,000. Hence, although the State's population had little more than tripled in 65 years, the number of insane had increased about eight-fold!
Mr. Eddy said the figures as used in his speech, were merely to show the conditions, which in 1929 prompted the General Assembly to make an initial appropriation for the establishment of an additional institution for the care of the mentally afflicted.
The Connecticut General Assembly
On June 18, 1929 the Connecticut General Assembly approved an Act providing for the establishment of the Fairfield State Hospital. The approved act is as follows:
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FAIRFIELD STATE HOSPITAL
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. On or before June 1, 1929, the governor shall appoint twelve trustees of a state hospital for the insane, to be located in Fairfield County and to be known as The Fairfield State Hospital. Three of said trustees shall serve for a term of two years and four for a term of four years. At the expiration of the term of each of said trustees, the governor shall appoint his successor to serve for a term 0f four years. The governor shall fill any vacancy which may occur among said trustees by appointment for the un-expired portion of the term.
Section 2. Said trustees shall purchase a site for said hospital and shall have charge of its construction and equipment and, upon its completion, subject to the provisions of the general statutes concerning state institutions, shall have the management and control of its operation and affairs.
Section 3. Said trustees shall receive no compensation for their service, but their necessary expenses incurred in per- forming them shall be paid by the state.
Section 4. The sum of one million seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars is appropriated to carry out the provisions of this act.
Section 5. This act shall take effect from its passage.
More simply stated, the act of 1929 provided that the Fairfield State Hospital be located in Fairfield County and appropriated $1,750,000 to be expended by a board of trustees for the purchase of a site and the erecting thereon suitable buildings for the conduct of the institution.
Board of Trustees
The first Board of Trustees met in the old Senate Chamber for organization on June 6, 1929. The first problem confronting the trustees was the selection of a suitable site for the institution.
Four requirements for a suitable site were agreed upon: 1. At least 600 acres of well located farming land. 2. An abundant supply of pure water. 3. Accessibility to railroad facilities. 4. Convenience of access by State roads from those portions of the western part of the State which the hospital was intended to serve.
Then a committee on purchase of land was appointed. The committee inserted advertisements setting forth the 4 requirements and asking for proposals in every daily and weekly paper published in Fairfield County. Numerous responses were received, and of those warranting further investigation, personal inspections were made. After a thorough investigation of sites, the Newtown site was chosen as being the only one available embracing all of the 4 requisites.
Thus, 770 acres of land were purchased from 16 landowners, at a sum cost of three hundred twenty four thousand one hundred forty dollars and forty cents, giving birth to Fairfield Hills.
Prayer
An invocation by the Rev. John Maurice Deyo of Danbury - June 10, 1931:
Our gracious Heavenly Father we turn unto Thee, "except Thou buildest the house they labor in vain who built it." We turn unto Thee for Thou hast revealed Thyself in Jesus of Nazareth who showed sympathy with all who were afflicted and sought to bring light to minds in the midnight of darkness. We thank Thee for Him who on the shores of Gadara ministered unto the man from the tombs and through his own quietness and the calmness brought quietness and calmness to that troubled spirit. As we come for this act of dedication we pray Thee, our Father, that those who come here may find freedom from the burden of fear, release from the weight of hallucination, receive light in place of darkness and even to those who must continue to the end of their days with the darkened mind, may there come some measure of light, and hope and healing. We pray for those into whose hands this State will entrust this institution, that they may be aided by science and by every agency that can help them in their work. We thank Thee for the Commonwealth and for those who will work with her for the alleviation of mental suffering. In the name and for the sake of those who will come here and in the spirit of the man of Galilee, we ask Thy blessing. Amen.
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