of the insane was started May 1, 1860, and on July 19, the 
cornerstone of the new building was laid when appropriate 
ceremonies in the presence of a large concourse of friends of 
the institution from various parts of the State were held. 
The new department for the insane was erected and open- 
ed for the reception of patients November 11, 1862, and one 
hundred and thirteen patients were transferred to it from the 
Western Pennsylvania Hospital in the Twelfth ward of the 
City of Pittsburgh. 
Since the opening of the institution for the insane up to 
June 1, 1926, 15,287 patients have been admitted. Of this 
number 3,558 have been restored, 4,515 improved, 1,387 un- 
improved and 4,736 died. The normal capacity of the hospi- 
tal at the present time is 675 patients. Just now it is housing 
within its doors 1088 patients. 
In 1907 the Department for the Insane was granted a 
separate charter, and was afterward known as the Dixmont 
Hospital for the Insane. In 1921 the managers petitioned the 
Court of Common Pleas for a decree whereby the words “for 
the insane’ could be removed from the corporation of the 
institution. This petition was granted by the court May, 
1921, the name of the hospital being changed to “The Dix- 
mont Hospital.” 
The hospital is governed by a board of directors. The 
actual management is vested in an Executive Committee 
chosen by the Directors. The annual meeting of the corpora- 
tion is held in December, at which time the directors appoint 
all officers for the ensuing year. The executive committee 
meets every month at the office of the hospital, and upon the 
call of the secretary special meetings are held in Pittsburgh. 
The main building stands upon a tract of ground com- 
manding a beautiful view of the surrounding country for 
miles, and at an elevation of 180 feet above the Ohio River. 
The building is of the old-style Kirkbride plan, brick with 
stone trimmings, three stories in height, with four cross 
wards four stories in height, the wings extending out from the 
central or administrative building on either side. The 
building is 750 feet front and is old-fashioned in construction. 
The corridors are 12 feet wide with bed rooms for patients 
opening into them. The building is practically fireproof.