in founding one general hospital, which shall be worthy of our 
city and vicinity and the age in which we live.” 
The hospital, one of the three oldest in this city, was in- 
corporated March 18, 1848, and by 1850 work was started on 
the building, the site being a twenty-two acre plot at Twenty 
eighth street, which had been donated by Harmer Denny. 
Captain and Mrs. Schenley. 
In March, 1853, the erecting and furnishing of the build- 
ing was completed at a cost of approximately $40,000 and the 
hospital was opened for the reception of patients. During its 
first year 172 medical and surgical patients and 26 insane pa- 
tients were admitted. 
Within one year the number of charity patients, particu- 
larly in the insane wards, had increased to the point where it 
was necessary to seek aid from the State for maintenance of 
these unfortunates. The ever increasing number of these pa- 
tients soon overcrowded the hospital, thus making necessary 
the erection of a new building. The location that is now Dix. 
mont was chosen for this purpose and in 1862 the structure 
was sufficiently completed that all the insane patients were 
transferred. 
About this time, the exigencies of the Civil War became 
so real and pressing that the management tendered the Gov- 
ernment the free use of the hospital and its grounds, so that 
the sick and wounded of that terrible conflict migat have the 
proper care. Immediately after the Civil War the hospital 
resumed its former activities, having performed a national 
service and receiving the thanks of the nation. From 1862 un- 
til 1910, in addition to hospital services, it served the com- 
munity by distributing coal to the needy poor under the 
Brewer and Crawford funds, for which it was trustee. 
The hospital at Twenty-eighth street and that at Dix 
mont continued under one general board of managers, with 
distinct executive committees, until July 27, 1907, when both 
institutions were granted new charters by the Legislature. 
The parent hospital retained the name of The Western Penn- 
sylvania Hospital, while the other became the Dixmont Hos- 
pital for the Insane. 
With rapid growth of the city population, the hospital had 
to be enlarged from time to time. the cost of these additions