The death of Miss Dorothea Lynde Dix in 1887 was strongly felt by the staff of the asylum. In the Superintendent's report, Eugene Grissom wrote the following passage. "For more than a half of a century she stood in the vanguard of humanity, working valiantly and unceasingly for the stricken insane. Difficulty never stopped her, distance never wearied her, opposition never daunted her, refusal never subdued her, pleasure never tempted her, ease never lured her, and fame never attracted her. Her objects were the wretch insane – her field was the world – her thought the relief of the suffering – her success was their redemption, and her crown shall be the gift of Him like whom she "went about doing good". Earth bids farewell to this great spirit, who has given, if possible new beauty to the name of woman, and new splendor to the deeds of charity."
In the 1890's state hospitals were admitting alcoholics, drug users and epileptics as patients. In an effort to reduce the increasing number of patients, the legislature mandated the transfer of the insane criminals back to the central penitentiaries in the 1890's.
The Insane Law of 1899 changed the name of the asylum to "The State Hospital at Raleigh", and revised the code for admission of the mentally ill to hospitals. For the first time there was "voluntary" admission. In the early 1900's citizen pressure forced the NC Legislature to increase capacity at all state hospitals. An epileptic colony was established to the rear of the hospital on 1,155 acres of land, known as the Spring Hill Farm and the Oregon Farm. It was purchased by the state from Mrs. Elizabeth Grimes. She was the widow of William Grimes, a wealthy plantation owner from Eastern North Carolina. By 1911 a training school for the retarded in Kinston, NC removed these patients from the hospital.
Nursing School Before 1898, doctors and attendants cared for the patients as part of their "on the job training." All staff lived on the hospital grounds. That year, Dr. George L. Kirby, Superintendent of the State Hospital of Raleigh, employed the first graduate nurse to teach student nurses and attendants. The Dorothea Dix School of Nursing opened in 1902 with eight female students. It continued until October 1913 when the school was reorganized and arrangements were made for the students to receive the second year of their education at Bellevue Hospital in New York City. The male school did not succeed because the salaries were too low to induce males to continue their work and study for the three-year training period. The first class graduated in June 1915. The school was incorporated in 1916. Anderson Hall was built to accommodate the school offices, classrooms and living quarters for student nurses in 1918. Specialists in other areas of treatment soon followed including dentist, social workers and staff to teach vocations and crafts to patients.
Early 1900's In the early 1900's the hospital installed an ice and refrigerator plant. This enabled the staff to slaughter their own meat giving the patients good quality beef at a reduced cost. They also installed a sausage factory. Water coolers were placed in the wards.
In 1912 a field was selected for a vineyard and 1,850 grape vines were planted. The hospital superintendent stated in his report "This should and doubtless will, yield an abundance of luscious fruit for the entire population and besides enough to make a sufficient quantity of the very purest and best wine for our old and feeble patients, and food flavoring for the sick." Two years later the hospital purchased a used $15,000 greenhouse from the Westbrook Sanitarium in Richmond, Virginia for $500.
During World War I building projects were put on hold. In 1918 a flu epidemic took the lives of 18 patients and 2 staff. A total of 317 patients and staff were ill in one month.
Dancing and music had become an important form of entertainment by this time. Patients, nurses and male attendants assembled twice a week to enjoy dancing. Dancing lessons were given to the nurses and male attendants and they gave them to the patients. The hospital superintendent stated in his report "All of them thoroughly enjoy the music, the effect is so apparent that music should be credited as one of the most potential remedies for the insane." In 1924 a moving picture machine was added to the patient Amusement Hall. And was later replaced by a "talking" movie machine. Movies were loaned for free by local merchants. Annual BBQ's, tennis courts and a ballpark all added to the patient lives.
In 1922 Raleigh medical doctors and surgeons provided their services to the patients and staff. Two years later a building was erected for this purpose. By 1925 the census grew to 1,600. A department for white alcoholics was developed. The "insane convicts" were transferred back to the hospital into a new building erected for this purpose. The legislature had passed an act that patients of this type should be cared for in this institution instead of the state's prison. Due to the large number of patients, the new building was immediately too small and beds were placed in the hallways.
In 1926 a spectacular fire destroyed the main building and nine wards. The origin of the fire was believed to be a blowtorch used in soldering tin by workmen who were repairing the roof. Over 400 patients were quickly moved outside. The NC National Guard from Raleigh assisted staff with patients and maintaining order. Students from State College also offered their assistance with the patients. There was no loss of life. All Raleigh firefighting equipment was on hand to battle the fire. Durham Fire Department also sent personnel. Low water pressure prevented the firemen from extinguishing the fire quickly. Later the damaged buildings were repaired.
By the 1930's there were over 2,000 patients. New buildings were erected financed by the Public Works Administration. In 1936 the Dorothea Dix School of Nursing was operating according to the standards set by the NC Board of Nursing. Students received the second year of their education at the General Hospital of the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond. The Richmond college required that all students must have their tonsils removed before arriving at their institution. That same year the Dorothea Dix School of Nursing began to offer a three-month affiliation in psychiatric nursing for senior students in approved nursing schools.
In the 1890's state hospitals were admitting alcoholics, drug users and epileptics as patients. In an effort to reduce the increasing number of patients, the legislature mandated the transfer of the insane criminals back to the central penitentiaries in the 1890's.
The Insane Law of 1899 changed the name of the asylum to "The State Hospital at Raleigh", and revised the code for admission of the mentally ill to hospitals. For the first time there was "voluntary" admission. In the early 1900's citizen pressure forced the NC Legislature to increase capacity at all state hospitals. An epileptic colony was established to the rear of the hospital on 1,155 acres of land, known as the Spring Hill Farm and the Oregon Farm. It was purchased by the state from Mrs. Elizabeth Grimes. She was the widow of William Grimes, a wealthy plantation owner from Eastern North Carolina. By 1911 a training school for the retarded in Kinston, NC removed these patients from the hospital.
Nursing School Before 1898, doctors and attendants cared for the patients as part of their "on the job training." All staff lived on the hospital grounds. That year, Dr. George L. Kirby, Superintendent of the State Hospital of Raleigh, employed the first graduate nurse to teach student nurses and attendants. The Dorothea Dix School of Nursing opened in 1902 with eight female students. It continued until October 1913 when the school was reorganized and arrangements were made for the students to receive the second year of their education at Bellevue Hospital in New York City. The male school did not succeed because the salaries were too low to induce males to continue their work and study for the three-year training period. The first class graduated in June 1915. The school was incorporated in 1916. Anderson Hall was built to accommodate the school offices, classrooms and living quarters for student nurses in 1918. Specialists in other areas of treatment soon followed including dentist, social workers and staff to teach vocations and crafts to patients.
Early 1900's In the early 1900's the hospital installed an ice and refrigerator plant. This enabled the staff to slaughter their own meat giving the patients good quality beef at a reduced cost. They also installed a sausage factory. Water coolers were placed in the wards.
In 1912 a field was selected for a vineyard and 1,850 grape vines were planted. The hospital superintendent stated in his report "This should and doubtless will, yield an abundance of luscious fruit for the entire population and besides enough to make a sufficient quantity of the very purest and best wine for our old and feeble patients, and food flavoring for the sick." Two years later the hospital purchased a used $15,000 greenhouse from the Westbrook Sanitarium in Richmond, Virginia for $500.
During World War I building projects were put on hold. In 1918 a flu epidemic took the lives of 18 patients and 2 staff. A total of 317 patients and staff were ill in one month.
Dancing and music had become an important form of entertainment by this time. Patients, nurses and male attendants assembled twice a week to enjoy dancing. Dancing lessons were given to the nurses and male attendants and they gave them to the patients. The hospital superintendent stated in his report "All of them thoroughly enjoy the music, the effect is so apparent that music should be credited as one of the most potential remedies for the insane." In 1924 a moving picture machine was added to the patient Amusement Hall. And was later replaced by a "talking" movie machine. Movies were loaned for free by local merchants. Annual BBQ's, tennis courts and a ballpark all added to the patient lives.
In 1922 Raleigh medical doctors and surgeons provided their services to the patients and staff. Two years later a building was erected for this purpose. By 1925 the census grew to 1,600. A department for white alcoholics was developed. The "insane convicts" were transferred back to the hospital into a new building erected for this purpose. The legislature had passed an act that patients of this type should be cared for in this institution instead of the state's prison. Due to the large number of patients, the new building was immediately too small and beds were placed in the hallways.
In 1926 a spectacular fire destroyed the main building and nine wards. The origin of the fire was believed to be a blowtorch used in soldering tin by workmen who were repairing the roof. Over 400 patients were quickly moved outside. The NC National Guard from Raleigh assisted staff with patients and maintaining order. Students from State College also offered their assistance with the patients. There was no loss of life. All Raleigh firefighting equipment was on hand to battle the fire. Durham Fire Department also sent personnel. Low water pressure prevented the firemen from extinguishing the fire quickly. Later the damaged buildings were repaired.
By the 1930's there were over 2,000 patients. New buildings were erected financed by the Public Works Administration. In 1936 the Dorothea Dix School of Nursing was operating according to the standards set by the NC Board of Nursing. Students received the second year of their education at the General Hospital of the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond. The Richmond college required that all students must have their tonsils removed before arriving at their institution. That same year the Dorothea Dix School of Nursing began to offer a three-month affiliation in psychiatric nursing for senior students in approved nursing schools.