A Little piece of Paradise… College Hill, Ohio - SELFCRAFT

walking.“Sickness in the Institution arises, most frequently, from the reception by the scholars of boxes fromhome, supplied with confectionery and other dainties. Parents are earnestly advised against the practice ofsending these (1869).”Unfortunately, the college could not afford to stay open and was sold to the Cincinnati Sanitarium,Dec. 17, 1873. That year the nearby Farmers’ College became co-educational and some of the studentstransferred there.Members of the last graduating class of June 5, 1873 included: Alice K. J. Hollenshade, LindaMusselman, Isabella Hammitt, Jessie D. Strong, Martha Jones, Sallie W. Huntington, Abbie S. and AliceW. Willard.The final faculty were: Alfred E. Sloane, president, Leptha N. Clark, Rev. W. W. Colmery, Eliza H.Austin, Dora F. Crossette, Mary J. Bannister, M. Jennie Davidson, Ferinand Schuler, Louis Schwebel,Helen M. G. Fletcher, Emily Cutler, Bertha C. Metz, and A. Curtis.J. C. C. Holenshade sold the property to the Presbyterian Church, only keeping $50,000 of its valuefor himself and donating back the rest. The trustees of O.F.C. from College Hill at that time were; Rev.W. W. Colmery, Rev. C. E. Babb, S. F. Cary, Charles E. Cist, A. D. E. Tweed and W. C. Huntington.The Cincinnati SanitariumCincinnati Sanitarium was founded in 1873 by three physicians, Drs. S. R. Beckwith, W. H. Huntand Wm. L. Peck, who recognized a need for a private care psychiatric facility in the Cincinnati area.They joined with four businessmen (Mr. Val. P. Collins, Mr. John F. Elliott, Mr. Henry Prestiss, Mr. JohnL. Whetstone) to establish a hospital. It was the oldest private psychiatric hospital west of the Allegheniesand the largest in the state of Ohio, continuously operated for 115 years.Purchasing the 40 acre property and the buildings of the defunct Ohio Female College in Dec. 1873,the buildings were remodeled and re-equipped for the treatment of mental illness, alcohol and opiumaddictions. “The consumption of opium, in some of its various forms, is becoming more prevalent everyyear, and is now a deadly curse in all sections of the country (1879).” 18In 1879, 81 patients were in residence. The major categories of their illnesses were: 37 of mania, 14of melancholia, and 12 of nervous disturbances from opium or alcohol. There were almost twice as manymen admitted as women. Statistics were compiled yearly as to occupations of patients. For example, in1879, of the 413 who had been treated there since the start of the institution, 7% were clerks, 8% farmers,24% housewives, and 18% merchants. The recovery rate was 34.4% and 87% were released in less thanone year. Most stayed 30 to 90 days.Numerous buildings were added to accommodate more patients. In addition to the main hospital,there were four two- story cottages, an amusement hall with a billiard hall in the basement (1883), aflower conservatory and several physical plant buildings. An ice house for cooling was built near to thelake and in 1890 a 100 foot water tower was built that was connected to all the buildings. There even wasa station of the Cincinnati Northwestern railroad.The hospital continued to expand, adding four acres of adjoining property on the west and frontingHamilton Avenue. On this additional ground, Elliott Hall (1892), a stone and brick annex with steam heatand enclosed verandas were built.The lake was described as “ a living spring, never exhausted of the purest water, is also an unfailingsource of pleasure as well as health to Sanitarium inmates. The Cincinnati Sanitarium “Spring Water”being as good as any in the world for physiological purposes and delicious as a beverage-if it wereanalyzed and a suitable pavilion built over and around the spring, there is no good reason why it shouldnot be advertised as a “Fountain of Youth,” if not an antidote for whisky and all other habitual poisoningfor which relief is sought. If drank exclusively, in sufficient quantity, and for a sufficient length of time, a“cure” of the whisky habit might be confidently guaranteed.” 1918 Source: Emerson North brochures, Cincinnati Historical Society Library.19 Op cit.80