Wisconsin Rapids City Times

Top Menu

  • Contact Us
  • E-Editions
  • Subscribe

Main Menu

  • News
    • Around the County
    • Government
  • Covid 19
  • Community
    • Community Calendar
  • Sports
    • Sports News
    • High School Sports Scores
    • Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
    • Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Obits
  • Opinion
  • Classifieds
  • Business Directory
  • Contact Us
  • E-Editions
  • Subscribe

logo

Wisconsin Rapids City Times

  • News
    • Around the County
    • Government
  • Covid 19
  • Community
    • Community Calendar
  • Sports
    • Sports News
    • High School Sports Scores
    • Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
    • Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Obits
  • Opinion
  • Classifieds
  • Business Directory
Community
Home›Community›The Wood County Hospital Part III: The Wood County asylum opens

The Wood County Hospital Part III: The Wood County asylum opens

By kleonhardt
June 22, 2018
950
0
Share:
A hog barn which once stood on the farm grounds of the Wood County Asylum. Photo courtesy of Asylum Projects

By Kris Leonhardt

Construction on the Wood County asylum took one year to complete and when it was finished, a 284 x 194 foot building stood on the east side of Marshfield that employed 19 staff and had room for 250 patients.

The west wing was painted blue in relation to the men that resided in the area, while the east wing was pink and served the female patients.

The center wing was home to administration, as well as a basement activity area which included one bowling alley that became the site of competitive matches among neighboring asylums.

A water tower serviced the facility and stood 75 feet tall.

“There was an underground tunnel where you could go down in the house basement, and you could go to the first barn or all of the way to the hospital,” said Ron Flink, whose dad Conrad served as manager in later years. “We use to roller-skate in that tunnel.”

That tunnel was 8 feet tall by 6 feet wide and 1,000 feet long, with 14 inches of concrete overhead for reinforcement. Its purpose was twofold – it linked the main building, heating plant, water tower, and ran under County Highway A to the farm facilities enabling a safe passageway for patients and staff as they moved between the main building and farm areas, as well as providing a passageway for the electricity and steam heat among the buildings.

Patients also performed work on the farm while residing there.

“It was a matter of keeping them occupied,” said Ron. “They were physically able, they were just a little slower, and we had pigs, we had chickens, and we had beef cows.”

In the early days of operation, the asylum kept an 18-acre garden, a fruit orchard, beehives for honey, and tobacco fields in addition to the 200 plus pigs, 20 horses, 150 plus milk and beef cattle, and nearly 1,000 chickens.

In addition, the women at the facility often created aprons and curtains and other products using their sewing skills.

The surplus products that were not needed at the facility were sold, which provided funding for needed supplies at the asylum.

In 1933, a greenhouse was built to help provide gardening services out of season.

Three years later, one of the barns burned to the ground. To prevent a reoccurrence, the new barn was constructed totally of bricks and is still standing today.

“The original barn that is (still) there was an old horse barn, but nothing was in the barn (when my dad later managed the place,)” Ron said.

Next week: The evolution of treatment

TagsasylumFeaturedKris LeonhardtWood County historyWood County Hospital
Previous Article

Real Freedom 5K assists victims of human ...

Next Article

Rafters let Dock Spiders scuttle away

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Related articles More from author

  • Community

    Open Call for Artists for “Local Vision 2016”

    February 12, 2016
    By Julie Schooley
  • Top Stories

    Local Residents Protest Heroin Epidemic

    March 14, 2016
    By Julie Schooley
  • Accident graphic
    Community

    Man injured in farm accident

    July 20, 2018
    By kleonhardt
  • Courts

    Man Charged with Possession of Heroin with Intent to Sell

    April 28, 2016
    By Julie Schooley
  • Top Stories

    Moment in Time: Johnson & Hill Co.

    April 4, 2017
    By Julie Schooley
  • Top Stories

    Road Construction to Start on 24th St.

    April 5, 2016
    By Julie Schooley

About Us


Wisconsin Rapids City Times is published by Multi Media Channels LLC, N2919 County Road QQ Waupaca, WI 54981.

Timeline

  • January 16, 2021

    From the Wood County Health Department: COVID-19 Vaccine Phase Update

  • January 15, 2021

    One dead following head-on collision

  • January 14, 2021

    Riverkings start year on the right foot

  • January 13, 2021

    Local program to offer new sports option for those on autism spectrum

  • January 12, 2021

    Aspirus Health signs agreement to acquire Ascension sites; Stevens Point’s St. Michael’s Hospital included in transfer

Find us on Facebook

Copyright © 2020 Multi Media Channels LLC.
All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted without the prior written consent of Multi Media Channels LLC.
×