Party at My Place

Burn Brae

From the Philadelphia Medical Registry pgs 145-146
Edited by
William B Atkinson, A.M., M.D.
1884
Burn-Brae
A Private Hospital for Mental and Nervous Diseases
Clifton Heights, Delaware County, Pa

This institution, although not within in the city limits, is so near them as to be properly mentioned in connection with the objects of this work. It is a private Hospital for mental disease, and derives its support from the payments made for board and medical care of patients.

No patient is received for a less period than three months. A certificate of insanity, signed by two physicians, and acknowledged before a magistrate, is invariably required.

A lady, well educated and of exceptionable manners and deportment, resides in the same apartments, and devotes her time to lady patients, thus securing them on all occasions a pleasant companion and a watchful friend.

A limited number of cases of Opium habit can be admitted.

Access from Philadelphia by the Baltimore Pike, or by car for Oak Lane Station, on Central Division of P.W. and B. Railroad, depot Broad and Filbert Streets, Philadelphia.

Consulting Physicians : Drs. Robert Bartholow and Horatio C. Wood.
Assistant Physician : Dr. Willoughby Phillips.
Physician-in-charge : Dr. R. A. Given.

All packages by express, postal and telegraphic communications should be addressed
Burn-Brae,
Clifton Heights, Delaware County, Pa.




In the summer of 1859, Dr R.A. Given erected buildings near the village of Clifton and established a private hospital for patients afflicted with nervous and mental diseases. It was designed to accomodate forty patients, 20 of each sex. The main building was originaly four stories high, including the basement, subsequently a mansard was added, in which the amusement hall ( a large and handsome room) was located. Many improvements have been made from time to time in different halls, rendering the accomodations more perfect and attractive. On the ladies' side an entirely new building has been erected rendered necessary by the enlargement of the rooms in the main structure. The grounds, 25 acres in extent, are handsomely laid out and planted with a variety of ornamental trees, evergreen and diceduous.

 A farm of thirty two acres, part heavily wooded, capable of being converted into drives and walks of great attractiveness has been added; thus, besides securing to the inmates perfect privacy, affording them in their walks, the pleasing variety of hill and valley, meadow, brook and woodland. No efforts have been spared to render the building fire proof. Fire escapes are attached to both wings and in addition arrangements exist on each floor to enable the occupants to pass readily from side to side without resort to the stairs. The building throughout is thoroughly heated with steam and lighted by gas. Hot and cold water is abundantly distributed throughout the entire establishment.