21st – Cold hazy morning, Wind East – Went to Town return’d to Diner – Commenced Snowing at 2 O’Clock and continued without intermission all the afernoon & very cold~
From the journal of Captain Henry Thompson, March 21, 1814. Courtesy the Friends of Clifton.
On March 21, 1814, Dr. James Smyth and Dr. Colin Mackenzie, managers of the Maryland Hospital, received an 25 year extension on their lease from the City of Baltimore. The extension included new conditions that required the institution to construct a new four-story brick building with two three-story wings funded by loans from the state and a new lottery.
The history of public hospitals in Baltimore began in 1794 when local residents established a “temporary retreat for the Strangers and Sea-faring people.” The Baltimore Committee of Health acquired the property during the yellow fever epidemic of 1798 (an outbreak that killed over 5,000 people from Baltimore to Boston) and maintained the hospital with public funds until 1808 when the institution was first leased to Smythe and Mackenzie. Under its new private management, Baltimore covered the costs for public patients at a fixed rate and controlled the management of the hospital through an appointed board of five visitors.
Known variously as the Public Hospital, the City Hospital and the Maryland Hospital for the Insane, this institution moved in 1852 to Catonsville where it survives as the Spring Grove Hospital Center. Learn more about the history of Spring Grove in this detailed history of the institution.
20th March – Sunday Fine cool day Wind about 10 A.M. fresh at N.W. Mrs. T. and three children went to Town, to stay a few days at Mr. Wirgmans. Edw. & Jo. Patterson call’d in the forenoon after which I rode to the Meadows and Furley where I din’d, in the evg. John VanWyck, Wm. Sterett, & Alex Stewart rode out & sat half an Hour~ Great many Wild Pigeons flying ~
From the journal of Captain Henry Thompson, March 20, 1814. Courtesy the Friends of Clifton.
19 – Fine Spring day, Wind South Went to Town, return’d to Dinner. Sowed Grass Seed on Lawn taken from the Hay loft. Mr. Wichlehausen & Jn. Howard rode out in the evg., staid half an Hour ~
From the journal of Captain Henry Thompson, March 19, 1814. Courtesy the Friends of Clifton.
18th – Very fine day, and the first which has any appearance of Spring, being the most backward Season I recollect & nothing like vegetation as yet – Went to Town return’d to Dinner. Mrs. Peters, Beckey & Anne came in the evening and drank tea – Finish’d a trench for Planting Thorn Hedge in front of the House
From the journal of Captain Henry Thompson, March 18, 1814. Courtesy the Friends of Clifton.
17 March – More mild today, but hard Frost last Night, went to Town return’d to Dinner. W. Lux came & staid all Night ~
From the journal of Captain Henry Thompson, March 17, 1814. Courtesy the Friends of Clifton.
