Joseph Alison REED

                   REFN: 8880
In 1856, Dr. Reed was appointed the 1st Superintendent for the Dept. of
the Insane in Western PA Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA.  He soon felt the
insane should have a hospital to themselves.  He was fortunate in
interesting Miss Dorothea Lynde Dix in his plan.  On November 11, 1862,
he transferredhis 113 patients to his new institution 10 miles from
Pittsburgh, overlookingthe Ohio river.  Since Miss Dix had discovered
this property and been influential in its purchase, it was called
Dixmont.  The hospital was known as theDepartment for Mental Diseases of
the Western Pennsylvania Hospital.  In 1905, the name was changed to the
Dixmont Hospital.  In the early days, these institutions were more of
less custodial, and didn't always have a favorable reputation.  Miss Dix
and Dr. Reed were among the pioneers in the field of mental hospitals.
Dixmont earned a reputation for excellent care and treatment.As of
1941, there were over 1000 patients at Dixmont.  Miss Dix lived with the
Reed family for 13 years.
Dr. Reed's second wife, Mary Frances, gave muchthought and effort to the
well being of the patients, and her beautiful Christian character was
much felt at the hospital.  After Dr. Reed's death, Dr. Henry Ashmore
Hutchinson, the Asst. Superintendent, was appointeed superintendent, and
later married Sarah Fahnestock Reed.