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Overview

The Washington Territory's first refuge for the mentally ill was called the "Fort Steilacoom Asylum" and it functioned between 1871 and 1886 in buildings formerly built and occupied by the US Army at Fort Steilacoom. For four years, the Territory of Washington contracted with a private management company to run the facility, although this proved unsatisfactory and the Territory took over administration in 1875. When new facilities were completed in 1887, the name of the institution was changed to the "Western Washington Hospital for the Insane," and was known under this name from 1887-1915. Another new building program initiated another name change in 1915 to the current "Western State Hospital."

Building History

Architect John G. Proctor and a building contractor named Rainey collaborated on the design and construction of the new asylum building in 1886-1887.

The construction firm of Lillis and Goss of Tacoma won the contract to make additions and repairs to the Western State Hospital in 1891. (See “Statement IX—Exhibit No. 10,” State of Washington Biennial Report of the State Auditor to the State Legislature, Session of 1890, [Olympia: O.C. White, State Printer, 1892], p. 85.)

On 03/12/1891, the State of Washington also paid $13,000 to the Moran Brothers Company to erect a water tower, engine, pump and pipe system at the Western State Hospital for the Insane. (See “Statement IX—Exhibit No. 10,” State of Washington Biennial Report of the State Auditor to the State Legislature, Session of 1890, [Olympia: O.C. White, State Printer, 1892], p. 85.)

Building Notes

The history of the Western State Hospital was very complex, with many wings added to the main ward building from 1891-1934, and a number of ancillary facilities--stables, administration offices, laundries, and housing--built continuously since the institution's beginning;

Alteration

An addition to this mental institution was made in 05/1891, Lillis and Goss, Building Contractors; an addition was also made in 04/1893 by Oliver Perry Dennis, Architect, J.C. Lillis, Building Contractor; another addition was constructed by the building contractor, Anton Berens, in 1899. A fire occurred at the hospital on 09/24/1924, causing significant damage. Architect, Julius Zittel, and building contractor, Eivind Anderson designed and built another new wing of the hospital between 1925-1927.

PCAD id: 13604