An article from the Cornell Daily Sun archives about Sage House, the home of Cornell University Press. We are always talking about reviving the dumbwaiter to ferry manuscripts up and downstairs.
Cornell Daily Sun, Volume XIX, Issue 6, 27 September 1898, Page 6
THE NEW INFIRMARY.
Changes Made in the Henry W. Sage Mansion.
What will probably be the finest college infirmary in the country is now being fitted up on the site of the Henry W. Sage mansion on State street. The Sage family has done much for Cornell University, but probably no gift from that family has been given with more tenderness and feeling than this latest gift of a site and a mansion for the exclusive use of the students of Cornell. The family of the late Henry W. Sage felt that no better use of their father’s home could be made; and both sons have been much interested in the fitting up of the house for use as a students’ infirmary.
The Sage place was one of the finest and best appointed houses in Ithaca, and it was Mr. Sage’s idea that few changes should be made and that the infirmary should retain a homelike appearance. The large rooms have, therefore, not been cut up. They average eighteen feet square and except at infrequent intervals there will be no necessity for putting more than one patient in a room. In cases of necessity, however, four patients can easily be accommodated in each. The capacity of the infirmary will be about thirty, there being seven large rooms. The ventilation will be excellent. The rooms on the first story are twelve and one- halt feet in the clear; on the second story, eleven feet; on the third story, ten feet and one half.
When the plumbing was first put into the house, some twenty years ago, it was the finest that could be obtained; but Mr. Sage has had the old plumbing removed and the new fittings are of the most approved sanitary type throughout.
The paper has been removed from the walls in the rooms which were changed and they have been painted. The house is well equipped with bath rooms, there being two on the second story and one on the third, beside one in the basement and one bath-room and two lavatories on the first floor.
The second and third stories have each an emergency kitchen supplied with a gas stove and everything necessary tor the preparation of broth and food for the patients. Each is connected by dumb waiter with the kitchen.
For use in any surgical cases one of the rooms, which has two east, and one north window, has been set aside. A sky-light has been put in, there is a large fire-place with a gas log for ventilation, while all the woodwork has been removed and the floors have been painted and the walls varnished. A closet with hot and cold water is connected with this room.
The heating system is hot water and it has always been adequate and the house is thoroughly and easily heated. Gas and electric lights are used for lights throughout. Mr. William H. Sage has completely furnished the infirmary with linen, furniture, and china leaving some of the carpets and furniture which were used by his father’s family.
The infirmary is almost ready to open, a few painters only being still at work. It is for the exclusive use of the students of the University and the charges will be as low as they can be made. Mr. Miller, the architect, who has had entire charge of the work in the house, and who kindly gave a Sun representative information regarding the changes could not state definitely just what the charges would be.
