No Money for Decorations
When the Douglas opened in 1891, they barely had funds for basic furniture. The local churches donated artwork and other decorations to beautify the rooms of first patients.

Silk Stockings and Rabbits
Early community donors could think outside the box… Gifts included:

• Player piano and music rolls
• $650 upright grand piano for Douglas Hall
• Greenhouse frame, including glass
• Electric surgical instrument sterilizer
• Two horses for the Douglas farm
• Free veterinary services
• Large safe
• Salt for a year
• Tobacco for military patients
• Male Belgian rabbit
• Free cremation of unclaimed bodies of patients (Mount Royal Cemetery)

Of course, books, gramophone records, clothing etc. were also donated in great quantity. All were tremendously appreciated.

Patients Gifts: Christmas 1897
In 1897, the medical superintendent reported: “At Christmas, circulars to the number of five hundred were sent to friends of all patients whose addresses were known, requesting some gift, no matter how trifling, [in order that] their afflicted ones might be reminded that they were not entirely cut off from the outside world. These circulars were liberally responded to, and the friendless inmates were not forgotten. All received presents from the Christmas tree, the distribution being followed by a dance, which was thoroughly enjoyed.”

1899 Christmas letter
Dear Sir,
It is the intention to have a Christmas-tree entertainment, for the hospital inmates only, at which I hope a present will be provided this year for every patient. Without the cooperation of patients’ friends, however, this cannot be done. I, therefore, invite you to contribute something for the one sojourning here in whom you are especially interested. There is scarcely a patient who will not be cheered when he finds that he has not been forgotten by his friends on this occasion, be the remembrance ever so trifling.

Among our number are some who have no known relatives. Any gift for these unfortunate ones will be gratefully received: wearing apparel is always acceptable.

Please write the patient’s and your own name on the parcel, inside or out, and address as above in my care. In order that timely arrangements can be made, it should reach the hospital one week before Christmas. Besides the post and express, parcels may be left at the city office, room 28, Mechanics Institute Building.

Yours faithfully,

T. J. W. Burgess,
Medical Superintendent

Daily Papers, Freely Given
Local publishers donated copies of newspapers to the early Douglas. This was a hit with patients, hungry for news of the outsideworld. Publications included the Montreal Herald, Montreal Gazette,and the Montreal Star.

Trees from Verdun…France!
In the fall of 1918, the Verdun Horticultural Society planted horse chestnut trees on the Douglas grounds. The saplings had been carefully brought from Verdun, France. About 1/3 of them survived their first Canadian winter and lived to reach impressive heights.

Local Businesses Supply Prizes
Montréal’s business community generously donated prizes for patients who participated in sporting events in the Annual Sports Day celebration of the Douglas. From the 1897 annual report, “…every winner, down to fourth and fifth places, was awarded a handsome prize, monetary or otherwise, generously contributed by our friends in the city.”