Dr. Munson

was a man
of many talents

 

‘Munson, M.D., the fist

James Decker Mu
superintendent of the Northern Michigan

 

rologistpsyehiatis., Within just five years
Ot graduating he was coined as tect
medical assistant ofthe newly-built Easter
Michi feng nfo

In 1881, the state chose Tr

Tor the Norbers Michigan Aoylums ogely
{ue toan anesian well on the property which
proce high ome of water Dr Munson
‘as selected asthe new medical
Siernendant in 1605. "On aval, he found
2 vast area of unilled, sump-covered land,”
According to his fiend and personal physician,
EFF Sladek, M.D. “With his farm upbringing

 

and boyhood knowledge, he cleared the land
and panned fs landscaping and
beasiiaton”

is efforts wer ately

wmediatl
apreciated, econ to a aril inthe
idly 1, 1924 isu of the Record-Lagl,

"Dr. Munson caused considerable alarm and
caitcism when he inaugurated a program of

 

fun and bm ose The jects scored
Fis policy of using inmates for this work

i preparation for
Sending insane persons into the forests armed

with ns hatches and explosives they si,
a deadly co

‘THE MUNSON MONITOR
7

Dr, Munson, however did not ater his
plan" blasted and the land
Ear and anes by the patents wih no
single “omens that co

ld be ascribed to their

 

In terms of character, he is described as
having had at "eraem wumor” and
‘whenever he visited the 1p fora shave
and haircut, people would filter in from the
neighbor ie

‘was said to have been a vigorous man,
physical and inlay who seemed a

Feast ten years younger when he tired at the
age of 76 in 1928
x Munson dont 1 hows

iy hospital in 1315 and ned
toaee his name given to the orginal James
Decker Munson Hostal, which was but in
1925. Worth noting,
ov savings ioe ry plans the etal
a considerable sum in those das. qj