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Caption: County Home Buildings, Machias, N.Y. |
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We are delighted to announce the
recent success of an effort to preserve the "Stone Building"
-- the
only building on this campus which still stands. You may read the
history of the building and also see a great photograph by clicking on
this link
to the county website page which also contains links to the newspaper
articles covering this preservation effort. 
posted 9/28/2004 |
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"The Stone House will be opening soon to the public.
It will house the Cattaraugus County Historical Museum, along with a
Cattaraugus County Health Department branch. Not exactly sure what date
it will open, but I believe it's around October 13th. [2004] If you have
any further questions, you can call Evelyn Penman (Cattaraugus County
Historian) at 938-9111,
ext. 2240."
Thanks,
Gary Cappelletti
Cattaraugus County Web Technician |
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The notes below have been abstracted from the following reports.
To obtain further information on these reports click on the appropriate button.
(This will open a separate window so simply close to get back to this page.)
YATES REPORT
1824 LAW
1857 REPORT EXPLANATION
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| YATES REPORT: |
| ANNUAL REPORT of the SECRETARY of
STATE
p 972 |
| A TABLE showing the number of Paupers supported at
the public expense in the county of CATTARAUGUS, during the
twelve months preceding April 21, 1823, with other particulars, derived
from public documents and reports furnished the Secretary of State. |
| TOWNS |
Total number of paupers
supported during the
whole of the last year. |
Total number relieved
during a part of the last year. |
M
A
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F
E
M
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C
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Total expenses of supporting and relieving
paupers (including fees and expenses of officers, removals and
appeals) for the last year.
Dolls. Cts.
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Expenses and cost of officers and appeals
during same period.
Dolls. Cts.
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Number of paupers removed during the last
year. |
| Coldspring *** |
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| Connewango *** |
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| Ellicotville |
0 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
25.00 |
10.00 |
2 |
| Farmersville |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
8.00 |
8.00 |
1 |
| Freedom *** |
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| Great Valley *** |
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| Hinsdale *** |
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| Ischua *** |
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| Little Valley *** |
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| Olean *** |
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| Otto *** |
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| Perrysburgh *** |
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| Yorkshire |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
10.50 |
9.50 |
1 |
| [Note: *** Indicates "No
Return" PHL ] |
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| Sums of money raised by tax, in the county of
Cattaraugus, for
the support of the poor, in the years 1819, 1820,
1821, 1822.
In the year
1819, $
397.67
1820,
138.24
1821,
36.91
1822,
68.00
Total,
$ 640.82
The town of Olean has a fund of $150 accrued from
the excise duty. The expense of removing a pauper in Yorkshire, only 6
or 7 miles, in the year 1821, was no less than $23.
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[Note: Click here
for an interesting contrast of a report from a very populous county
(Albany) and an explanation of the problems involved with the
"removal" of paupers. PHL ]
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| 1824 LAW (required establishment of poorhouse vs. exempted):
exempted
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1857 INVESTIGATION:
This house is built of
wood, thirty-six by thirty-eight feet long. Connected is a farm of 200 acres, yielding a revenue of $1000. There are no basements. There
are nine rooms or wards warmed by stoves and without ventilation. The number of inmates is thirty, one-half males. Twenty-three are of native and seven of foreign birth. Four are under sixteen years of age. There is a complete separation of the sexes; they are under the care of
a single keeper. The average
number of inmates is thirty-five, supported at a weekly cost of $1.40 each. The paupers are employed on the farm and in domestic avocations. The house has not been inspected by the supervisors during the year. The house is partially supplied with bibles, and there is a church
near, where the paupers attend if they choose. The children attend the district school. The superintendents furnish supplies and regulate the government of the
house, and prescribe the system of diet. The fare is plain and wholesome. A
physician is employed by the year at a salary of $65, who attends when called. During the year have occurred three births and two deaths. No contagious disease has prevailed. Of the inmates three are lunatics, all males, and all paupers. For the accommodation of the insane are two small houses; one an old
and dilapidated one, very cold in the winter from its loose construction and
much decay, and at all times particularly offensive from the accumulation of
filth; the other is a new structure, though an inferior one, and illy planned. This, from some reason, is very little used. In these cells the insane sleep on straw, with very little clothing,
the straw becoming filled with filth before being changed. Two are confined in these cells. The
insane are attended by a male pauper. None during the year are improved or cured; they receive only the
same medical attendance as the remaining paupers. No application has been made for admission to the State
asylum. In the house is one idiot
and one blind person. Intemperance
is the cause of one-half of pauperism here. The house is a poor one, and the poor, especially the insane, are illy cared for.
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Transcribed by PHS-Volunteer, Cheramie Breaux in Louisiana
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PERSONAL NOTES FROM READERS:
"My relative John Little, Jr. and his wife
Christina McVey Little were "Keepers of the Alms House" in
Machias from 1895 to 1902. Thought you might like to have his obituary."
Terry Schliewe Tks1984@aol.com
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LOCAL
NOTES:
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RECORDS:
Poorhouse INMATE REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES
Microfilm Series A1978 Roll
Number(s) 11-12
more information
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CEMETERY:
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We are hoping to build this base of information about the poorhouse in CATTARAUGUS county through the helpful participation of readers. All are requested to submit items of interest by sending
e-mail to
The Poorhouse Lady.
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