|
|
|
Caption: Columbia County Alms House, Ghent, N.Y. |
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
YATES REPORT:
|
|
|
| 1824 LAW (required establishment of poorhouse vs. exempted):
|
|
|
1857 INVESTIGATION:
This establishment
consists of a number of wooden buildings of various sizes and forms, all two
stories in height; connected is a farm of 204 acres, yielding a revenue of
$1,400. The basements are
occupied as kitchens, & etc, & etc. In the buildings are eighteen rooms, or wards, occupied by the paupers
and warmed by stoves, but not at all ventilated; the ceilings are seven feet
high. The number of inmates was
187; 112 males and 75 females. Of
these one-third are of foreign birth and thirty-four under sixteen years of
age. The sexes are kept separate;
they are under a single keeper who has charge of the house. The average number of inmates is 208, supported at a weekly cost of
$1.00. The more able paupers
labor on the farm and about the house. Once
the supervisors have visited the house during the past year. It is supplied with Bibles, and religious services are attended twice
each month. For the instruction
of the young a school is taught in the house during the whole year, and the
boys are kept entirely separate and apart from the older paupers. The superintendents of the poor procure supplies, regulate the
government of the house, bind out the children on their arrival at proper age,
and exercise the power of discharging lunatics. The fare of the paupers consists of meat, bread and vegetables, of good
quality. Tea and butter are also
furnished daily. A physician is
employed by the year. No
facilities are afforded for bathing. During
the year have occurred in the house twelve births and fifteen deaths. No contagious disease has prevailed. A fever or pest house is connected with the establishment. Of the inmates thirty-five are lunatics, fifteen males and twenty
females; all are paupers, save two, who each pay one dollar a week; eight have
been admitted within the year. Their
only attendance is from the same paupers.
Four are confined in
cells, one of whom has been so confined three years. They are also restrained by mitts and by the ball and chain. The keeper says he sometimes
whips the lunatics, but that "he believes it does no good". Five
of the inmates are idiots, two males and three females. Three-fourths of the paupers are brought here by intemperance.
During the year two
lunatics have escaped from the house, and no search was instituted for their
recovery. The children here are
kept clean, and well clothed, and are in all respects well cared for. The house is very badly constructed, but is kept clean, and the inmates
well fed. The cells, of which
there are twenty-four, are clean, and beds are provided in them whenever the
lunatics will allow them to remain.
|
Transcribed by PHS-Volunteer, Cheramie Breaux in Louisiana
|
|
|
|
PERSONAL NOTES FROM READERS:
|
|
|
LOCAL
NOTES:
|
|
|
RECORDS:
Poorhouse INMATE REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES
Microfilm Series A1978 Roll
Number(s) 21-23 more information
|
|
|
|
CEMETERY:
|
|
|
We are hoping to build this base of information about the poorhouse in COLUMBIA county through the helpful participation of readers. All are requested to submit items of interest by sending
e-mail
to The Poorhouse Lady.
|
|
