built in 1868-69 as a city poorhouse 
with funds from the separation of poor relief between the county and the city
[For some time prior to this a poorhouse on this site had served first as a city almshouse and later as a county poorhouse, but in 1863 a new county poorhouse was built in Oak Summit/Millbrook, Town of Washington ]

These photographs were taken by James Storrow  9/6/2000. For many years he has studied the work of J. A. Wood, the architect who designed this poorhouse -- as well as the one in Ulster County 
Our scans do not do justice to Mr. Storrow's beautiful photography. 

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.)

This county's section of an 1823 legislative investigation into the condition of poor relief in New York State is very comprehensive and includes a survey of poor relief practices in all the towns as well as a description of 
the poorhouse then operated in Poughkeepsie.

This house is constructed of wood, connected is a farm of one hundred and seven acres, yielding an annual revenue of $1,631.00. The basements are occupied both for cells and lodging rooms. There are twenty-five rooms or wards, warmed by stoves but destitute of ventilation. The number of inmates was two hundred and forty; one hundred males and one hundred and forty females. Of these two-thirds are foreigners, one-third are native born, and sixty-one under sixteen years of age. The sexes are kept separate. They are under a single keeper. On an average about eight paupers are placed in a single room, in the largest thirty to forty. The average number of inmates is two hundred and twenty, supported at a weekly cost of ninety-five cents each. The paupers who are able are employed on the farm and about the house. The supervisors have visited the house once during the year. It is supplied with Bibles and a Sunday school, and religious worship is regularly conducted. A school is taught in the building during the whole year. The superintendents furnish supplies; the diet is plain and wholesome. A physician is employed by the year. During the last year forty-nine deaths have occurred.

Of the inmates twenty-seven are lunatics, ten males and seventeen females. All are paupers. Twenty have been admitted within the year. They receive no special attendance. Two lunatics are confined in cells and chained to the floor, one is placed in a straight-jacket. The only classification consists in placing the violent in cells and others in rooms. The superintendent exercises the power of discharge. Five of the inmates are idiots, two males and three females. There are four blind. There is a pest house connected with the establishment.

The lunatics sometimes escape but they are always advertized or followed and secured. The physician of the house states, that during the three years he has been in charge nine lunatics have been cured and thirteen improved.

"The Poughkeepsie City Almshouse is located at 20 Maple Street, Poughkeepsie NY.  
It is now used for low income/senior housing."
     Tom Smith      Tcsmith01@aol.com 

List of Residents of the Dutchess County Almshouse (then located in Poughkeepsie)
from the 1850 Census  

"Yes, there is a cemetery there! I found a volunteer who took pictures for me. It is all overgrown, and the director there suggested to come during the cooler seasons, as they have Lyme disease in the area."  
     Terre   FIrock@aol.com