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Caption: DeKalb
County Infirmary, DeKalb, Ill.
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These buildings are
no longer there.
It should be noted that the original poorhouse had evolved
into a nursing home by the time they were abandoned.
This followed a pattern which was quite common throughout
the United States.
You can read more about this on our HISTORY
page. PHL
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| LOCAL
NOTES:
| submitted
by: Ruth Leathers deca@nilenet.com |
| from
the "History of DeKalb County, Illinois", by
Henry L. Boies, originally published in 1868, (my copy
is a reprint) page 411 -- in relating county
business in the year 1853. reports: |
| " The
expense of supporting the paupers which had now run up
to about six hundred dollars per year, was considered to
be a heavy burden upon the County, and in the hope of
lessening it somewhat, the Board of Supervisors resolved
to purchase a County poor farm upon which some of this
class of unfortunates could be made useful and
contribute to their own maintenance.
Messrs. Tappan and
Tindall were authorized to contract for such a farm,
which was to be located in one of the two middle tier of
townships, and Mr.Harrington who was still Chairman of
Boar advertised for a loan of three thousand dollars
with which to purchase it. In September, the farm of A.
H. Cartright, on the road between Sycamore and DeKalb,
was purchased for this purpose, the County borrowing the
purchase money at the rate of ten percent
interest." |
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| PERSONAL
NOTES FROM READERS:
"The county home that you
have a photo of was on Sycamore Road (Route 23) on the edge of
DeKalb as one drives north to Sycamore. It was only about a
half-mile from my grandfather-in-law's farm (on Love
Road)."
Kristy Lawrie Gravlin hannah@teleport.com
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| RECORDS:
"More information
on the DeKalb County poor farm can be gotten through the
Joiner
History Room in Sycamore, IL (That's the County seat)."
David Kodeski dkodeski@lycos.com
NOTE: On that webpage it indicates that Poor Farm Records are
among their holdings. PHL
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| CEMETERIES:
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Here is a
wonderful Photo
Album of the DeKalb County Cemetery  |
"The Dekalb County
Cemetery located on the old County Farm property has not been
disturbed by the recent construction. It is still accessible and
in good condition. The Dekalb County Historical Society walked
and recorded this cemetery and the list of interments is
published in a book (dated 1990) sold by the society. Those interred
there are less fortunate souls who were more or less wards of
the state when they died and were buried at the cost of the
state or county. Look-ups are available at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~ildekalb/lookups.htm
."
Jim Niewold www.sycamoreclockshoppe.com
Dekalb Co., IL. Genweb CC
"The name of the cemetery
is the De Kalb County Cemetery (Est. 1881) A monument has a plot
map and a list of the names and dates of death for all known
persons. It also indicates the graves that are occupied by the
unknown. The list was last updated on Aug 15, 2001. Most of the
markers are a plain slab of concrete with nothing written on
it."
Ed ERMcCauley@aol.com
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| We are hoping to build this
base of information about the poorhouse in DeKALB 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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