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Caption:
Madison County House, Eaton, N.Y. |
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Note: The use of the term County HOUSE
(rather than Poorhouse or County Home)
is unusual in New York State. PHL
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Caption: No. 19
Eaton -- Madison County Home |
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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.
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YATES REPORT
1824 LAW
1857 REPORT EXPLANATION
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YATES REPORT:
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| 1824 LAW (required establishment of poorhouse vs. exempted):
exempted
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1857 INVESTIGATION:
It consists of three
stone buildings, each two stories in height, the first used for sane and
healthy paupers, one hundred and fifteen by forty feet, the second is used as
an hospital, thirty-eight by thirty-two feet, the third as a lunatic asylum,
thirty-eight by thirty-two. In
the poor house are nineteen, in the hospital eleven, in the asylum seventeen. Attached is a farm of one hundred and thirty five acres, thirty acres
wood land, yielding an annual revenue estimated at $1,5000.00. The basements are used for domestic purpopes. The buildings are warmed by stoves and about one
third of the rooms are ventilated. The
number of inmates was one hundred and eight, seventy-two males and thirty-six
females, of these three-fourths are of foreign birth. Among the paupers are thirty children. The sexes are separated at night, but mingle during the day,
they are cared for by the keeper and his wife. Those in a single room range from one to thirty-five. The average number of inmates is one hundred and thirty, supported at a
weekly cost of fifty-six cents each, exclusive of the products of the farm. The males so far as able, labor on the farm and the women in domestic
avocations. The house has been
inspected by the supervisors once during the year. It is supplied with Bibles, but no religious instruction is furnished. A teacher is hired, and school taught during the whole year, the
average number of scholars is seventeen. The superintendents of the poor furnish the house with supplies and
impose rules for government and regulate the system of diet. They bind out children on their arrival at proper ages and exercise the
power to discharge lunatics. The
present keeper is a superintendent. The
fare of the paupers consists of beef, pork, bread and plain wholesome food. A physician is employed by the year at a salary of $100, who visits the
house whenever called. There are
no arrangements for bathing, but usually a plentiful supply of water
furnished. During the year one
birth and five deaths have occurred. Of
the inmates fourteen are lunatics, five males and nine females, all but one
are paupers. Three have been
admitted within the year. They
are under the care of a single attendant and receive no medical attendance. Nine are confined in cells, and three of these are so violent that the
attendants are unable to keep them clothed, they are frequently tied or
chained to the floor. During the
past year none have been either
improved or cured. The
construction of the house allows classification to a fair extent.
Seven of the paupers
are idiots, four males and three females, four of these are under fifteen
years of age.
The house can be kept
comfortably warmed in winter. Intemperance
brings to this house three-fourths of its inmates. This establishment in the ampleness of its accommodations and in the
cleanly and orderly manner in which it is kept, ranks among the best poor
houses in the state.
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Transcribed by PHS-Volunteer, Cheramie Breaux in Louisiana
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PERSONAL NOTES FROM READERS:
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LOCAL
NOTES:
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RECORDS:
Poorhouse INMATE REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES
Microfilm Series A1978 Roll
Number(s) 73-75 more information
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CEMETERY:
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| We are hoping to build this base of information about the poorhouse in MADISON 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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