Caption below reads: City Alms House, Oswego,
N.Y.
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This photograph appears to be of a different facility at a different
location. Apparently there was a city almshouse in one location
and a county poorhouse in another. But we would appreciate
someone providing us with more information about these two facilities.
PHL |
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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:
[The table which heads each county's section in this report was extremely
illegible when we scanned it. However, there was very little information given
in the table. It looks like only 2 of 12 communities even submitted a return;
and one of those (Richland) was stated to have been unclear. The report
summary for OSWEGO County is keyed in verbatim below. For those who
wish to try to read the poor scan of the introductory table, we have provided
a link here.
Our apologies for the poor scan. PHL ]
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The following is a statement for the
last four years, of the taxes raised
for the support of the poor, &c. |
| Expenses of constables, justices,
overseers, examination, removal of paupers and of one appeal. |
Mainenance and support of the poor. |
| 1819, |
$ 183.25 |
$ 138.63 |
| 1820, |
175.11 |
128.97 |
| 1821, |
163.23 |
184.59 |
| 1822, |
598.00 |
302.09 |
| Total |
$1,119.59 |
$ 754.28 |
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Thus it appears that the
support of all the paupers in this county amounted to only $754.28,
while the costs and expenses of justices, constables, overseers and of
one appeal amounted to $1,119.59 !!!
The clerk of the board of supervisors says, "I am
not able from the documents in my possession, to make an accurate
estimate for the years 1816, 1817 and 1818, but from my own knowledge
upon this subject, I am of the opinion that the expenditures for the
years mentioned, will average with those of 1819 and 1820. Board
of paupers per week, is charged at one dollar, and runs from that to
$1.50, and in some instances $2 is charged. The charge depends
much upon the health and age of the pauper. It is frequently the
case that the pauper is sold out to the lowest bidder, to victual and
clothe for twelve months, and this course is at present deemed the
most advisable, permitting the purchaser to receive the labor of the
pauper when in health. It may not be improper for me to
remark, that the annual expenditures appertaining to pauperism appear
latterly to be encreasing. We have but few aged people in the
county and none scarcely that are charged. The admission of
foreign poor and indigent persons from the British provinces, adds to
the evil, and I believe I do not exaggerate in saying that half, if
not two thirds, of our expenses is owing to that class of
people!!" [Letter from the supervisor's clerk.] |
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| 1824 LAW (required establishment of poorhouse vs. exempted):
exempted
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1857 INVESTIGATION:
This house is located in
the town of Mexico. It is an
old structure, the main building twenty-five by sixty feet, of wood, two
stories high, with a brick addition twenty-five by twenty feet, with a farm of
sixty acres attached, yielding an annual net revenue of $300. The basement of the building is used for domestic purposes. There are nine rooms or wards appropriated to the use of paupers, and
seven of these for lodging paupers, in each of which are placed from one to
eight persons. Forty-seven
inmates were found, being provided for. Twenty-three
males and twenty-four females, three-fourths of whom were foreign, one-fourth
native born, supported at a weekly expense of $1.08 each. The average number provided for in this house is seventy-five, and all
placed under the care of a single keeper, who also has the care and management
of the farm, the male paupers assisting in outdoor work, and the females in
domestic duties, according to their several ability.
In this establishment
there is but very little separation of the sexes, either by day or night.
Of the inmates seven
are under sixteen years of age. It
is the practice to transfer the children, on reaching the age of six or eight
years, to the orphan asylum in Oswego, at which institution they are
instructed and carefully cared for. The
asylum receiving $1.25 each, per week, by resolution of the board of
supervisors of the county at its last annual meeting. Previous to this no provision whatever existed for the instruction of
the inmates, either religiously, or in the elements of a common English
education. Nor has the house been
visited by the board of supervisors during the past year, and the general appearance of the house and its
surroundings would seem to countenance the idea, that it had not been visited
by that honorable body for many years preceding.
The inmates are
supplied with wholesome plain food, which together with all other stores for
the house is purchased by or under the direction of the county superintendent,
who also imposes rules regulating the diet.
In this establishment
there is no room separate and distinct from the other, known and used as a
hospital, nor is there a pest house.
During the year there
have been five deaths and three births. A
physician is employed by the year to visit the house and prescribe for such as
need medical attention, once a week, and as much oftener as his services may
be required, for a salary of $85.00.
There are no baths
provided.
Eight of the inmates
are lunatics--five male and three female, and all paupers; three have been
admitted during the year, two have recovered, one improved and one escaped. They have no special attendants nor special medical attention.
Of the above number,
two are constantly confined in cells, and one restrained by a straight
jacket--hand-cuffs are sometimes employed.
There is no yard or
retreat provided for the insane, and although the keeper thought the house
admitted of their classification, your committee can hardly comprehend how
such a result could be attained.
Lunatics are discharged
by the superintendent only, or by his directions. No lunatics have been sent to the State Lunatic Asylum, at Utica, nor
has any application been made for their reception during the year.
Four of the inmates are
idiots, three male and one female, all over twenty years of age. The house is heated by stoves, and can be made comfortable at all
seasons. It has no ventilation,
and the ceilings of the apartments are low. Seven-eighths brought to this house come consequent upon habits of
inebriation.
This house is wholly
inadequate, in any just sense, to meet, in proper measure, the varied wants
and necessities of so large a family. Here
are gathered the aged and the young, the sick, halt and lame, the vicious,
perhaps, and the unfortunate, the idiot,
the lunatic:
seventy-five in all, as an average, to be accommodated in nine apartments, and
all to be cared for by one man and his pauper assistants. From these nine rooms take the dining hall, the sick room, the two
rooms in which lunatics are constantly confined, and five remain for occupancy
by the remainder of the inmates of both sexes. Whether this is to remain as the gauge and standard of the philanthropy
and Christian civilization of the citizens of Oswego County is a question for
them to answer. When the facts
are fully understood by them your committee cannot, for a moment, doubt what
their answer will be.
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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:
"The 'Poor House' Cared for Oswego's Less
Fortunate" -- Article written by Sophie Welling, published
posthumously in The Valley News in 1997 and now on The Historical
Society's portion of the Town of Oswego website at http://www.bridgemicro.com/townofoswego/fallbrook/
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RECORDS:
Poorhouse INMATE REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES
Microfilm Series A1978 Roll
Number(s) 166-167 more information
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SPECIAL RECORDS ANNOUNCEMENT:
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from the Photo
Gallery of the Oswego
County Genealogy Society |
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Pictured
is Barbara Dix accepting the Poorhouse Journal from Diane
Colby.
This journal covers the years 1903-1914 for the Alms House
(Poorhouse). The journal will be kept at Oswego County Record
Center and is open to the public. |
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Pictured
from left to right are
Barbara Dix, O.C.G.S. Advisor, Lee Riggio, President, Diane
Colby, who donated the Poorhouse Journal, and Marilyn Dirk,
Vice President. |
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CEMETERY:
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| We are hoping to build this base of information about the poorhouse in OSWEGO 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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