Galveston
County Poor Farm
| Marker
Number: |
7467 |
| Marker
Title: |
Site of Galveston County Poor Farm |
| Index
Entry: |
Galveston County Poor Farm |
| Address: |
807 SH 3 N |
| City: |
League City |
| County: |
Galveston |
| UTM
Zone: |
15 |
| UTM
Easting: |
296233 |
| UTM
Northing: |
3266721 |
| Subject
Codes: |
|
| Year
Marker Erected: |
1997 |
| Designations: |
na |
| Marker
Location: |
Walter G. Hall Park near baseball field, 807
SH 3 N |
| Marker
Size: |
27" x 42" |
| Repairs
Completed: |
not placed yet |
| Marker
Text: |
The Galveston County Commissioners Court
began planning in 1886 to purchase a farm to house and care for
the county's indigent citizens. A site was chosen and by June
1887 the county bought 213 acres of land on the banks of Clear
Creek. The first building constructed was designed by local
architect Nicholas J. Clayton and contained a dining hall. Joe
Meyers was hired as the first superintendent. Those house at the
farm included county citizens who were poor, elderly, mentally
ill, and convicted of crimes.All physically able residents were
required to help with farming chores. Funding for maintaining
the farm was inadequate, and complaints about living conditions
were investigated by the county. Portions of the poor farm land
were sold to help finance operation of the facility. By 1913,
the Commissioners Court closed the site. The land lay dormant
until 1928, when the Galveston County Park was established at
the urging of local citizens. A pavilion was constructed in
1929, and the park became the site for recreational activities
and social gatherings. The pavilion was refurbished in 1975 and
reconstructed in 1994 after a fire. In 1985 the site was named
the Walter G. Hall Park. (1997) |
|