1857 INVESTIGATION: Washington County Poor House
Is located in the town of Argyle, and is constructed
of brick, two stories, 100 x 30 feet on the ground; connected with which
is a farm of 170 acres, yielding an annual revenue of $1,500. The
location of this house is well suited to promote its designs, and the
general appearance of the house, farm and fixtures, indicate system,
order and thrift. The house has no special provision for
ventilation; yet the keeper gave evidence that he understood and
appreciated the difference between pure and foul air. Neither is
there any provision for bathing. It is heated by stoves.
Thirty-one rooms are appropriated to the use of the paupers, in which
from one to ten are placed in a room. The number of inmates was
112, fifty males and sixty-two females. Of these fifty-six were foreign
and fifty-six native born, including forty children, about twenty of
whom had been placed out on trial with farmers and others, preliminary
to binding them out. The separation of the sexes in this house is
complete, day and night, except that they meet in the dining hall while
eating.
The house and farm is under the management of one
keeper, assisted by his wife and pauper labor. The superintendent
of the poor purchases the supplies for the house, prescribes rules
regulating the diet, binds out the children of suitable age, and
exercises the power of discharging lunatics when they are
dismissed. The average number of inmates is 124, who are furnished
with good plain food at a weekly expense of sixty-seven and a half cents
each.
The house has been once visited by the board of
supervisors during the year. A physician is employed by the year
at a salary of $50. A school is taught in the house eleven months
in the year. Religious exercises are maintained every morning by
the keeper. The house is partially supplied with Bibles.
There have been five births and eleven deaths during the year. Two
are dumb, but can hear; five are blind; one of these four years
old. Of the inmates twenty are lunatics, ten males and ten
females, and all paupers. Two have been received during the year
and six have escaped.
The lunatics have no special attendants and receive no
special medical attention. One is set down as having
recovered. Several are confined in cells. The methods of
restraint are locking in cells, chaining to the floor, and
hand-cuffs. The house admits of a partial classification of the
insane. No application has been made to the State Lunatic Asylum
for the admission of lunatics during the year. Three of the
inmates are idiots, two male and one female. One-half of all who
come to this house are brought consequent upon habits of inebriation.
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Transcribed by PHS-Volunteer, Cheramie Breaux in Louisiana
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LINKS:
Washington
County Poorhouse Records
An Account of Births in County House, 1855-1859.
An account of The Deaths in the County House, 1855-1858.
Children Taken from The Poor House, 1855-1860
Personal note: You can find
the PHL's great great grandma
here!
(Emma Warner -- 11/1/1856) PHL
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