This below picture is of the Old Folks Home is in Gilmer Twp. Coatsburg is in Honey Creek Twp. But just about a mile to the South at Coatsburg is Gilmer Twp. Now leaving Coatsburg going West (towards Paloma) about a half to a mile, turn left (South) and going about mile or mile and a half was where the Poor House, later known as Old Folks Home, later called Almshouse. The picture below is of the structure after it’s second or third remodeling and additionals. This apparently was close to or next to the Freeze Orchard we talked about earlier, which almost joined the Lummis Property.Hope this is not to laborious and boring. LESLIE CONCERNING THE ADAMS CO.--GILMER TWP POOR HOUSE: At a session of the County Board of Supervisors held January 5, 1856, it was resolved to purchase 200 acres for a Poor Farm. Thus with their searching the commissioners found and purchased 160 areas in the northeast quarter Section in Gilmer Twp. for $5000.00. The commissioners also reported at the same meeting, the purchase of 50,000 brick and other material with which to erect buildings thereon. The following year 1857 the farm was rented out and the paupers were hired, kept by contract, at a specific price per capita per week. Upon final completion of the buildings the paupers were moved into the county farm, where they have been provided for since. The county house consisted of a building 24 feet wide by 40 feet, two stories high, with a basement and it estimated cost about $2500. In 1857 when the new home was entered, there were about fifteen persons brought from the old farm in Honey Creek Twp. In 1860, we find twenty-five members, and to make room for the increase number of paupers in 1863, the county built an additional to the first building, 30X30 feet, two story high and a basement, at the cost of about $3,000.00. Osborn & Sons did the brick work, and Leggett & Bachey, the carpenter work. In 1861, the first barn had been built at a cost of $300 by Ben Wegle. In 1862 an old building for the insane was built, at the cost of $1,000.00. The building had to be taken down, since it was not satisfactory for the insane. In 1867, the county built a pest house at the cost of $500.00. The building is still standing. In 1868, because of the increasing numbers of paupers, another building was erected, 24X48 feet, two stories high, costing $6,000.00. In 1874 the county had charge of its expenses, the same as over the others townships of the county. The adoption of the Quincy poor so increased the number of county dependents on the farm, that the number of buildings became insufficient and it became necessary to provide for them elsewhere. Accordingly a committee of the Board of Supervisors was then authorized to examine and make a report of the plans for a new building to be erected on the County Poor Farm. The committee recommended that a three stories high, 32X43 feet area, be built at the coast of $8,000.00. It was finished in 1875, at the cost of $7,968.00. A steam heating system was later put in at the cost of $1290.00. Again in 1897 because of the great increase of insanity, a new building was 24X40 feet was added at the cost to the county of about $10,000.00. About the same time a barn scales and another out building were erected at the cost of $2500.00. These are all in good repair. and other outbuildings. Another new heating system was also put in, later that year by Best, a Quincy plumber. At first the paupers were put under the custody of some one man. who boarded them for a certain price per week. Later the County decided to manage the housed and farm themselves, and furnish everything for the poor, but a great deal of expense was brought about by feeding the transient paupers and the railroad passes. The average cost was $.86 per week, thus in transporting them, the Adams County Poor Farm is well located--the land rolling, and drainage good. There is plenty of waster, of very best quality. It is said there is not a better managed poor farm in the state, for the management has always been good. The poor are always liberally provided for, and the management has been so economical that the poor farm is a credit for the Adams County taxpayers.
Posted on: Sun, 04 May 2014 19:25:51 +0000
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