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Allegan County Poor Farm Inspection of the New Infirmary |
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The following is the article from The Allegan Gazette, Thursday January 19, 1884 ALLEGAN AFFAIRS Last week Wednesday the board of supervisors, superintendents of poor, and a few invited friends paid a visit to the poor farm to inspect the new infirmary and enquire as to its management. Packed comfortably into sleights, they made the trip with pleasure and were more than repaid for their time. The whole board went, this being their first opportunity to see the completed building. It stands a little east of the site of the former building, is of cream colored brick, with gable roofs and a cupola. Its appearance would be greatly improved by painting the cornice some dark color, the present white almost wholly destroying the cornice's proper effect. The house faces the south and is in the form of a cross, wings extended east and west. It has a basement and two stories, and by a change of the plan six rooms were finished from what would have been an attic, and which are as yet unused. The basement contains the furnace rooms, kitchen, pantry, inmates' dining-hall, and an assembly room or chapel. To either side of the hall in front, on the first floor, and above on the second floor, are the keeper's apartments - dining-hall, sitting-room and bedroom below and four bedrooms above. These are plainly and neatly furnished. Back of these a fire-proof wall divides the building, both stories, north and south. On the east side, both floors, are the men's wards, on the west the women's, and the sexes are kept entirely apart except when in the dining-hall. A hall extends across each floor and good-size rooms lie to either side, two beds in each, and each outer room having a window. The rooms are warmed from the halls, having no closing doors, and the halls are occupied in common. The furniture and bedding are plain and substantial, but clean and comfortable. One at once notices the abundant light and excellent ventilation, while the furnaces make warm every hall and room. A slight settling has caused a few cracks on some inner partition walls, but with this exception the building seems to be in perfect condition, an excellent specimen of the builder's art. Surely it has been only by most wise economy and intelligent management that so commodious, substantial, convenient, and handsome a building has been obtained for the cost, a little over $12,000, this sum including grading and much other outside work. Credit for this belongs to the building committee, Messrs, S.S. Dryden, L. Bailey, and W.F. Harden; the superintendents, C.W. Calkins, Dryden, Oka Town, and latterly Brewster Peabody; and the contractors, J.B. Dumont and Geo. H. Bennett. There are now at the farm 63 inmates, including children and 14 insane, these latter cases having buildings by themselves. All are decently clad and well fed and as happy as such unfortunate mortals can be. Nearly all are infirm, and many not in the asylum are mildly demented -- like Ronau, who imagines himself a great soldier, or courteous and useful Mr. Barber, whose head must be rubbed by each visitor -- at which he gleesomely chuckles and hastens to work again. Some are sick even to helplessness and are cared for by fellow inmates. All are hearty eaters, and the capacity of the fine new range must be severely tested by the demands of thier appetites. Dinner that day consisted of fried salt pork, fresh bread, boiled potatoes and onions, tea or coffee, and gravy and syrup. Butter is given occasionally and fresh meat also, but no pastry or cakes unless on special occasion. The food is abundant, clean, and well cooked. The behavior at the table is orderly, as a rule, unnecessary talking being forbidden. Before eating, a blessing is asked by one of the inmates, Mr. McDonald, who pronounces it in as good language and becomming manner as would any minister. All these comforts, however, do not avail to wholly remove the sadness, the pitiable hopelessness, of a pauper's life. The position of keeper is not to be envied, and persons who can give to such unfortunates the care and kindness shown by Mr. Blain and his wife, are benefactors and deserving far beyond their recompense in this world. All the visitors of that day were most highly pleased with the new house, its appointments, and its administration. A dinner was provided in the keeper's rooms, for the visitors, who enjoyed after their ride and tour of inspection, and hearty viands and unceremonious service of a farm repast. For an hour or so after this, further inspection proceded, and visits were made to every part of the premises and everywhere prevailed order and ceanliness. A complete sewage system connects with all buildings. Some bath rooms have been constructed in the wash house lately --a decided improvement. One inmate afflicted with a disease akin to leprosy, is kept in a little house separate from the rest. A new horse barn should be built next season and coats of paint, given the outbuildings. Most of the cattle are in good condition and there is an excellent lot of pigs. Heretofore the value of the produce consumed from the farm has not entered into the cost of keeping the paupers, chiefly because no account has been kept of it. The new keeper will give this matter proper attention. |
 Jan. 19, 1884 |
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