Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2011, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== SOURCE: New York (State) Dept. of Social Welfare Annual Report - 1869 =========================================================================== Page 121 COMMISSIONERS OF PUBLIC CHARITIES Monroe County Poor House The buildings constituting the Monroe county poor house are con- structed partly of brick and partly of wood. They are old and dilapidated, and require constant care on the part of those in charge, to keep them in proper condition. Their location is about two miles south from the city of Rochester. The main building is three stories in height, including the base- ment, and covers an area of one hundred and forty by thirty-eight feet, presenting two fronts. There are also several out-houses, all occupied by paupers. The buildings are warmed by stoves only, and are without adequate ventilation or conveniences for bathing. They have capacity to accommodate about four hundred persons, but owing to their arrangement no strict classification of the inmates is pract- ible. The sexes, however, are kept separated at night, and distinct apartments are provided for the aged and infirm; but during the day all classes associate with one another to a greater or less extent. The Sabbath is observed in attendance upon appropriate religious services held in the Institution, and the supply of bibles is ample to meet the requirements of all the inmates. Connected with the house and constituting a part of the establish- ment is a farm of ninety-four acres, valued with buildings and fixtures worth $20,000. The general control of affairs pertaining to the Insti- tution, and to the poor of the county, is confided to a single superin- tendent, who visits the premises weekly, and as much oftener as is deemed requisite. A keeper who has occupied the position for the past three years is in immediate charge. The superintendent reports that during the past year seven hun- dred and eighty-nine persons were supported in the house at a cost of $24,630.64, and that twenty-four hundred for the same time were temporarily relieved, involving an expenditure of $51,745.60, the expenses on account of the poor of the county for the year therefore aggregating $73,376.24. A large proportion of those supported or relieved were of foreign birth, and included among the former were sixty-eight children under sixteen years of age, eighteen of whom were born in the house. Five hundred and seventy-nine persons were admitted during the year, forty-four died in the house, and three hun- dred and ten remained at its close. Intemperance is reported as the most fruitful source of pauperism in the county, fully three-fourths of those reduced to the condition of dependency being its victims. The Institution was visited July 14th, in company with Commis- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 122 COMMISSIONERS OF PUBLIC CHARITIES Monroe County Poor House sioner Anderson. At that date, two hundred and forty-two persons, including all classes, were found present. Among the number were twenty children under sixteen years, twelve insane, ten idiotic, and one blind. Nearly all of the children were infants, eight having been born in the house. At the age of three years, if not removed by friends, or otherwise provided for, they are transferred to the several orphan asylums in the city of Rochester, the superintendent contribu- ting in part to their support. A large proportion of the inmates present were aged and infirm, and but few of that class of middle- aged, able-bodied, vicious, and depraved, usually congregating in poor houses, were observed. Commitments to the county work house mater- ially relieve the Institution in this direction. Three of the inmates were reported as over one hundred years old, and one, a colored man, was said to have attained the remarkable age of one hundred and twelve years. No special provision is made in the house for the insane. The few present were of the quiet, demented class, requiring but little restraint, and in such an event they are transferred to the lunatic asylum near by. The insane labor more or less upon the farm, under proper direction. So far as could be learned in a single visit, it may not be inappropriate to state that the duties of the keeper appeared to be properly discharged; but the house cannot be deemed suitable to meets the demands of the poor of the county. It was stated that the supervisors are contemplating the erection, or purchase of new and more commodious buildings. The lunatic asylum is situated at the right, about twenty-five rods from the poor house proper. The building, erected in 1857, is a brick structure, three stories in height, including a basement, and is forty-two by sixty-two feet on the ground, containing thirty cells or rooms, several of which are of sufficient size to accommodate two persons. Forty-five quiet and harmless insane might be very com- fortably lodged in the building, yet eighty, and not unfrequently even a greater number are crowded into the Institution. Several of the rooms are imperfectly lighted, and those in the basement must neces- sarily often be damp and unfit for use. Recent excited and maniacal cases requiring restraint, are usually confined in the basement cells. No extended classification in reference to the various forms and stages of the disease is practicable. The sexes are kept separated at all times, and provided with separate yards for out-door exercise and amusement in pleasant weather; in cold or stormy weather the halls --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 123 COMMISSIONERS OF PUBLIC CHARITIES Monroe County Poor House are used for the same purpose. There are but three halls in all, and they afford insufficient accommodations. The building is warmed by a furnace, and the two upper stories are readily ventilated, but no adequate provision has ever been made for bathing. The inmates are bathed in their rooms, and at the time of inspection were generally clean in their persons, and comfortably clad. It is in contemplation to bring water into the house in connection with the city water works, in sufficient quantities to meet the demands of the Institution. The building was originally constructed as a part of the poor house property, and placed under the same general superintendence. By the terms of the act of the Legislature of April 7th, 1863, the asylum was constituted a distinct and separate institution, and its affairs placed under the general control of the board of supervisors of the county. The officers of the Institution are three trustees, and a warden in immediate charge. The latter is chief officer and super- intendent of the building, fixtures and grounds. He is also empow- ered by the act referred to, under direction of the Board of Trustees, to purchase all supplies for the Institution, contract for and receive insane from any part of the county, fix the price of admission, except in the case of paupers, regulate discharges and prescribed rules and regulations for the government of employees, and for the care of the inmates. The report of the warden shows that during the past year there were treated in the Institution one hundred and eighteen patients, including seven received from the State asylum. Of the number, eleven were discharged recovered, nine improved and six unimproved. Two died and eighty-three remained at the close of the year. At the date of visitation, July 14, Commissioner Anderson accompanying, eighty-two insane were found present. Thirty of them were male and fifty-two women, and all but five were being sup- ported at the public expense. The latter are charged $3 per week for their care and support, including medical attendance. The actual cost for maintenance for the past year was $2.05 per week for each person supported. A large proportion of those present were suffering in the chronic stage of the disease, the majority having at various times been inmates of the State asylum. The warden stated that several of them had improved within the past four years, and that a few had entirely recovered after discharge from the State Institution. A physician visits the house and devotes special attention to recent cases and such attention to others as their varied wants would seem ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 124 COMMISSIONERS OF PUBLIC CHARITIES Monroe County Poor House to require. The present crowded condition of the buildings, how- ever, must necessarily lessen the chances of recovery. The duties of the warden are apparently discharged with intelligence and fidelity to those committed to his care. The crowded condition of the build- ing is due to causes beyond his control, and for which he should not be held in any way responsible. The county being exempt from the provision of the general act requiring that recent cases should be sent to the State asylum, and empowered by special act to withdraw its insane from that Institution at any time, the authorities, with a view of lessening their expenditures, fill their own. The building is too small, however, to suitably meet the demands of the insane poor of the county, and ought to be promptly enlarged and better arranged, or, what would be preferable, abandoned for a new and more com- modious one. It was stated by the warden that changes looking to improvement were in contemplation, and quite recent action on the part of the board of supervisors corroborate this statement. ===========================================================================