The Poor Farm

    For many years the paupers of Clark county had been receiving almost as good care as some of the animals on farms, surrounding the poor house, but public sentiment was aroused and public officials who had been guilty of this neglect finally undertook the task of building a new asylum. Amos W. Butler, secretary of the Indiana State Board of Charities, was responsible for the sanitary lines upon which the new building was constructed. When completed the building cost the county twenty-three thousand six hundred and sixty-nine dollars. The contractor was Clarence E. Howard and he turned it over to the county commissioners November 20, 1907. 

    The new asylum is complete in every detail and is two stories high. It fronts to the north and there is an east and west wing, each of which has a large porch. There are thirty-three rooms in the building, exclusive of the bathrooms, halls and clothing closets. The apartments to be occupied by the superintendent and his family are nicely finished and contain many modern conveniences, including bathrooms, kitchen and dining-room. The house throughout has hardwood floors made of Canada maple. The heat is supplied by steam and two large tanks in the attic furnish a supply of water for the building. The bedrooms are large, and there are lounging-rooms for the charges, many of whom have seen better days. 

    The structure is of  brick. None of the inside walls have been plastered, but instead have been painted. This was done for the sake of keeping the place sanitary. There are broad stairways, and each step is so arranged that it can easily be cleaned. In this new building the sexes will be entirely separated, and will not even come face to face at meal times, each having different dining-rooms. The furniture will be plain, but good, all of the bedsteads being of iron, with good springs, besides which there will be a straw tick. The normal capacity of the building is sixty, but with little trouble one hundred could be easily accommodated. 

    It was only after several years of planning that the county finally secured the new asylum, there having been considerable opposition to building it. The County Council finally appropriated twenty-five thousand dollars for the building, and when bids were asked for putting up the structure the contract was given to Clarence E. Howard, who offered to do the work for twenty-three thousand six hundred and sixty-nine dollars. R.L. Plaskett, of new Washington, was appointed superintendent of the work and he saw that the contract was carried out in every detail. The building is looked upon as the best in the state of Indiana for the price. It is substantial from end to end and has been built with a view of service more than of beauty. 

    In appearance, however, it presents rather an imposing front. It is in full view of travelers to and from Charlestown on the interurban and no citizen of Clark county need be ashamed of this institution.

Source: Baird’s History of Clark County, Indiana by Capt. Lewis C. Baird, 1909.