Allen County Infirmary

2014-11-12T18:36:34Z

137.99.122.158:

{{infobox institution
| name = Allen County Infirmary
| image = indianaAllen.png
| image_size = 250px
| alt =
| established = 1853
| construction_began =
| opened = 1865/1953
| closed =
| demolished =
| current_status = [[Demolished Institution|Demolished]]<br>[[Active Institution|Active]] (Current Facility)
| building_style = [[Single Building Institutions|Single Building]]
| architect(s) = A.M. Strauss (Original Building)
| location = Fort Wayne, IN
| architecture_style =
| peak_patient_population =
| alternate_names =<br>
*Allen County Poor Farm
*Byron Health Center
}}

==History==
The Allen County "Poor Farm," as it was originally called, was established in 1853 and was first located in the wilderness of section 29 of Wayne Township (in the area of present-day Elmhurst High School, north of Lower Huntington Road). In that year George L. Parker was employed to keep the paupers at the Poor Farm for an annual sum of $600, and John A. Robinson was retained to build a house for the inmates for $750. These facilities were enlarged in 1854 and again, extensively, in 1860, during the directorship of James M. Read. In these years the director was required to furnish a team of horses, a wagon and harness, four cows and such farming equipment as would be necessary. The county, in exchange, paid Read $800 and furnished clothing and provisions for the inmates.

In 1864, at the height of the Civil War, the entire facility was moved closer to Fort Wayne. An infirmary was built as the centerpiece to the new farm, in the area just west of the present-day Bluffton Road Bridge, in what today is known as the Indian Village neighborhood and the Quimby Village Shopping Center. The new infirmary building was completed in June 1865, for $14,468, and James Read, the former overseer of the Poor Farm, was named Superintendent of the Allen County Asylum, as it was now called.

Expansion of the infirmary space was again required in 1871, and under Superintendent John Spice provisions were made to offer care "for the convenience and better management of the different classes of inmates" (History of Allen County, 1880, p.54). This is the facility that, in 1902, William Johnston came to superintend. Today, in Allen County, the descendant of the old county Poor Farm and Asylum is the Irene Byron Health Center. Behind the Main Building and connected to it with a covered porch was the Insane Ward. North of the Main Building was the Power House and Laundry. South of the Main Building was the Bakery and farther south were the horse and cattle barns, the horse barn being nearest the road. <ref>Hassett, Kayla. The County Home in Indiana : A Forgotten Response to Poverty and Disability. Diss. Ed. Vera A. Adams. Ball State U, 2013. N.p.: Cardinal Scholar, n.d. Print.</ref>

<gallery>
File:indianaAllen1.png
File:indianaAllen2.png
File:byron.jpg
File:allen1919.jpg
</gallery>

== References ==
<references/>

[[Category:Indiana]]
[[Category:Single Building Institutions]]
[[Category:County Almshouse]]
[[Category:Demolished Institution]]

Adams County Poor Farm

2014-11-12T18:34:20Z

137.99.122.158: /* History */

{{infobox institution
| name = Adams County Poor Farm
| image = adamsco.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| alt =
| established = 1875
| construction_began =
| opened = 1943 (Second Facility)
| closed =
| demolished =
| current_status = [[Active Institution|Active]]
| building_style = [[Single Building Institutions|Single Building]]
| architect(s) = Charles H. Houck
| location = Decatur, IN
| architecture_style = Art Deco
| peak_patient_population =
| alternate_names =<br>
*Adams County Infirmary
*Golden Meadows Home
}}

==History==
The Golden Meadows Home is an integral part of the history of Adams County. It was established in 1875 as an alternative home for Adams County citizens who were in need of housing and some structure in their lives. For many years, the facility included a farming operation to provide a working environment for those residents who could perform the farming tasks. While they no longer operate the farm, many of the residents do work in the community or assist in many ways around the facility. The current building was constructed in 1942-43 to replace the older structure that had been destroyed by fire.It is currently owned by the Adams County Infirmary.<ref>Hassett, Kayla. The County Home in Indiana : A Forgotten Response to Poverty and Disability. Diss. Ed. Vera A. Adams. Ball State U, 2013. N.p.: Cardinal Scholar, n.d. Print.</ref>

[[Category:Indiana]]
[[Category:Single Building Institutions]]
[[Category:County Almshouse]]
[[Category:Active Institution]]

==References==
<references/>

Asylum Projects - User contributions [en]

Allen County Infirmary

Adams County Poor Farm