El Paso County Hospital and Poor Farm
| El Paso County Hospital and Poor Farm | |
|---|---|
| Opened | 1880 |
| Closed | 1984 |
| Current Status | Demolished |
| Building Style | Single Building |
| Location | Colorado Springs, CO |
| Alternate Names |
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History[edit]
In the late nineteenth century, El Paso County Commissioners decided to address the poor relief problem. Led by Matt France, commissioners purchased a small cottage on El Paso Street in August of 1880 to create a “county home” for the care of the sick and the poor. Despite reports in the local press to the contrary, need became so great that an addition to the home was built within a year. In 1886, they again expanded the facility when W.R. Roby built a two story addition with seven rooms. Still cramped and overcrowded, the facility was slated for demolition. In its place, commissioners planned to build a larger and more modern “County Home.”
After considerable negotiation, El Paso County Commissioners yielded and found a location far outside the boundaries of Colorado Springs. In May 1899, they purchased the 525 acre Liebig Ranch southwest of downtown near Bear Creek. Shortly after the home and hospital were opened, the facility burned to the ground during the night of January 20, 1900. Thankfully, patients and residents were unharmed, but they were displaced. Commissioners hurried to replace the building, and by October 10, 1900 the reportedly fire-proof $25,000 El Paso County Poor Farm opened.
When the El Paso County Poor Farm ceased operations in 1984, it was one of the last institutions of its kind in the country. The building was demolished, and is now the current site of Bear Creek Park and the Charmaine Nymann Community Gardens.
