Huntington County Infirmary
| Huntington County Infirmary | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Established | 1864 |
| Opened | 1877 (second building) |
| Closed | 1991 |
| Demolished | 1996 |
| Current Status | Demolished |
| Building Style | Single Building |
| Location | Huntington, IN |
| Alternate Names |
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History
On March 22, 1876, William H. Myers was contracted to build a new county infirmary, at a cost of $17,000. The following year, Samuel Harvey was appointed superintendent, at a salary of $325. John Long became superintendent in 1885 and he reported expenses of $2,786.08, including his salary. Subsequent superintendents brought controversy to the community, much to the consternation of the county commissioners. Lewis Long held the position from 1879 to 1884. In July 1880, he was found guilty of assault and battery against one of the residents. The next superintendent, Lewis Garretson, had his leadership at the institution under considerable scrutiny by The Huntington Democrat newspaper.
Historical reports on the institution are sparse in the 1950s, ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s. Benjamin Harrison Thompson and his wife were superintendents for about 20 years into the mid-1970s. In November 1981, the 106-year-old County Home officially became the Evergreen Manor Residential Care Facility, named for the road where it was located. However, by 1990, discussions began about closing the facility due to deterioration and safety issues, and the remaining residents were moved to new homes by March 1991.
There was talk of creating a new Huntington County Home. Rick Meadows sought to create a juvenile facility at the site as early as 1996. Mike Goble bought the Manor and land at auction but never completed the transaction. The county commissioners had finally had enough talk and ordered the buildings razed. This took place in October 1996, bringing the history of the county poor farm to an end.
