Jefferson County House
| Jefferson County House | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Established | 1825 |
| Opened | 1833 |
| Closed | 1963 |
| Demolished | 1966 |
| Current Status | Demolished |
| Building Style | Single Building |
| Location | Watertown, NY |
| Alternate Names |
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History
The first site chosen for a poor farm was the Dudley farm in LeRay, five miles from the city. It was used from 1828 until supervisors voted to find a new location in 1832. That location was the Foster farm, described as being one mile below Watertown and north of the river. In 1905, improvements were made to the Jefferson County almshouse, including a sea wall along the riverbank opposite the buildings, 450 feet long and averaging nine feet in height, to prevent the river “Water from percolating through the buildings.” The east wing, formerly used for the insane department, was changed to make it into quarters for the women. Their quarters, then in use, were to be converted for men, with new heating and plumbing installed.
In 1963, the county home for the aged was abandoned in November. Guests (also having replaced “inmates”) were moved to the west wing of what was known as the Jefferson County hospital, aka Sanatorium, on Outer Coffeen Street. In 1965, D. H. Fellows Construction Company of Fayetteville acquired the abandoned property with a high bid of $10,000. The following year, the structure was used in a controlled-fire training exercise involving fire departments from across the county to level the abandoned property.
