Knox County Almshouse
| Knox County Almshouse | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Established | 1856 |
| Opened | 1866 |
| Closed | 1966 |
| Demolished | 1966 |
| Current Status | Demolished |
| Building Style | Single Building |
| Architect(s) | W. W. Boyington |
| Location | Knoxville, IL |
| Architecture Style | Gothic |
| Alternate Names |
|
History
In 1856 Cephas Arms, John S. Winter and Rufus S. Miles served on a committee of the County Board of Supervisors (now named the County Board). The men stated that conditions at the poor farm were inadequate. The building wasn’t large enough for the number of residents. One patient, Crazy Hannah, had to be locked in a small room to keep her away from the heating stove. She had been confined in that room for three years. In that same year land was purchased in Section 21, Knox County. A two-story building was erected with ample ventilation, many windows to allow light into the rooms and supplied with a number of bathrooms. In 1876 a second wing was added to the facility.
The 1881 Knox County report was quite favorable. The Rules and Regulations for the Alms House, adopted in 1896, reveal the day-to-day management. The superintendent had complete authority over the inmates, though restraint was to be used. The regulations also mandated that all personal belongings of new residents be taken into custody upon admission. Inmates were not allowed to leave the premises without permission, and there were strict controls on their behavior. Visitors were discouraged from speaking with mentally ill patients unless they were relatives.
By the 1960s, the original almshouse had become outdated. The facility was torn down in 1966 to make way for a new, more modern structure, the Knox County Nursing Home. The new building, costing $2.8 million, was designed to provide not only housing but also comprehensive medical care for its residents, a far surpassing the minimal care available in the 19th century. Today, the Knox County Nursing Home, governed by the Knox County Board, stands as a tribute to its predecessor. It now operates with a mission to provide "long-term, rehabilitation, and memory care services" to the community.
