Madison County Poor House
| Madison County Poor House | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Opened | 1824 |
| Closed | 1991 |
| Current Status | Preserved |
| Building Style | Single Building |
| Location | Eaton, NY |
| Alternate Names |
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History=
The building was built in the mid/late 19th century replacing an earlier building that was built in the early 19th century. This building functioned as an asylum, a poor house, had ties to the Madison County Orphanage and also as an infirmary. The facility was very efficient growing and raising crops and cattle to help offset costs. The building in this image was destroyed by a fire on October 23, 1913. The building was replaced with a brick building two years later.
Changes in laws led to a shift in the 1950's and the building was modernized, turning the first floor into an infirmary, adding an in house call system, a records room, a fire alarm system and more. A small portion of the project was covered by a fund held for the former Madison County Home for Destitute Children. Because of the utilization of the money and his charitable acts, the board of supervisors renamed the facility the Gerrit Smith Memorial Home.
By 1987 the building was once again outdated and operating at a deficit of $200,000. Crouse-Irving and Hamilton Health built a new facility on South Street in Morrisville which opened in August of 1991. The building and grounds of the Gerrit Smith Memorial Home were put up for auction in November of the same year and sold. Today, the former county home is privately-owned and utilized as apartments.
