York County Almshouse
| York County Almshouse | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Opened | 1804 |
| Demolished | Yes |
| Current Status | Closed, Demolished |
| Building Style | Single Building, |
| Location | York, PA |
| Alternate Names |
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History
The York County Almshouse was opened originally as a single building institution, as most almshouses were, in 1804. It was located on 142 acres of land, of which 122 were under cultivation by the indigent at the facility and 4 under garden husbandry. The original building consisted of a two story brick building with a basement and an attic, measuring 113' by 42' in size. By 1886 this building was primarily used for administrative purposes, the stewards housing, the quarters for the staff, and the accommodation for the "working poor" of the institution. The basement was also contained the kitchen. In 1859 a much larger hospital building was constructed apart from the 1802 almshouse. This building had a 138 foot frontage and was 130 feet deep, built of brick, and was three stories tall with an attic and slate roof. The building consists of a center portion with wings on either side. The southern wing housed the male occupants and the northern the female. The second floor contained two insane wards of ten rooms each for male and female patients respectively. The third floor contained the institutions infirmary for injuries.
As of the 1886 State Charities Report the institution did not provide any accommodation for the counties aged and infirm nor did it separate the inmates by ny classification other than insane. The aged, dirty, feeble-minded, violent, epileptic, infirm, were all accommodated for in mixed wards. The bedding and accommodations of the institution were called "filthy and abominable". Though the there were insane wards the report mentioned they were improper and if any insane were to be housed there it would be a disservice to their recovery. By the time of the 1902 report this appears to have changed. The institution was then holding 186 inmates, 37 of whom were insane. The report mentioned the building was in excellent order and the patients well clothed and contented.
