The Poor House

As I was bringing my son to his school to get his college ID, books etc. I noticed that the community college (part of the State University system) has purchased what used to be the county poor house and has renovated it. Next year it will be open as residential housing for students as the demand for dormitory space is so high.

I wonder where they will locate the new poor houses? There is always the abandoned Sam's Warehouse Club, I guess. That will provide some jobs....

http://www.sunyocc.edu/index.aspx?id=24414

Actually this was the second hospital built on the "Poor Farm Campus" The original housing was either burned down or razed. I was mistaken that it would be used for housing-- they actually bought a building across the street on the other side of the campus they are renovating, this is to be an academic building for mostly higher ed (4 yr) schools to satellite classes.

Here is a link for some interesting history of the county poor house. I wonder if this is where my great grandfather and his brothers ended up after their parents died-- he did end up with some farmer in Jamesville and subsequently ran away.

http://www.townononhist.org/phstory.htm

"POOR HOUSE CHILDREN

Children of both sexes, from infancy to 15 years of age, can be obtained at the 0nondaga County Poor House. on trial for 2 months, and then if desired, to be bound out until the females are 18 and the males 21 years of age. Applications may he made to either the County Superintendent or to the Keeper of the Poor House.
Male and female help from the age of 15 upwards can be supplied for reasonable support and clothing.
signed H. K. Warren

Secretary

By 1875, The State Board of Charities had passed a law prohibiting admission of children over age 3 or under 16 to the poorhouse unless they were insane, epileptic or otherwise "unfit for family care". Children were instead sent to orphan asylums or placed with what we now call foster families.

The Beginnings of Poor Houses

New York State's first publicly supported institution for dependent people was opened in New York City in 1736 and was called "The House of Correction, Workhouse and Poorhouse". It housed the poor who refused to work, the poor who were unable to work and the poor who were willing but unable to find work. Following the opening of this institution, more poorhouses were opened throughout the province. A poor law enacted in 1773 was the last and most comprehensive since colonial New York poor law. It still relied on removal of non-resident poor as in previous Poor Laws, and parents and grandparents of dependents were required to provide as much of their support as possible.

The first state Poor Law, passed in 1784, increased local responsibility. Another law in 1788 made each town or city responsible for its poor and all towns and cities were authorized to build almshouses if desired. The poor could apply for relief to the overseers, who for the first time were required to register all applicants for poor relief. The overseers could place children in indentureships or apprenticeships.
A law of 1824 authorized counties to establish poorhouses. Town Overseers could send paupers applying for relief to the county poorhouse and could also send beggars under age 15 "to be instructed in labor" until they could be self-supporting. The poorhouse superintendent could direct inmates to work to cover the cost of their support."

You're right. They should've held on to it. Pretty sweet poor house.

This is the Second hospital building. The college has renovated it. It used to look really bad. We used to think it was haunted when we were kids. It looked like one of those old horror movie sets about insane asylums. Now people will be going to class in it instead of dying of TB.

I think it either burned down or was razed in 1998