Difference between revisions of "DeKalb County Asylum"

From Asylum Projects
Jump to: navigation, search
m (Updated info)
 
Line 9: Line 9:
 
| construction_ended =  
 
| construction_ended =  
 
| opened = 1908
 
| opened = 1908
| closed =  
+
| closed = 2025
 
| demolished =  
 
| demolished =  
| current_status = [[Active Institution|Active]]
+
| current_status = [[Closed Institution|Closed]]
 
| building_style = [[Single Building Institutions|Single Building]]
 
| building_style = [[Single Building Institutions|Single Building]]
 
| architect(s) = Griffith and Fair
 
| architect(s) = Griffith and Fair
| location = Auburn, IN
+
| location = Keyser Twp., IN
 
| architecture_style = Late Victorian
 
| architecture_style = Late Victorian
 
| peak_patient_population =  
 
| peak_patient_population =  
Line 23: Line 23:
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
The Dekalb County Asylum was built in 1908. The facility contained the main brick building, a chapel, two pole barns, a corn crib, a basement barn, a summer kitchen/garage, and a gazebo. The property is still used as a County Home.
+
In the late 1850s, Dekalb had a program, similar to many other towns in the United States at the time, where citizens would host poor or unwell folk in their homes and be paid by the township for doing so, referred to as “Poor Laws.The commissioner’s reports show that some were paid up to $23 for boarding a person, which is roughly $800 to $900 in today’s money. It wasn’t until 1908 that the county farm, otherwise known as Sunny Meadows today, was built for $27,000, almost a million dollars in today’s money. Built with a divider for men’s and women’s sections, around 60 rooms, including some for workers of the building to live in.  
<ref>Hassett, Kayla. "The County Home in Indiana : A Forgotten Response to Poverty and Disability." Diss. Ed. Vera A. Adams. Ball State U, 2013. Cardinal Scholar, 05 Apr. 2013. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.</ref>
+
 
 +
Back in the 1910s, it was referred to as the county infirmary. Local newspapers covered new residents living there, like a mother and daughter who moved to the residence after the mother became sick and unable to care for herself or her daughter.  
 +
 
 +
DeKalb County Commissioners adopted the recommendation of a committee that was formed to look at the future of Sunny Meadows. The committee recommended transitioning residents out of the facility in 2025. Issues considered by the committee were: tenant living conditions; the state of the facility; inability to retain proper staff; difficulty procuring insurance; an inefficient operational mode; and cost overages, the letter stated.
  
 
== Images of DeKalb County Asylum ==
 
== Images of DeKalb County Asylum ==
Line 40: Line 43:
 
[[Category:Single Building Institutions]]
 
[[Category:Single Building Institutions]]
 
[[Category:County Almshouse]]
 
[[Category:County Almshouse]]
[[Category:Active Institution]]
+
[[Category:Closed Institution]]

Latest revision as of 00:27, 7 March 2026

Dekalb County Asylum
Opened 1908
Closed 2025
Current Status Closed
Building Style Single Building
Architect(s) Griffith and Fair
Location Keyser Twp., IN
Architecture Style Late Victorian
Alternate Names
  • DeKalb County Infirmary
  • Sunny Meadows



History

In the late 1850s, Dekalb had a program, similar to many other towns in the United States at the time, where citizens would host poor or unwell folk in their homes and be paid by the township for doing so, referred to as “Poor Laws.” The commissioner’s reports show that some were paid up to $23 for boarding a person, which is roughly $800 to $900 in today’s money. It wasn’t until 1908 that the county farm, otherwise known as Sunny Meadows today, was built for $27,000, almost a million dollars in today’s money. Built with a divider for men’s and women’s sections, around 60 rooms, including some for workers of the building to live in.

Back in the 1910s, it was referred to as the county infirmary. Local newspapers covered new residents living there, like a mother and daughter who moved to the residence after the mother became sick and unable to care for herself or her daughter.

DeKalb County Commissioners adopted the recommendation of a committee that was formed to look at the future of Sunny Meadows. The committee recommended transitioning residents out of the facility in 2025. Issues considered by the committee were: tenant living conditions; the state of the facility; inability to retain proper staff; difficulty procuring insurance; an inefficient operational mode; and cost overages, the letter stated.

Images of DeKalb County Asylum

Main Image Gallery: DeKalb County Asylum


References