Brown County Poor Farm
| Brown County Poor Farm | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Opened | 1896 |
| Closed | 1963 |
| Current Status | Preserved |
| Building Style | Single Building |
| Location | Nashville, IN |
| Architecture Style | Queen Anne |
| Alternate Names |
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History[edit]
The first record of a pauper claim in Brown County was made in 1837 by Ambrose Cobb who was allowed $6.97 for caring for a poor person for four months. Afterwards claims were allowed from the Overseer of the Poor, under whose direction the townships were to care for their poor. One pauper, Jane Sconce, was cared for by the county for more than 20 years. She was regularly farmed-out annually to the lowest bidder. From 1847 to 1880 pauper claims averaged about $550 per year.
In 1859 the County Board took steps to purchase a poor farm, but after viewing several locations and found that the final cost was more than they cared to pay the project was abandoned. Then in 1869 the County Board purchased 244 acres of land adjoining Nashville on the east side from Thomas M. Adams. The cost was $5000 which was paid in two equal installments. William Waltman was contracted to construct a frame poor house to sit on their land to be 30 x 60 feet in dimension for $1474. It was a two-story frame house with a basement. It was completed in 1870 at a final cost of $1600.
The first Superintendant of the Poor Farm was John Taggart. He received the use of the farm and $3085 for caring for the poor for a period of three years. In 1872 Caleb Ferguson became Superintendent and he was paid $675 per year plus the use of the farm. He was succeeded in 1877 by Benjamin R. Kelley for $277.50 per year plus the use of the farm. Thomas J. Taggart became Superintendent in 1879 and then Ambrose Fraker in 1883. The number of poor farm residents ranged from eight to fifteen people.
In 1896 when Clark Campbell resigned as Superintendant there were twenty-three acres of corn, a patch of potatoes, hay in the barn, and a large garden with turnips, cabbage, and beans growing. The County Board of Commissioners financed other groceries and necessities from stores in Nashville, as well as repairs on the buildings and farm equipment maintenance. Brown County residents regularly gave food, supplies, and helped out on the farm when the residents could not. The county home remained useful for 93 years. With the resident population declining after the advent of Welfare and the Social Security system the County Commissioners decided to close the home on April 1, 1963. On Sept. 7, 1965 the Brown County School Corporation bought the old Poor House with 15 1/2 acres. It is used this day as their Administration building. The house is now listed with the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana.
Images of Brown County Poor Farm[edit]
Main Image Gallery: Brown County Poor Farm
