THROUGH
MOUNTAIN MISTS
Early Settlers of
Their
Descendants...Their Stories...Their Achievements
Lifting the
Mists of History on Their Way of Life
By: Ethelene Dyer Jones
Union
Once an entity
of
I have the
following to thank for information on the
A certain
stigma was attached to those who had no recourse but to take up
residence at the county poor farm. They either had no relatives who
would take them in and care for them, or else they were rejected by
family and consigned to work on the Poor Farm because they had to be
supervised. Some evidently were lacking in mental or physical
capacities and could not manage on their own as adults.
The “inmates”
as they were called by the Benson-England report had no apparent
afflictions, chronic diseases, or communicable diseases. The worst
infirmity was “age,” with three being over seventy in 1934. In the
report published in the county history book, a schedule of expenditures
from the years 1929-1936 stated that there were eight to ten residents
at any one time, and that expenditures were for salaries of the
superintendents, pauper burials, clothing, provisions, medical or
dental attention, transportation for the Civilian Conservation Corps
“boys” who evidently were assigned to work on the farm and/or buildings
(in 1935), allowance to paupers, medical aide, lunacy transportation
and board, and one small item of $7.96 in 1934 for “miscellaneous.”
Known
superintendents serving at the
Noting
“Paupers’ Burials,” the lowest was in 1932 for $1.00. The highest year
in those covered was 1934 when burial expenses were $118.21,
and the second highest in 1933 of $107.53. The average for the eight
years of statistics for burials was $62.89. No particulars were given,
but the burial expenses probably covered a home-made casket, the
clothes for the corpse to be buried in, transportation to a designated
cemetery, and perhaps a small stipend for the minister or eulogist who
presided at the funeral.
The
Benson-England report posed a series of questions about the
The land
received no improvement to fertility. The examiners recommended
rotation of crops and fertilization to make the land more productive.
Fencing the farm was highly recommended. Raising cattle and hogs for
the residents’ meat supply would be to a good use of farm facilities
and labor. A small industry (not named) was recommended.
The buildings
were old and in very poor repair except for a corn crib built in 1932,
which was not sufficient in size to take care of the corn crop, because
half of the building was used for the wagon shed.
The dwelling
house was in a T-shape, with four rooms, one the kitchen. It was in
poor condition, needing new shingles and a new floor, and a means of
heating the individual rooms. The proposal was made for the addition of
six rooms “in the near future,” with the CWA (Civil Works
Administration?) assisting with the building.
The water
supply was from a bold spring that had a flow of 1/2 gallon per minute.
The spring house was used for refrigeration of milk and other
perishables.
However, a
grave threat to the spring was nearby. An outside privy was the only
sewage disposal unit, only fifty feet away from the spring. The report
stated: “This constitutes a health menace since the volume of water and
the fall is not sufficient to preclude the possibility of flow-back to
the spring that is used for drinking (water).” (Sketches of Union County
History, p. 152 )
An interesting
item in the Schedule from the Probate Judge’s office for the years 1929
through 1936 showed expenditures for “Lunacy Transport(ation) and Board.” The average annual
expenditure over the eight-year period for this item was $79.80, with
the largest amount spent in 1930 ($156.60).
The
We can imagine
the plight of these less-fortunate citizens, while at the same time we
must applaud county government for making efforts to provide for them.
I am an avid “quotations” person. Many quotations I found were
appropriate to the Union County Poor House and its mission. Jesus had
this to say about the poor: “You always have the poor with you”
(Matthew 26:11). Moses said: “The poor will never cease out of the
land” (Deuteronomy
c2006 by Ethelene Dyer Jones; published
[Ethelene
Dyer Jones is a retired educator, freelance writer, poet, and historian.
She may be reached at e-mail edj0513@windstream.net;
phone 478-453-8751; or mail
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