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Montgomery County, Ohio
Infirmary History
Excerpt from The History of Montgomery County, Ohio
The Montgomery County Infirmary is a plain, substantial brick building, situated a few miles southwest of Dayton, in Jefferson Township, and located on a farm of 166 acres. The present building dates back to 1852, and is the first substantial building for an Infirmary that was ever erected. The Poor Farm was purchased more than fifty years ago, and has always been the same in extent. We find from the records that in the June session of 1826 the County Commissioners nominated and appointed the following-named persons to take charge of and manage the affairs of the poor, viz.; Abraham Darst, John Folkerth, John C. Negly, Abraham Troxell, Henry Oldfather, Edmund Munger and John Ehrstim. They were ordered to meet on the third Monday in June on the Poor Farm. These men met as directed and organized by electing Gen. Edmund Munger President, and John Folkerth Secretary. James B. Oliver was given charge of the Poor House and farm until the following March, and John Folkerth was ordered to draw up rules prescribing the duties of the President and Secretary and present them for the consideration of the board at their next meeting. William Darst and William Oldfather were appointed visiting committee to meet at the Poor House the following July. This first meeting took place June 19, 1826. After this date the Board met regularly to audit bills and receive the report of the examiners on the condition of the poor and arrangements for their comfort. The constantly increasing population of the county, as a matter of course, increased the number of paupers from year to year, until the first building was found inadequate to the demands, and as early as 1831 the directors, with the consent of the County Commissioners, ordered the Superintendent to erect a building of hewn logs 40x16 feet, which was done. Thus buildings were erected from time to time for the growing wants of the poor, but were mostly of a temporary character and put up at a comparatively small expense, until 1852, when the county Commissioners, recognizing the growing necessities, concluded to have erected a substantial building of brick. At their meeting, held June 26, 1852, the Board ordered that D. Waymier be required to construct the drawings and make specifications for material and workmanship required for said building, and that it be advertised that sealed proposals would be received for construction of the building up to July 10. This time was afterwards extended to July 17, when the Board accepted a proposition from Seybold & Baggett, they contracting to construct the same, according to the specifications, for $8,240, and to have the walls erected by December 1, following. The final cost of the building, including everything, exceeded, by a considerable sum, the amount named, and, it is stated by good authority, was nearly $12,000. |