| FORSYTH COUNTY POORHOUSE RECORDS 1900's |
|
March 1, 1900--- UNION REPUBLICAN
SMALLPOX AT THE COUNTY HOME
Last week we reported cases of smallpox at the County Home. Since that time two more have been added in the person of Mrs. Robert Ogburn
and son who called to pay a neighborly visit to the family of Mr. Fulcher, the Keeper of that Institution. Mr. Ogburn is also there and with his family,
has been placed under quarantine. Having been successfully vaccinated it is not thought that he will catch the disease. The unfortunates at the
Home do not hold any "receptions" and the _____ and ______ of social functions do not interest them. There are not many visitors and a residence
there is more from necessity than choice. Hence, the spread of the disease from that quarter is no occasion for alarm. Nor do we cast any reflection
upon the present management, for it is good and the comforts far better than in other counties of which we have knowledge. But it is not, by no
means, our ideal. A County Home should be a welcome resort to those who seek its protection and care. They should be a pride to every county for
the responsibility is a great one---this care of our very,very poor. Are we doing our duty by them? Can we not brighten the Home, add more
conveniences, and make it akin to our homes which we love, cherish and enjoy??
Jan 11, 1906 - COUNTY HOME IMPROVEMENTS
Architect Frank. H. Milburn will present plans to the Commissioners of this county this week regarding improvements to be made at the County home.
A new structure will probably be built of brick, two stories high and 80x144 feet. It will have 44 rooms besides apartments for the Superintendent.
There will be two hospital wards, one for white and one for colored, with separate dining rooms for the races. There will also be sewerage and other
conveniences. The people of Forsyth will heartily endorse the above or any effort on the part of the Commissioners to provide larger and better
quarters for our unfortunate poor. Since putting the above in type we learn that the Commissioners have accepted the plans of architect Milburn and
will proceed with the work.
Winston-Salem Journal - Oct 26, 1906:
The above cut is a correct representation of the new county home for the aged and infirm now completed. It is a neat, plain and substantial building,
and is considered by experts to be one of the cheapest buildings ever erected in the state, and the county commissioners are to be congratulated for
handling the same so successfully. This noble work of charity is further evidence of the kin feelings of our fellow-citizens toward mankind, and it is the
benevolent spirit that prompts us to properly protect those that cannot care for themselves in their old age. In order to give our people an idea of the
magnitude of this undertaking the architects give us the following information: Brick building 142 feet by 162 feet, two stories high, with basement
and attic, tin roof, plumbing and steam heat. The first floor has 18 wards, two bath rooms and toilets, four rooms for the superintendent and his
family, two large dining rooms, one for the white and one for the colored with large kitchen and storage room. The second floor has 18 wards, two
baths and toilet rooms with two hospital wards one for each race with diet kitchen and toilets attached including portable porcerlain bath tubs, four
rooms for the attendants, with a large linen room and toilets. The building is planned with hard sanitary plaster, and fitted with all modern
equipment. The races are to be separated, and the males and females can also be separated. Large wide porches extend around three sides of
the building, which permits of easy exercise in bad weather. The basement has large storage rooms, cement floors, boiler and fuel rooms, and
laundry. A large well is provided for water supply, also a 15,000 gallon steel tower and tank has been erected to furnish water for the building and
provide fire protection for the buildings and a line of sewer has been laid to the creek and all the plumbing fixtures have been connected with the
same. The county commissioners advertised for the work and awarded the contracts to the lowest bidders as follows: Fogle Bros Co main building
complete $21, 068.00; Fogle Bros Co, well, well house, cement floors and tower $906.30; Crawford plumbing and Supply Co., steel tower and tank,
fountain $1068.00; LB Brickenstein, steam Heating plant complete $2,290.00; L.B. Brickenstein, sanitary tower and manholes complete 840.00 ---
Total $26,172.30
It is a most gratifying fact, that the county commissioners have paid the above bills as presented, and all other bills without borrowing a dollar, which
shows that they have been most careful in managing the business of the county. Forsyth county now has the best county home and the best court
house in the state. (Contributed by Betsy L. Hendrix)
UNION REPUBLICAN, APRIL 11, 1907
County Home Report
C.C. Flynt, Supt. of the Forsyth County Home, reports 18 inmates at that institution. Of this number there are 19 white males; 15 white females; 8
colored males and 6 colored females. During the month of March 8 inmates were received and 5 discharged. The Republican is free to say that it
does not believe that there is a bigger or better arranged Home for the poor in the State. Such a fact should prove a gratification to every citizen.
[Note: As these numbers to not "add-up", this article was copied correctly.] (Contributed by Betsy L. Hendrix)
1908-The Home is a modern, up to date building; located three miles form the county seat. One building 100x150 feet. Brick with metal roof and
broad piazzas; 44 living rooms. Windows on weights, and transoms over all the doors. Fire extinguishers and good water pressure from a large
tank. Fine well of drinking water pumped to all the floors by electric motor. Steam heated, radiators in all the rooms. Can accommodate 75; now in
charge, 47. Two bedridden; 19 mentally defective. Of these four insane are confined. Included in the 19 are two epileptics. Good food. Enough is
raised on the farm to supply the table. County pays other expenses. C. C. Flynt is Superintendent; salary, $600 per year, with board and rooms for
self and family. He is satisfactory. Physician is Dr. S. F. Pfohl, Winston-Salem; salary, $600 for all county work. Admitted in six months, 18 whites
and 20 colored. Died 4—one from consumption. Competent sick nurse employed at $600 per year, with board and lodging. Very few are intelligent
enough to make anything and most of them too feeble to work. Grounds and buildings are well arranged and everything is neat and in good
condition. Two hundred and fifty acres of good land; 100 in cultivation. Five mules, four cows and 14 hogs. Wheat, corn, oats and potatoes raised
for use of the Home. Extra grain is sold. The Home is new and the trees are too small yet to furnish shade. The pastors of the city churches
alternate and give one service a month to the Home. Three children, too small to be taken from their mother. Outdoor relief to two persons, $3 per
month to one and $5 to the other. General impression of the management very good. SECOND REPORT: The Home is as heretofore reported as
to buildings. Now in charge, 50. Insane, five white, two colored. Confined four, Epileptic one. Six died during six months and 15 were discharged.
Two children. Outdoor relief to five. REMARKS: We urge the purchase of 200 feet of hose for fire protection. Good water pressure and hydrants,
also fire extinguishers, but no hose.
1910- The Home is as heretofore reported as to buildings. Now in charge, 48. Three insane:one white man, one colored and one colored woman—
all confined. One colored woman an epileptic. All food they want supplied by the farm. Superintendent is C. C. Flynt. Receives $50 per month and
board and rooms for self and family. He is satisfactory. Physician is Dr. J. K. Pepper, Winston-Salem. Received for services as county physician
during the fiscal year, $2,442.39. Admitted in 6 months, 16; died, 11—two from tuberculosis. The sick are well cared for. They are new buildings,
well arranged, neat and in good condition. Kitchen Clean. Two hundred fifty acres good land; 100 in cultivation. Four mules, five cows and 25 hogs.
Crops are wheat, corn oats, potatoes and vegetables for use of the Home. Some grain is sold each year. Religious services are held regularly each
month by the difference pastors of the city. Outdoor relief to nine persons at an average cost of $4 per month. General impression of the
management is very good.
SECOND REPORT: There has been no change in the Home. There are six fire extinguishers at the main building and two at the barn. Forty-nine
now in charge. Four insane. Two of these confined all the time. One colored epileptic not counted with the insane. Eighteen have been admitted in
six months and seven have died. Seven discharged. Premises and kitchen neatly kept; clean and in good condition. Raised this year 1,200 bushels
of corn and 529 bushels of wheat. One hundred acres in cultivation. Extra corn and wheat is sold. A white woman, feebleminded, brought in last
week with a two-year-old child and since given birth to another infant; both colored. Nine received outdoor relief at an average of $4 per month.
1918- THE WACHOVIA MORAVIAN - January 1918, page 2-3
The care of the county over its poor and unfortunate has drawn National attention during the past year. The County Home is considered a model
structure. To it has come the Reformatory on which much thought and care are being expended, and its good influence upon the wayward youth is
being felt. The educational feature has been introduced; instruction is given, on one day for white and on another for colored youth.
Sentences are now being made indeterminate, and thus a new stimulus has been given to improvement in behavior. It is planned also, that a
"probation" officer shall look after the boys, after they have started again, into a better kind of life. And to these two noteworthy institutions has come
a third --the Tuberculosis Hospital, constructed in the most modern style, with ample light and sleeping porches, at a cost of $15,000. It was opened
in the early Fall. It has a capacity for 24 charity patients, which by means of its porches, can easily be doubled. It is in the charge of a graduate
nurse and a corps of assistants. In view of the civic spirit of Forsyth county, the Rockefeller Institution of New York has entered into a three years
contract for an annual expenditure of $3,000; the Rockefeller Institution to supply two-thirds and the County one-third of the cost. The money is to
be applied for the prosecution of research along the line of preventable diseases. An expert is to live here part of each year, and his laboratory is
now being fitted up.
1923: Public-Local & Private Laws, NC Session 1923; PAGE 641
AN ACT EMPOWERING THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF FORSYTH COUNTY TO REMODEL THE PRESENT COUNTY HOME
OR TO BUILD AN ADDITIONAL BUILDING OR BUILDINGS TO PROVIDE FOR THE BETTER CARING FOR THE POOR OF FORSYTH COUNTY
The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact:
Section 1: That the county commissioners of Forsyth County, North Carolina, are hereby authorized and empowered to remodel or to construct
such building or buildings on the present site of the county home of Forsyth County as they may deem necessary to properly accommodate the poor
of Forsyth County.
Sec. 2: This act shall be in force from and after its ratification. Ratified this the 5th day of March. A.D. 1923
SMALLPOX AT THE COUNTY HOME
Last week we reported cases of smallpox at the County Home. Since that time two more have been added in the person of Mrs. Robert Ogburn
and son who called to pay a neighborly visit to the family of Mr. Fulcher, the Keeper of that Institution. Mr. Ogburn is also there and with his family,
has been placed under quarantine. Having been successfully vaccinated it is not thought that he will catch the disease. The unfortunates at the
Home do not hold any "receptions" and the _____ and ______ of social functions do not interest them. There are not many visitors and a residence
there is more from necessity than choice. Hence, the spread of the disease from that quarter is no occasion for alarm. Nor do we cast any reflection
upon the present management, for it is good and the comforts far better than in other counties of which we have knowledge. But it is not, by no
means, our ideal. A County Home should be a welcome resort to those who seek its protection and care. They should be a pride to every county for
the responsibility is a great one---this care of our very,very poor. Are we doing our duty by them? Can we not brighten the Home, add more
conveniences, and make it akin to our homes which we love, cherish and enjoy??
Jan 11, 1906 - COUNTY HOME IMPROVEMENTS
Architect Frank. H. Milburn will present plans to the Commissioners of this county this week regarding improvements to be made at the County home.
A new structure will probably be built of brick, two stories high and 80x144 feet. It will have 44 rooms besides apartments for the Superintendent.
There will be two hospital wards, one for white and one for colored, with separate dining rooms for the races. There will also be sewerage and other
conveniences. The people of Forsyth will heartily endorse the above or any effort on the part of the Commissioners to provide larger and better
quarters for our unfortunate poor. Since putting the above in type we learn that the Commissioners have accepted the plans of architect Milburn and
will proceed with the work.
Winston-Salem Journal - Oct 26, 1906:
The above cut is a correct representation of the new county home for the aged and infirm now completed. It is a neat, plain and substantial building,
and is considered by experts to be one of the cheapest buildings ever erected in the state, and the county commissioners are to be congratulated for
handling the same so successfully. This noble work of charity is further evidence of the kin feelings of our fellow-citizens toward mankind, and it is the
benevolent spirit that prompts us to properly protect those that cannot care for themselves in their old age. In order to give our people an idea of the
magnitude of this undertaking the architects give us the following information: Brick building 142 feet by 162 feet, two stories high, with basement
and attic, tin roof, plumbing and steam heat. The first floor has 18 wards, two bath rooms and toilets, four rooms for the superintendent and his
family, two large dining rooms, one for the white and one for the colored with large kitchen and storage room. The second floor has 18 wards, two
baths and toilet rooms with two hospital wards one for each race with diet kitchen and toilets attached including portable porcerlain bath tubs, four
rooms for the attendants, with a large linen room and toilets. The building is planned with hard sanitary plaster, and fitted with all modern
equipment. The races are to be separated, and the males and females can also be separated. Large wide porches extend around three sides of
the building, which permits of easy exercise in bad weather. The basement has large storage rooms, cement floors, boiler and fuel rooms, and
laundry. A large well is provided for water supply, also a 15,000 gallon steel tower and tank has been erected to furnish water for the building and
provide fire protection for the buildings and a line of sewer has been laid to the creek and all the plumbing fixtures have been connected with the
same. The county commissioners advertised for the work and awarded the contracts to the lowest bidders as follows: Fogle Bros Co main building
complete $21, 068.00; Fogle Bros Co, well, well house, cement floors and tower $906.30; Crawford plumbing and Supply Co., steel tower and tank,
fountain $1068.00; LB Brickenstein, steam Heating plant complete $2,290.00; L.B. Brickenstein, sanitary tower and manholes complete 840.00 ---
Total $26,172.30
It is a most gratifying fact, that the county commissioners have paid the above bills as presented, and all other bills without borrowing a dollar, which
shows that they have been most careful in managing the business of the county. Forsyth county now has the best county home and the best court
house in the state. (Contributed by Betsy L. Hendrix)
UNION REPUBLICAN, APRIL 11, 1907
County Home Report
C.C. Flynt, Supt. of the Forsyth County Home, reports 18 inmates at that institution. Of this number there are 19 white males; 15 white females; 8
colored males and 6 colored females. During the month of March 8 inmates were received and 5 discharged. The Republican is free to say that it
does not believe that there is a bigger or better arranged Home for the poor in the State. Such a fact should prove a gratification to every citizen.
[Note: As these numbers to not "add-up", this article was copied correctly.] (Contributed by Betsy L. Hendrix)
1908-The Home is a modern, up to date building; located three miles form the county seat. One building 100x150 feet. Brick with metal roof and
broad piazzas; 44 living rooms. Windows on weights, and transoms over all the doors. Fire extinguishers and good water pressure from a large
tank. Fine well of drinking water pumped to all the floors by electric motor. Steam heated, radiators in all the rooms. Can accommodate 75; now in
charge, 47. Two bedridden; 19 mentally defective. Of these four insane are confined. Included in the 19 are two epileptics. Good food. Enough is
raised on the farm to supply the table. County pays other expenses. C. C. Flynt is Superintendent; salary, $600 per year, with board and rooms for
self and family. He is satisfactory. Physician is Dr. S. F. Pfohl, Winston-Salem; salary, $600 for all county work. Admitted in six months, 18 whites
and 20 colored. Died 4—one from consumption. Competent sick nurse employed at $600 per year, with board and lodging. Very few are intelligent
enough to make anything and most of them too feeble to work. Grounds and buildings are well arranged and everything is neat and in good
condition. Two hundred and fifty acres of good land; 100 in cultivation. Five mules, four cows and 14 hogs. Wheat, corn, oats and potatoes raised
for use of the Home. Extra grain is sold. The Home is new and the trees are too small yet to furnish shade. The pastors of the city churches
alternate and give one service a month to the Home. Three children, too small to be taken from their mother. Outdoor relief to two persons, $3 per
month to one and $5 to the other. General impression of the management very good. SECOND REPORT: The Home is as heretofore reported as
to buildings. Now in charge, 50. Insane, five white, two colored. Confined four, Epileptic one. Six died during six months and 15 were discharged.
Two children. Outdoor relief to five. REMARKS: We urge the purchase of 200 feet of hose for fire protection. Good water pressure and hydrants,
also fire extinguishers, but no hose.
1910- The Home is as heretofore reported as to buildings. Now in charge, 48. Three insane:one white man, one colored and one colored woman—
all confined. One colored woman an epileptic. All food they want supplied by the farm. Superintendent is C. C. Flynt. Receives $50 per month and
board and rooms for self and family. He is satisfactory. Physician is Dr. J. K. Pepper, Winston-Salem. Received for services as county physician
during the fiscal year, $2,442.39. Admitted in 6 months, 16; died, 11—two from tuberculosis. The sick are well cared for. They are new buildings,
well arranged, neat and in good condition. Kitchen Clean. Two hundred fifty acres good land; 100 in cultivation. Four mules, five cows and 25 hogs.
Crops are wheat, corn oats, potatoes and vegetables for use of the Home. Some grain is sold each year. Religious services are held regularly each
month by the difference pastors of the city. Outdoor relief to nine persons at an average cost of $4 per month. General impression of the
management is very good.
SECOND REPORT: There has been no change in the Home. There are six fire extinguishers at the main building and two at the barn. Forty-nine
now in charge. Four insane. Two of these confined all the time. One colored epileptic not counted with the insane. Eighteen have been admitted in
six months and seven have died. Seven discharged. Premises and kitchen neatly kept; clean and in good condition. Raised this year 1,200 bushels
of corn and 529 bushels of wheat. One hundred acres in cultivation. Extra corn and wheat is sold. A white woman, feebleminded, brought in last
week with a two-year-old child and since given birth to another infant; both colored. Nine received outdoor relief at an average of $4 per month.
1918- THE WACHOVIA MORAVIAN - January 1918, page 2-3
The care of the county over its poor and unfortunate has drawn National attention during the past year. The County Home is considered a model
structure. To it has come the Reformatory on which much thought and care are being expended, and its good influence upon the wayward youth is
being felt. The educational feature has been introduced; instruction is given, on one day for white and on another for colored youth.
Sentences are now being made indeterminate, and thus a new stimulus has been given to improvement in behavior. It is planned also, that a
"probation" officer shall look after the boys, after they have started again, into a better kind of life. And to these two noteworthy institutions has come
a third --the Tuberculosis Hospital, constructed in the most modern style, with ample light and sleeping porches, at a cost of $15,000. It was opened
in the early Fall. It has a capacity for 24 charity patients, which by means of its porches, can easily be doubled. It is in the charge of a graduate
nurse and a corps of assistants. In view of the civic spirit of Forsyth county, the Rockefeller Institution of New York has entered into a three years
contract for an annual expenditure of $3,000; the Rockefeller Institution to supply two-thirds and the County one-third of the cost. The money is to
be applied for the prosecution of research along the line of preventable diseases. An expert is to live here part of each year, and his laboratory is
now being fitted up.
1923: Public-Local & Private Laws, NC Session 1923; PAGE 641
AN ACT EMPOWERING THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF FORSYTH COUNTY TO REMODEL THE PRESENT COUNTY HOME
OR TO BUILD AN ADDITIONAL BUILDING OR BUILDINGS TO PROVIDE FOR THE BETTER CARING FOR THE POOR OF FORSYTH COUNTY
The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact:
Section 1: That the county commissioners of Forsyth County, North Carolina, are hereby authorized and empowered to remodel or to construct
such building or buildings on the present site of the county home of Forsyth County as they may deem necessary to properly accommodate the poor
of Forsyth County.
Sec. 2: This act shall be in force from and after its ratification. Ratified this the 5th day of March. A.D. 1923
| FORSYTH COUNTY HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION FCHA Homepage |
Excerpt from a U.S. Government REPORT
summarizing various state poor laws in 1904
summarizing various state poor laws in 1904
| FORSYTH COUNTY HOME- 1906 |
Feb 7, 1906
Winston Salem Journal
Winston Salem Journal