USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > History of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania > Part 10
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45
Joseph Work, for Jacob Cook, estate, Daphne.
John Young, East Hanover, Flora.
Daniel Bradley, East Hanover, Eph- raim.
Jacob Awl, Paxton, Guff.
James Cowden, Paxton, Lucy.
Judge John Carson, Paxton, Mary.
David Ritchey, Paxton, Frank and Phebe.
William Wood, M. D., Bethel, George.
Joshua Elder, Paxton, Rachel.
Arthur Chambers, Lower Paxton, Rachel.
William Crabb, Harrisburg, Susan.
William Campbell, East Hanover, Polly.
James Cowden, Lower Paxton, Dinah.
John Carson, Lower Paxton, An- drew.
David Ritchey, Lower Paxton, Cato. William Wood, Bethel, Justice of the Peace, Thomas-Peter.
Benjamin Hunt, M. D., Harrisburg, Katy. Cornelius Cox, Lower Paxton, Dinah.
Mordecai Mckinney, Middletown, Dick.
99
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
Richard Dearmond, West Hanover, Rachel, Venus and Joseph.
Patrick Hayes, Londonderry, Tob. John Young, East Hanover, Phillis and Nan.
David Grim, Londonderry, Nedd. William Kerr, Paxton, Hannah.
Joseph Allen, West Hanover, Han- nah and Dinah.
John Carson, Paxton, Esther and Hannah.
Mary Job, Paxton township, Nel.
Adam Harbinson, West Hanover, Elijah and Dinah.
William White, Louisburg, Abby and Charles.
Elizabeth Patton, Lebanon, Venus. Jacob Cook, Londonderry, Nell.
John A. Hanna, Paxton, Rose. Margaret Carson, Paxton, Sam. Cornelius Cox, Paxton, Cato.
J. W. Kittera, for Curtis Grubb, Fanny and Sarah.
James Burd, Paxton, John.
Robert Hayes, Londonderry, Nell.
Archibald McAllister, Paxton, Dan- iel.
Daniel Hiester, Reading, Henry, born in Dauphin county.
Cornelius Cox, Lower Paxton, Eliz- abeth.
John Kelso, Lower Paxton, George. Rudolph Kelker, Jr., Lebanon, agent for Robert.
Coleman, of Lancaster county, Har- riett.
Cornelius Cox, Lower Paxton, Charles.
Alex. M. Waugh, West Hanover, Carter.
Arch. McAllister, Lower Paxton, Charles.
Martha Crean, West Hanover, Adam.
David Montgomery, Lower Paxton, Bob.
Pat Hays, Londonderry, Thomas Martin.
James Wilson, Derry, Dinah Lem- ons.
Cornelius Cox, Paxton, Henry.
Archibald McAllister, Paxton, An- drew.
David Patton, Paxton, Isabella. Archibald McAllister, Paxton, James. James Cowden, Lower Paxton, George.
John Kelso, Paxton, Peter.
John Carson, Lower Paxton, An- drew.
Benjamin Wallace, West Hanover, Mira.
David Ferguson, West Hanover, Will.
Elizabeth Burd, Lower Paxton, John, Cornelius Cox, Paxton, Eve.
William Frazier, Londonderry, Jane. Nathaniel Simpson, Lower Paxton, Peter.
Archibald McAllister, Paxton, Tyra. Elizabeth Hunt, Harrisburg, Joseph. David Elder, Harrisburg, York. Andrew Lee, Harrisburg, Hannah.
Samuel Sturgeon, West Hanover, Solomon.
David Patton, Lower Paxton, Rachel.
Samuel Stewart, West Hanover, Frederick.
Patrick Haves, Londonderry, John Martin.
George Brenizer, Harrisburg, Charles Butler.
J. E. Hamilton, Londonderry, Lan- caster.
Patrick Hayes, Londonderry, Sam. James Caldwell, Lower Paxton, Sam. Archibald McAllister, Lower Pax- ton, Hetty Gray.
John Carson, Lower Paxton, Maria and Frank.
Thomas Elder, Harrisburg, Lydia.
Jeremiah Sturgeon, West Hanover, Dinah.
Robert Boals, West Hanover, Cato. Pat Hays, Londonderry, Peter. David Detweiler, Derry, Emilia. John Elder, Annville, William.
Nancy Awl, Lower Paxton, Charles. R. Kelker, Jr., for Curtis Grubb, Sr., deceased, Isaac.
100
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
Wm. Frazer, Londonderry, Char- lotte.
Robt. Boal, East Hanover, Joe.
Alexander M. Waugh, West Han- over, Molly.
Joseph Burd, Swatara, Hannah.
Archibald McAllister, Lower Pax- ton, Lucy Craig.
John Weidman, East Hanover, Dinah.
Pat Hays, Londonderry, Robert Martin.
Benjamin Wallace, West Hanover, Harry.
Andrew Lee, Harrisburg, Ellis.
Archibald McAllister, Lower Pax- ton, Hallie Jenkins.
David Montgomery, Lower Paxton, Catherine.
Esther Cox, Lower Paxton, Esther.
Adam Bender, Upper Paxton, Lucas. John Carson, Lower Paxton, George. Archibald McAllister, Lower Paxton, James Craig.
Margaret Sturgeon, Hanover, Henry. Robert Boal, Hanover, Adam.
Andrew Lee, Harrisburg, Becky.
John Carson, Lower Paxton, Pa- tience.
John B. Cox, Lower Paxton, Maria. Sarah Wilson, Lower Paxton, Van- danna.
Thomas Elder, Harrisburg, Henry.
Elizabeth Wiggins, Lower Paxton, Tilly.
Archibald McAllister, Lower Pax- ton, Jack Jenkins.
James Brisben, M. D., Harrisburg, Eve.
David Ferguson, West Hanover,
Amelia, Peter, Gibe, Derry, Lucy. Archibald McAllister, Lower Pax- ton, Maria Murry.
Samuel Stoner, Lower Paxton, Mary Hall.
John Neidig, Swatara, John Stewart. Archibald McAllister, Lower Pax- ton, Eliza Creag.
Joshua Elder, Harrisburg, Clarey.
Simon Goodman, Cumberland coun- ty, former resident of Harrisburg, Elmer George.
Patrick Hays, Londonderry, Ande Harriet.
George Whitehill, merchant, Harris- burg, Frances.
John Noble, Harrisburg, Tom.
John B. Cox, Harrisburg, widow of Alex. Scott, late of Lancaster, Laura.
Robert Rodgers, West Hanover, Si- mon Jackson.
Michael Boyer, Harrisburg, Jacob.
Isabella McKee, Derry, Harriet and Hannah.
John Capp, Harrisburg, James.
John Kean, Harrisburg, Charlotte.
Joshua Elder, Harrisburg, Jane and Richard.
John Capp, Harrisburg, Hannah.
William M. Irvine, Harrisburg, Har- riet.
Henry B. Dorrance, Halifax, Mark. Robert Harris, Harrisburg, Luce.
John B. Cox, Susquehanna, Mary and Eve.
Archibald McAllister, Susquehanna, Geo. Hoofnagle.
This closes the record. The first entry was made October 30, 1788, and the last August 29, 1825-thirty-seven years. It is said that at the present time there are descendants of some of the very slaves above registered in Harrisburg. Among the clerks of the court who registered the slaves were Alexander W. Graydon, Josh- ua Elder, Jacob Boas, John Machesney and Obed Fahnestock.
The last slave in Dauphin county was the property of Archi- bald McAllister, living on the land occupied by Fort Hunter. This slave is buried on this land; the tomb was to be seen near the rail- way a few years since.
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY IOI
First Use of Tomatoes :- This vegetable which has come to be almost indispensable to the American table, is a native of South America. The English name for it was "Love Apple," and as such it was known to the people of Dauphin county up to about 1840. It was cultivated in gardens as an ornament. It was inferior then to the fine varieties of the Twentieth century. The first grown in Harrisburg was in the garden of William Maclay, on Front and South streets. Mrs. George W. Harris, who was reared in the family of Mr. Maclay, her grandfather, stated that when a small girl she did not dare touch a tomato stalk, as they were considered poisonous; and Mr. Harris himself stated that he never knew them to be eaten until Colonel John Roberts returned from York in 1812. He said when at York with the Pennsylvania troops he dined at one of the best taverns in that town, and there saw stewed toma- toes on the table. He found them excellent. He then enquired of the landlord where he procured them and was informed that the seed were secured from a West India negro woman. Hunting the latter up, he purchased seed from her and was instructed how to pre- pare the tomatoes. The next year the seeds were planted, and the Colonel had the pleasure of eating the first tomatoes raised in Har- risburg or its vicinity.
In 1821, a Mr. Voorhees had a comb factory at the corner of River Alley and Chestnut street, Harrisburg. At that time John Shaffner and W. W. Boyer were apprentices to the comb business. The former, with the Cunninghams, later got control of the factory and continued the business for several years.
Maple Sugar Making In 1864 .- In the March 23 issue of the Harrisburg Patriot and Union, the following appeared: "The present weather is favorable for sugar-making and those of our farmers who have a "sugar camp" are now busily engaged in collect- ing and boiling the sweet juice of the maple and converting it into home-made sugar and molasses. This business was formerly consid- ered a country amusement, but since the Civil war has doubled the price of sugar there is profit, as well as amusement in sugar-making. Hundreds of farmers who never paid any attention to their "Sugar camp," further than to provide enough for home supply, are now manufacturing for the market and will obtain a ready market at high prices for all they can make. Every farmer in Dauphin county who owns sugar-trees on their plantations should turn them to account and thereby confer a benefit upon themselves, as well as the rest of man- kind. Maple sugar is delicious and we can't have too much of it."
.
102
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF CITY AND COUNTY.
As early as November, 1883, the Dauphin County Historical Society considered the proposition of a proper celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the formation of Dauphin county, as well as the founding of the city of Harrisburg, which would occur in 1885. The next February a committee was appointed from the So- ciety to whom was intrusted the important duty. As the founder of the town-John Harris-gave liberally of his land to the State, county and city, it was deemed appropriate that all should be in- vited to join the people in giving eclat to the occasion.
March 9, 1884, His Honor, Mayor Wilson, sent a communica- tion to the Council of the city. After due consideration, by all con- cerned, the dates from the 13th to the 17th of September, 1885, was fixed upon as the time for the proposed anniversary. The fol- lowing program was published and carried out to a letter :
(1) The celebration of the One Hundredth Anniversary of the erection of the county of Dauphin and the founding of the city of Harrisburg, be fixed for Monday, September 14, 1885.
(2) That the clergy of all the congregations and churches in the county of Dauphin be requested to deliver Commemoration Sermons or discourses on Sunday, September 13, 1885.
(3) That Monday, September 14, 1885, at the hours of nine o'clock in the morning of said day, it is recommended that the court house, church, public school, fire engine, factory and all other bells throughout the county of Dauphin be rung for the space of fifteen minutes and that all the schools, both public and private, or other assemblies at that time gathered together, sing "God Bless Our Native Land."
(4) That the inaugural ceremonies be held at the court house and in other parts of the county to be hereafter designated, at the hour of eleven o'clock in the forenoon. And that on the evening of the same day, at 7.30 o'clock, the concluding exercises shall consist of a Centenary Poem, an Historical address, remarks by old citi- sens, etc.
(5) That on Tuesday, September 10, 1885, a parade of the military, Grand Army, the civic and social orders, shall take place in Harrisburg, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon of said day.
(6) That on Wednesday, September 16, 1885, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, there shall be an industrial display and procession. That every department of industry-the farmer, the artizan, the citizens from every part of the county, be requested to participate.
(7) That on Thursday, September 17, 1885, the Firemen of this and adjoining cities of the State, organize a display and proces- sion, commencing at the hour of eleven o'clock on the said day.
0
103
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
(8) That a marshal shall be chosen each day with power to designate special and other aids. Such Chief Marshal's designation to be a crimson sash ; special aids blue, and other aids white.
(9) That an antiquarian display be held on the week of the anniversary celebration. That a room be provided for the collec- tion and display of ancient farm implements, furniture, portraits, paintings, china, books, clothing, beds, bedding, etc., also relics of all descriptions. That a moderate fee be charged for admission, the proceeds to be turned into the funds of the treasurer. That all arti- cles will be properly insured and returned to their respective owners. That a committee of forty ladies and ten gentlemen be appointed to carry out this project. The antiquarian display will be open at Har- risburg on Wednesday, September 9, 1885, and to be closed Thurs- day, September 17, 1885.
(10) That a cordial invitation be extended to the citizens of the county of Lebanon, which for twenty-eight years formed a part of the original county of Dauphin.
(II) That a Commemorative Medal, with a suitable device and inscription be prepared, and to be of three values-gold, silver and bronze. That the said medal be sold by the treasurer, or under his direction, at a reasonable advance on its cost.
It is said, all in all, under kind Providence, it was a celebration unequaled in the annals of America ; at least it is so claimed by men who are best capable of judging. The City Council of Harrisburg donated $1,000 toward defraying the large expenses. The Centen- nial medals above referred to, were produced in white metal, bronze and silver, representing on one side the log cabin of pioneer Harris, with the motto, "E. Feritate Cultus, pro Solitudine Multitudo," meaning "Out of barbarism Civilization, for Solitude a Multitude." On the obverse side, a scene representing the three leading industries of Dauphin county, mining, manufacturing, agriculture. On the out- er border-"1785-1885, Dauphin County Centennial." Five hun- dred and sixty-nine dollars worth of these unique medals were sold.
At six o'clock in the morning, each day of the celebration, thir- teen guns were fired. The Sabbath before the real opening day, was an ideal autumn day-September 13, 1885. Never were there so many attending Divine worship in the city as upon this auspicious oc- casion. It augured well for the week-day ceremonies to follow. Every one felt that under the kind protection of Providence, all had prospered as a people. The pastors of the many churches preached commemorative sermons-while interesting services suitable to the occasion were also held in the various Sabbath Schools.
The decorations were indeed elaborate. Arches spanned many of the streets, not only the work of committees, but created by indi-
104
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
viduals, who grasped the idea of celebrating in proper spirit. In front of every engine-house, the firemen had erected pretty arches, some being very elaborate. The citizens of the Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth wards, spared no pains or bunting by which to make things look bright and they literally painted their locations "red." Private houses were in many cases literally covered with flags of the "Old Glory" type. The engine-house arches were perfectly beauti- ful and the whole decoration eclipsed anything ever before, or since seen in Harrisburg.
Five thousand school children were in parade and in their line of march halted by the soldiers' monument at the corner of Sec- ond and State streets and sang "My Country, 'Tis of Thee," with wonderful effect upon the older members of the throng.
At the opening of exercises at the Court House, a fervently worded prayer was offered by a grandson of pioneer John Har- ris, the Rev. William A. Harris, D. D., of Washington, D. C., clos- ing with the Lord's Prayer, said in concert by the vast gathering present.
The Philadelphia Times said fully one hundred thousand people witnessed the parade on Industrial Day.
CHAPTER V.
COUNTY GOVERNMENT-THE SEVERAL COURT HOUSES-EARLY COURT CRYERS-THE COUNTY PRISONS-ALMS HOUSES- FINANCES-NATIONAL AND STATE REPRESENTATION- JUDGES-BIOGRAPHERS OF FIRST JUDGES-COUNTY OF- FICIALS-BIOGRAPHY OF ALEXANDER GRAYDON, FIRST PRO- THONOTARY.
As soon as Dauphin county was set off from Lancaster and had the proper buildings provided, the officials appointed and selected to fill the various positions, entered upon the duty of looking well to the interests of tax-payers and the development of a good and safe county government.
A log house standing until about 1843, at the corner of what is now Washington avenue and Front street, served as a place for the first court to meet at Harris Ferry. The pillory, or punishing place, was near by. The courts were afterwards held in the old log jail which formerly stood on the northwest side of Strawberry alley, a short distance northeast of Raspberry alley, and in a log house which formerly stood on the lot later occupied by the "Farmer's Hotel," (opposite the present court house ) now known as the Aldinger Ho- tel. From 1792 to 1799 inclusive were occupied in the construction of the first court house, at least the expenditures for the erection thereof cover that period as is to be seen from the "Order Boak" in the commissioners' office, which gives the following items connected with the building :
£
s. d.
James Mitchell,
new Court-House
103
0 0
Mitchell & Kapp, John Kean
8 9 10
66
5 6
79
10 0
93
72 0
66
500 O
0
66
100 0
100 0
John Kean & R. Harris
400 O
0
IO
14 0
152
4
2
66
150
O 0
250
0 0
75 16 II
106
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
s. d. £
Robert Harris
new Court-House
75
18 10 0
{
37
IO 0
66
5
2
8
7 61/2
4
12
I
8
Trustees, 66
66
269 12 2
John Cumins,
5
O
0
James Ingraham,
I
2
6
Benjamin Kurtz,
3
O
0
John Balsley,
18
9
Connelly & Rowan,
66
115 6
3
Frederick Cleckner,
66
II
3
William Wray,
2 17
C. Kunkel,
0 12
6
Benjamin Trego,
I4
7
2
Bricker & Bennett,
4 15
71/2
L. Semmers,
5 5 IO
Charles Rowen,
9 II
I
¥
6 16
11/2
Henry Bruner,
2 17
6
Jacob Wain,
¥
15 16 9
H. Ford,
6
6
0
Court-House Bell
131 18 10
Residue of Bell
26 13 IO
Henry Brunner
2
5 O
New Bell
I12 IO 0
Reduced to United States money, the above shows this court house to have cost about $6,000.
This building served until 1860, when the original part of the present court house was erected, on the site occupied by the old build- ing. The new building was erected under Commissioners Jacob Buffington, John S. Musser, and Jacob Behm. The contract was let to Samuel Holman and Daniel E. Wilt, for $57,012, to be com- pleted November, 1861.
An annex was found necessary to the new court house and ac- cordingly a contract was awarded August 15, 1894, to W. O. Weav- er, of Harrisburg, at the contract price of $10,997.
3
17
12
30 7
3
85
15 O
. 2578 3
8
66
172 15
4
7
6 6
2 14 3
66
IO II
8
H. Eckert, Jail and
75 O
0
107
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
The old court house was an antique affair of brick, two stories high, with wings and a semi-rotunda in front, which was added to the building by the State of Pennsylvania, while it was occupied by the Commonwealth as a capital building from the time the capital of Pennsylvania was removed from Lancaster in 1812, until the com- pletion of the old State House, January 2, 1822. When the court vacated the court house for the State, it moved into the then par- tially finished brick building, owned at the time by Mr. Capp and later known as the "White Hall" tavern. While here, the Com- missioners of the county erected the brick buildings at the corner of Walnut street and Raspberry alley, into which the court moved and remained in until the Legislature vacated the court house.
Among old books and papers found in Joshua Elder's effects (son of Rev. John Elder) is gleaned the early manner of the court
cryer. (To Open Court) Cryer makes proclamation. "O yes ! three times. All manner of persons who stand bound by Recogniz- ance, or have anything to do before the Judges of this Court of General Quarter Sessions of the peace here holden this day of the county of Dauphin draw near, give your attendance & you shall be heard. God save the Commonwealth & the Hon'ble Court."
The pillory, an instrument of judicial torture and legal ven- geance, stood about sixty yards below the grave of John Harris, Sr., or just above the old ferryhouse, at the junction of Front and Pax- tang streets. Its earliest victims were on August 18, 1785, in the persons of William Courtney and James Lachey, each of whom re- ceived "eighteen lashes." There were other punishments at this whipping post, but it was not long before such means of punishment was abandoned for more humane means-fines, imprisonment, etc.
The first Prison erected for the safety of the county, was built about 1790, on lots conveyed by John Harris, Jr., to the commis- sioners, when the town was originally laid out. This, while a rude affair, served well its purpose and held many a hardened criminal until the sentence of the court passed upon their crime and removed them, by execution, or otherwise. In 1839-40 this building was re- moved to make place for one of more modern design. In "Mor- gan's Annals of Harrisburg," published in 1858, is found the fol- lowing description of this prison :
"The building fronting on Walnut street is constructed of fine light granite from Chester, or Montgomery county, in the Gothic style of architecture, and is devoted entirely to the residence and of- fice of the keeper. It is two stories high and surmounted with an octagonal tower, originally intended to contain an alarm-bell. Be-
IOS
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
ing built at some distance from the line of the street, a handsome garden-plot fronts the structure, enclosed with neat cast-iron railing. Wing-walls of granite flank the building on either side, which con- nect with massive limestone walls twenty-three feet high, enclosing the two sides and rear of the lots. Within this enclosure, and con- nected with the front building by a corridor ten feet wide, is the prison proper. It is a plain limestone building two stories high, con- taining forty cells, each fifteen feet in length and seven and one-half wide, twenty of which are on the first story, ten fronting each side of the corridor. The twenty cells on the second floor have a similar arrangement, and are attained by a stairway in the center of the corridor, leading to a gallery, with which they communicate. Each of the cells contain a bed and water-closet. The floors are covered with asphaltum. They are heated by hot water, and properly venti- lated by apertures through the outside wall. The floor of the corri- dor is covered with brick, and it is lighted and ventilated by sky- lights on the roof. Its entire length is eighty feet."
The cost of this Prison, finished in 1841, was $40,000. It was erected by John Haviland, architect. The Commissioners of the county at the date of its construction were: John Brohoff, David Hummel and Henry Peffer, clerk.
As the population increased, the number of criminals necessarily increased, and this Prison was found too small to properly handle so many convicts. For years this prison was anything but a wholesome and sanitary place and the keepers had their skill taxed to its utmost to securely keep the various classes of offenders ; but in the latter part of the eighties, appropriations were made by the commissioners, by which the County Prison was greatly enlarged and improved, to a thoroughly modern prison. It was effected by adding two stories to the old building and re-arranging the whole interior. This work was completed in 1901 and stands as a monument to the good sense and business management of the officials who had the same in charge. It ranks high, if not the highest, in point of safety and sanitary conditions, of any in Pennsylvania. The number of steel- barred cells under the present arrangement is one hundred and sixty- four. It is steam-heated by "city heat" and ventilated by an in- genious, up-to-date method. It is surrounded by the same old stone- wall of solid masonry, which was erected at an early date in the his- tory of Harrisburg, elsewhere spoken of. The following persons had charge of the construction of this re-built prison.
Commissioners-John W. Deibler, Dr. Charles H. Smith, Patrick H. Meehan; Ex-Commissioner-John D. Hawkins; Archi- tect-F. J. Osterling; Contractors-Van Dorn Iron Works, Cleve- land, Ohio.
109
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
The Prison officers are : Inspectors-Lane S. Hart, W. H. U]- rich, W. B. Meetch, Henry Cordes, S. S. Miller, Archie Knisley. Warden-John H. McIlhenny; Matron-Catharine A. McIlhenny ; Physician-Dr. F. W. Coover; Underkeeper-David F. Nissley; Day-Watchman-James McCann; Night-Watchmen-Samuel B. Cassel and James Meehan.
The cost of rebuilding and furnishing the present prison was about one hundred and sixty-five thousand dollars.
The Dauphin County Almshouse is located three miles from Harrisburg. The original almshouse was provided after the pas- sage of the Act in 1804, that authorized the maintenance of the coun- ty's poor in this manner. Small buildings were provided, though spacious enough for the times in which they were erected, but they had outlived their usefulness many years before others were pro- vided. From 1866 to 1872, Rudolph F. Kelker was one of the di- rectors of the poor, and through his instrumentality proper legisla- tion, was secured, new additional buildings erected and such im- provements made in the general management of the almshouse, as greatly alleviated the condition of the unfortunate inmates. A laundry and school room were included in the new building. The main building was completed in 1868. The towering size and orn- amental cornice presented an imposing front view. Its cost was $75,- 000 and it was first occupied in 1869.
On the afternoon of July 2, 1883, this institution was almost totally destroyed by fire-the laundry and school room only being saved from the flames. The loss was about $140,000, of which but $23,500 was covered by insurance.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.