Almshouse Farm at Machipongo facts for kids
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Almshouse Farm at Machipongo
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 12402 Lankford Hwy., Machipongo, Virginia |
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| Area | 17.9 acres (7.2 ha) |
| Built | c. 1725, c. 1840, 1910 |
| Built by | W.G. Dondelton, David A. Dunton, |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 02000317 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 1, 2002 |
The Almshouse Farm at Machipongo, now known as the Barrier Islands Center, is a historic place in Machipongo, Virginia. For almost 150 years, from 1804 until 1952, it served as a home for people in Northampton County, Virginia who needed help. This included people who were homeless, children without parents, or those who were sick. It was sometimes called a "poorhouse." There was also a separate building on the property specifically for African-American residents.
The Almshouse Farm was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.
Contents
A Look Back: The Almshouse Farm's Story
The Almshouse Farm has three main buildings. The oldest one was built around 1725. It is a one-and-a-half-story building made of both brick and wood. This building was likely there before the property became an almshouse.
The main building, built around 1840, is a two-story wooden structure. It was designed in the Greek Revival style, which was popular at the time. This building was where many of the people living at the almshouse stayed.
A third building was constructed in 1910. This one-story wooden building looks similar to school buildings from that period. It was built specifically to house African-American residents separately. This building had 10 rooms for them and did not have indoor plumbing. In 2013, this building was updated and is now used as the Barrier Islands Center's Education Building.
There are also two smaller wooden buildings on the property from the late 1800s or early 1900s. The Northampton County Almshouse Farm was used continuously from 1803 until 1952.
The Barrier Islands Center Today
Today, the Barrier Islands Center is located on the same land that was once the Almshouse Farm. This center has three main purposes:
- It is a local history museum.
- It is a place for education and learning.
- It is a community gathering spot.
Discovering History at the Museum
The museum part of the Barrier Islands Center shares the culture and history of the people who lived on the nearby Barrier Islands. It uses old photographs and artifacts (historical objects) to tell their stories.
Learning and Fun Activities
The Center also offers many programs, workshops, concerts, and events. These activities are for people of all ages and cover topics like art, culture, nature, science, and history.
Images for kids
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The historic Almshouse building.
