Saline County Poor Farm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Saline County Poor Farm
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Western and northern sides of the farmhouse
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1600 Feazel Rd., Harrisburg, Illinois |
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| Area | 3.5 acres (1.4 ha) |
| Built | 1877 |
| Architect | A. Winterber |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 00001048 |
| Added to NRHP | January 22, 2001 |
The Saline County Poor Farm was a special place in Harrisburg, Illinois, designed to help people who needed a home and support. It was located at 1600 Feazel Road. This farm was created in 1863 because of an Illinois state law from 1839. This law said that every county should have a "poor farm" or "almshouse" to care for its residents who were struggling.
At first, the people living there stayed in a simple log building. But in 1877, a stronger brick building was constructed. The idea behind the poor farm was to give shelter to people who were poor, and in return, they would work on the farm if they were able. This was a common way for communities in Illinois to help people in need during the late 1800s. By 1903, almost all of Illinois's 102 counties had a poor farm or a similar place.
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What Was a Poor Farm?
A poor farm was a place where a county would provide housing and food for people who did not have enough money or a home. In exchange for this help, residents who were healthy enough were expected to work on the farm. This work often included farming, taking care of animals, or helping with chores around the buildings. It was a way for communities to offer support to those in difficult situations.
Life at the Saline County Poor Farm
Life at many poor farms, including the one in Saline County, could be challenging. Reports from the early 1900s showed that the buildings were not always kept in good condition. Sometimes, the living areas were not very clean, and people living there often faced health issues. There wasn't always enough supervision to make sure everything was running smoothly. Also, some residents found it difficult to work on the farm.
Changes in How Society Helped People
Over time, people's ideas about how to help those in need began to change. This period, known as the Progressive Era, saw a shift towards new ways of providing public support. Many people started to believe that social welfare programs, which offered different kinds of help, were better than poor farms. This change in thinking happened partly because of the difficult living conditions at many of these farms.
The laws in Illinois also started to reflect these new ideas. In 1917, counties were allowed to combine their poor farms. Then, in 1919, the state made poor farms change their names to "county homes." This was a step towards a more modern approach to social support. Eventually, by 1948, Illinois law stopped counties from placing healthy people in poor farms altogether.
The Saline County Poor Farm, however, continued to operate for a while longer. It never joined with another county's farm. It officially closed its doors in the 1950s, marking the end of an era for this type of social support.
The Farm Becomes a Historic Place
Because of its important role in the history of social support in Illinois, the Saline County Poor Farm was recognized as a historic site. On January 22, 2001, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This special list includes buildings, sites, and objects that are important in American history. The listing also included the cemetery on the property, where some of the people who lived at the poor farm were buried.
See also
