Strafford County Farm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Strafford County Farm
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Almshouse is on the right, jail on the left
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | County Farm Rd., Dover, New Hampshire |
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| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Built | 1881 |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000100 |
| Added to NRHP | February 25, 1981 |
The Strafford County Farm in Dover, New Hampshire, was once a special place that helped people in need. It was a group of buildings used to care for people who didn't have homes or enough money, and also for people who had broken laws in Strafford County. Today, a new jail stands there, but some of the old, important buildings are still around. These historic buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. They include the old almshouse from 1881 and the county jail built in 1907.
Contents
What Was the County Farm?
The Strafford County Farm started in 1867. This happened after the state of New Hampshire decided that each county should have places to help people who were poor, people who had committed crimes, and people who needed special care for their minds. Strafford County bought a large area of land, about 290 acres, to build these facilities.
How the Farm Helped People
The farm had many buildings. The main one was the almshouse, which was like a home for people who needed help. There were also workshops like a blacksmith's shop and a carpenter's shop. The farm also had places for farming, like a slaughterhouse. People who lived at the farm and were able to work helped out. They did most of the work on the farm, sometimes as much as 90% of it! This helped them learn skills and contribute.
Important Buildings and Their History
The almshouse you see today was built in 1881. Nearby, there were also laundry and boiler houses built at the same time, which are still there. These buildings were designed by F.N. Footman. At first, the almshouse even had a basement where people who had broken laws stayed.
Later, in 1907, a separate county jail was built right next to the almshouse. This jail was designed by G. Lord. The farm stopped operating in 1971. A new, modern county jail was opened on the site in 2004.
Where the Farm Was Located
The county farm buildings are in the northwest part of Dover. They are bordered by County Farm Road to the north and the Cocheco River to the south and west. The older, historic buildings are on the west side of the area. The new jail, built in 2004, now takes up most of the space.
The almshouse is a large building made of brick with three stories. It was designed to hold up to 300 people. A nursing home built in 1970 now stands in front of it and is connected to it. The county jail is a brick building with two and a half stories, located just south of the almshouse.
