Taunton Alms House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Taunton Alms House
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 350 Norton Avenue, Taunton, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1876 |
| Architect | E.C. Chandler |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| MPS | Taunton MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 84002223 |
| Added to NRHP | July 5, 1984 |
The Taunton Alms House, now known as the Taunton Nursing Home, is a very old building in Taunton, Massachusetts. It is located at 350 Norton Avenue. This building was first built in 1876. It was used as a "poorhouse," a place where people who had no home or money could live.
Later, in the 1900s, the building was made bigger. It was changed into a nursing home, which is a place for older people or those who need special care. The building has a special look called Italianate architecture. It reminds us of how people tried to help others in the late 1800s. In 1984, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical site.
The Building's Design and Story
The Taunton Nursing Home is in a quiet neighborhood in western Taunton. It is on the south side of Norton Road, near schools and sports fields. The building is made of brick and was designed by a local architect named E.C. Chandler. It has two main floors and a basement that is partly above ground. The roof has a pointed shape called a gable roof.
The front of the building has nine sections, and the middle part sticks out a bit with its own pointed roof. The building's Italianate style includes stone blocks at the corners, which are called quoins. Newer parts have been added to the left and back of the original building.
From Poor Farm to Nursing Home
Taunton first started a "poor farm" on this land in 1826. They built a small place with 12 beds next to an old farmhouse. In 1873, there was a difficult time for the economy. Many more people needed help. So, the city built this bigger building in 1876 to meet the need. This was also a time when people wanted to make housing, healthcare, and education better for those in need.
The property also had a farm where people worked together. The new building could house sixty people who were struggling, often children. These children would stay there until they could be placed with a local family. By 1920, the place was known as the City Home and Piggery. It made money by raising and selling pigs.
Sometime before 1929, it started to become more like a hospital for older people who needed care. In 1980, the building was made much larger and turned into a modern nursing facility. It is special because it is the only nursing home owned by a city in the entire state.
