Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2024 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Annual Report of the Board of Superintendents of the Poor County of Kent - Fiscal Year Ending Sept. 30, 1899 West Michigan Printing Co., 1900 p. 7 COUNTY FARM The farm consists of 146 acres of good areable land, traversed by a stream known as Plaster Creek, which be- sides furnishing an abundant of good pasturage on the bottom land, gives a good natural drainage for the whole farm. The land is well fenced, and in a good state of cultivation. The object of the Board has been to raise such products as are consumed on the farm, viz.: all kinds of vegetables, corn, both sweet and field, pota- toes, turnips, carrots and beets, as well as a large quantity of garden stuff, such as cabbage, tomatoes and berries. The Board keeps from ten to fourteen cows of which all give milk during the summer. They furnish an ample supply for all uses of the home; in the winter a few cows are kept for milking purposes, and we never have been without a sufficient quantity of milk. Hogs we raise in large quantities and it has been our en- deavor to produce port enough for the entire use of the home. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- p. 8 HOME BUILDING The main building is now in a good state of repair. During the past year the building was found to need repairing in several particulars, at a small expense, but it nevertheless greatly needed them in order to protect itself as well as the health and comfort of the inmates. In pursuance of such needed repairs, the Board kalsomined the walls and varnished the wood work throughout the building. The walls had become dirty and dingy and the wood work still more so, presenting an appearance of dilapidation and squalor; they now pre- sent a clean and well kept appearance and we deem the money thus expended well laid out. (Trans. Note: "Kalsomined" = A thin whitewash composed primarily of Paris white and water. Sometimes used instead of the more expensive paint to cover walls and fences.) The chapel is located directly over the boiler room, and at nearly all times is filled with hot air, smoke and dust. This prevails to such an extent, that the heat has shrunk the flooring of the chapel allowing the dust and smoke to perculate through. In order to obviate this the Board covered the chapel floor with linoleum thus insuring a good clean room for the purpose of di- vine worship. The ventilation of the building has been a source of considerable anxiety and discussion by the Board. The action finally agreed upon was to construct a number of shafts in the attic with the two main ventilating shafts. This has proven wholly adequate, and we esteem it a great success. The Board calls your attention to the laundry. It should in our judgment be disconnected from the main building. First, because the steam from it gathers upon the walls and wood work of the other parts of the build- ing, destroying the cleanliness of the walls and wood work, and the work of kalsomining and varnishing of the building; and second, in the winter when the outside ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- p. 9 HOME BUILDING doors are necessarily closed, the steam and odor goes through all the rooms, greatly to the annoyance and health both of the keeper and inmates. The two cages in the dormitory should be removed to the basement below. One of these cages is for men, the other women, and they are now so placed in relation to the other rooms, that when violent persons are impri- soned in them they can easily be heard, and are a source of great annoyance to all the other inmates and especially those in the hospital. The Board therefore contemplates their removal at an early period. THE BARN AND OUTBUILDINGS The main barn is in good condition and needs no repairs. The ice house is wholly out of repair and worthless. The coming year the Board contemplates the building of a new one in connection with a refrigerator room so that meat, butter, eggs, milk, etc., may be properly kept, fresh and cool. This necessitates its construction nearer the main building. The material from the old buildings that are to be torn down, together with what is now on hand, we are confident will be ample to construct the new. At all events it is a work of necessity and cannot be delayed much longer. The hog pen is old, rotted, falling down, and needs either a thorough overhauling or the construction of a new one. It will receive the early attention of the Board. MORGUE At the last session of your Board, you appropriated the sum of seven hundred dollars to construct a new morgue. The dead have heretofore been kept until burial in the old county ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- p. 10 MORGUE building made vacant by moving into the new. In persuance of said appropriation we proceeded to construct one 16 x 20, with stone foundation and hollow brick walls, slate roof and cement floor, all complete in modern design, and we are happy to report the same was constructed within the appropriation, the cost being only $628.50. The county now has a suitable place to care for its dead while wait- ing for burial or a report from relatives or friends. WATER SUPPLY At the opening of the new house the Board were con- fronted with a lack of a good, wholesome supply of water wholly indispensable to the wants of the institution. In order to good health and comfort among those cast depen- dent upon us for care and medical treatment, the first thing to be observed is a good supply of wholesome drink- ing water. Medicine is all right in its proper place, and used at proper times, but all life goes out without good water. The Board, in order to obtain it, went to great trouble and expense, the result of which we must acknow- ledge has not been commensurate with our labors and ex- penditure. We sunk near the main building an artesian well 364 feet. This furnished an abundant supply, but the water is impregnated with a mineral deposit to such an extent it kills grass when sprinkled with it, and is wholly worthless for domestic use. It is nauseous to the taste, and while it may not be unwholesome it cannot be drank as a daily beverage by any one. We therefore bought a tank and wind-mill and attached the same to a well about two hundred feet distance from the home and have thus far utilized this, but its capacity ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- p. 11 WATER SUPPLY for furnishing an ample supply is a question yet to be solved. CEMETERY The Board further submits that in the early history of the county house the dead were indiscriminately buried as best suited the grave diggers or persons to whom the task was assigned. No records are now extant, if any were ever kept, of the last resting place of the dead. Within the last few years this Board has assigned a suitable piece of ground on the farm for burial purposes and had the same platted, and every grave now, or as soon as convenient, marked with its number, and where occupied a marker placed at the head with name and age of its occupant inscribed thereon. These graves are also recorded in a book, with number, age and name, so that identification is easy and certain, and no trouble can arise in after years in locating the precise place of burial. POTTER'S FIELD We were instructed by your honorable body two years ago, under a statute of the State, to assign a piece of land from said farm for the burial of the unknown dead. This included such persons as died that were unknown and no relatives or friends found, and other bodies sent by the coroner or other legalized persons. This was called the Potter's Field. In pur- suance of said instructions we selected, as we then deemed it, a suitable piece for this purpose. But experience has taught us it was not a wise selection. At times it is covered with surface water, and at nearly all times it is saturated with dampness and water. We therefore set aside a portion of the ceme- tery proper for the purpose of disposing of the un- known dead. This selection will in no wise interfere ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- p. 12 POTTER'S FIELD with the cemetery itself, and is ample in size and adapted to the purpose for which we selected it. We hope this change will meet the approbation of your honorable body. TEMPORARY RELIEF The temporary relief furnished by this Board as per schedule is largely due to relief furnished to persons for care and attention which is chargeable to other counties and townships. The counties and townships to whom some of these expenses are charge- able have reimbursed us to the amount of $1246. The greater portion of this was for what is denominated outside relief. INSANE PERSONS Previous to last year there was no proper or suffi- cient place for those persons who were alleged to be insane during the time a proper examination was being made or a place in the state institutions open for their reception. The Honorable Judge of Probate see- ing and appreciating the trouble arising therefrom, so far prevailed upon the authorities that a proper and adequate room was provided at the county jail where proper attendance could be furnished for both male and females during the time they are compelled to stay before discharged or taken away. This is call- ed a detention room, and is nicely furnished with matt- ing, iron bedsteads, good clean bed clothes, etc. There is also a cell for very violent cases which is so con- structed the inmates can neither harm themselves or others. We also have an attendant who is placed in charge (if necessity requires) both night and day, and they are fed the same kind of food the sheriff ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- p. 13 INSANE PERSON puts upon his own table and not fed as prisoners. Inasmuch as a large number of those persons so unfortunately situated are of a respectable class, and have no characteristic in common with criminals, we esteem it a great improvement over the old system. All cases of insanity are directed to the Judge of Probate. During the last term of this Board this rule has been somewhat modified and changed. All cases coming to the Judge of Probate are now refer- red to us by him for investigation. We proceed to make a full one, both as to mental capacity, and the means the party may have which should go to her or his support, care and maintenance. It frequently happens under this course that before we are through it appears the party is abundantly able to pay, and many times the application is wholly withdrawn. This saves much time and the expense of a hearing and final determination before the Probate Court. Should our re- ports be favorable to the applicant, a hearing is had before the Probate Court, and if it appears to him they should be committed, he turns them over to us for care, attention and transportation to the respect- ive asylums. This course as now practiced proves to be a great saving to the county. It also appears in our investigations that some are able to pay a part of the expense incurred for their care; this being more noticeable in the case of old soldiers who are drawing pensions. In such cases we keep a record of the name and amount of ability and time of payment, and when due, collect it, and place with the County Treasurer to the credit of the county. Long experience has taught us the soundness of this procedure, and while many and divers are the ways taken by many to forestall a wise and just charity of the commonwealth, we find the only true ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- p. 14 INSANE PERSON course is to give all a fair and just investigation, and with honesty of purpose serve all alike. COUNTY PHYSICIANS This Board employs physicians to attend to its business. The duties and emoluments of each are as follows, viz.: Dr. J. W. REICKE to examine all persons, by our order, who are alleged to be insane. The law allows him $5.00 for each, but as we give him all the cases, we allow him $3.00 for examination and testifying in Probate Court. He also treats all county charges in the city, by our order, for which we pay him $1.00 per visit, and he furnishes the necessary medicine. We employ Dr. J. R. MONTGOMERY to treat all cases at the jail, upon the order of the sheriff, for which we pay him $1.00 per visit and he furnishes the neces- sary medicine. Dr. R. MAURITS is the county home physician. He is obliged to make one visit to the home each week to attend upon all cases needing attention, and as much oftener as the keeper shall call him for which we pay him $3.00 a visit. This system the Board has had in vogue about seven years and find upon a full trial that it meets our approbation in every particular. It also is a large saving to the county. INMATES OF THE HOME The county home can be said to be neither a penal reformatory or educational institution. It is not ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- p. 15 INMATES OF THE HOME penal because the inmates are not kept in punishment for any crime, misdemeanor or wrong they have commit- ted against the people of the county or any person therein. It is not a reformatory as the persons sent there are not to be educated in any department of learning, or to be reformed in morals or character, or taught any useful occupation, or unwillingly de- tained in order that they may have the benefit of compulsary education and training. It is in no sense an educational one as no branch of education is taught there. What is it then? It may be denominated a purely charitable institution, supported under the law by the county, the secure the safety of those members of its community who are so unfortunate as to have been bereft of their reason, in whole, or part, or who by advancing age or physical infirmities have become unable to sup- port themselves, and have no person to whom they can successfully appeal for aid. The county assumes a grave responsibility when it undertakes to become their guard- ian, provider and supporter. Many criticize the conduct of the appointed officials for not doing enough, making the claim that the inmates command a living equal, if not superior, to opulent and wealthy members of the com- munity, because of their condition; others claim that too much is done for them, too much money is expended in their behalf, they being but worthless beings and thrown on the surface in the great moving world around us. The Board has been guided by but one motto: "Do your duty as you see it." To carry out this motto in its whole scope, the Board has furnished the inmates with an abundance of good wholesome food at the same and regular hours of every day in the week. This con- sists of at least two kinds of vegetables twice a day with plenty of tea and coffee at all meals. These are ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- p. 16 INMATES OF THE HOME the main staple of food, except Fridays when fish is served instead of pork, and on Sundays fresh meat is served for dinner. We also furnish the inmates with good substantial clothing, good beds, comfortable rooms for sleeping and sitting purposes, good medical attendance and, in fact, everything that conduces to their health and welfare. The persons entrusted to our charge may be defined as follows: First. Those who are of sound mind but of physical ailment or deformity, or both. Second. Those who are of sound body but are bereft in whole or in part of their reason. Third. Those who have lost both mind and their physical powers. These it would seem at a glance should be freed from each other, under such careful discrimination and selection as possible, in order to conserve the well being of all. This Board has now no means at its hands to separ- ate the classes, hence they almost wholly can mingle with each other, bearing in mind, however, the men and women are kept entirely separate. This Board has great hopes, and urges the sugges- tion upon your honorable body that at no distant day an additional building may be erected for such a class of the inmates as good judgment would prompt, and be isolated from the rest. This would vindicate much of the turmoil, disquiet and unrest that now so largely prevails among the inmates, and as furnishing better facilities for the care of those who are either whol- ly helpless or irresponsible for their acts. ERRATA - in fifth line from the bottom of the page the word vindicate should read eradicate. *Transcriber's Note: the remainder of this report has not been transcribed as it contains only financial schedules pertaining to the home.* ===============================================================================