Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2014 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/ ========================================================================= USGenNet Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Page 115 Biennial Report of the State Board of Corrections and Charities 1873 MUSKEGON The Muskegon county poor-house is a plain wooden building, situated on a good farm of 80 acres. No provision has been made here for the care of the insane, and consequently some who ---------------------------------------------------------------- Page 116 could not be admitted into the Asylum at Kalamazoo have had to be placed in the common jail of the county, to save them from harming themselves or others. =========================================================================== Joint Documents of the State of Michigan Vol. 2, 1899 [50-51] Muskegon. - The poorhouse is located in the township of Muskegon, about two and a half miles from the city of Muskegon. It is a wooden structure and not very convenient. It is situated on a farm of thirty acres of light, sandy soil. Facilities for bathing are only tubs and pails. Buildings are warmed by stoves, using wood for fuel. The ventilation is effected only by means of windows and doors and plenty of cracks. The treatment of paupers is kind and humane. No harsh treatment allowed. We shut them in cells sometimes. Food consists of flour, meal, rice, all kinds of vegetables raised on the farm; meats, both salt and fresh, fish, milk, butter and fruit, and such diet as our physician orders for the sick. Smoking and chewing tobacco are allowed in moderate quantities - a pipeful three times a day. The paupers are furnished good substantial clothing purchased mostly read- made and suited to the season. The sick are cared for by the keeper and his wife, and the inmates assist when they can, and extra nurses are hired if necessary. The physician is employed by the year. There are no special accommodations for the idiotic and insane. When bad they are sent to the asylum. When there are any children here they are sent to district school one-half mile distant. There seems to be great need for some suitable place where idiots and a certain class of children, those of unsound mind and sickly and crippled, can be properly cared for. There is no home for them only in the poorhouses and they cannot have there such care and attention as they need. The female idiots are the most helpless of all and are a source of great trouble, and it is to be hoped there will be a place provided for these who need it so much. =========================================================================== Abstract of the Reports Superintendents of the Poor State of Michigan, 1891 [42] Muskegon. - The poorhouse is located in the township of Muskegon, two and one-half miles from the court house. The house was not erect- ed for a poorhouse, but has been altered and added to, and is at pre- sent quite convenient, and is in very fair condition. The barn and some of the other outbuildings are in bad condition. Facilities for bathing are good, but the conveniences for supplying the bath room with warm water are very defective. Inmates are required to bathe at least once each week. Ventilation is by doors and windows. The treatment of paupers is as good as can be. Some are foolish and sim- ple, some half crazy, and some ugly, and occassionally have to be re- strained, for without some discipline no person could live with them. Corporal punishment is not allowed. Food is of good quality - pork, beef, fish (fresh and salt), bread, butter, milk and vegetables in their season. Everything is prepared and cooked by the keeper's fam- ily. The clothing is good and seasonable, and is washed and mended by the matron and hired help. (We keep two hired girls at $3.00 and $2.50 per week.) The sick are tenderly cared for by the matron and such assistance as the inmates can render. We have a physician en- gaged by the year who visits the sick whenever called by the keeper. The matron, our keeper's wife, is the best woman for such a place that I ever knew, and I was keeper of our county house for ten years. We have three cells where we confine the insane when violent. We allow them to roam about when it can be done without danger to the other inmates. The idiotic are as well cared for as is possible. Children are mostly sent to the State school; others attend the district school, about one-half mile distant. Thus far it has done no good to talk, but if our legislators were obliged to have the care of a few idiots for a short time, I think they would provide a place for them. Some of them no doubt could be made self-sustaining, and most of them made less repulsive. The keeping of idiots in the county house is the worst part of the whole business. It makes the lives of all other inmates almost intolerable. Think of it, some in almost every county house in the State. If they could be sent to a few places so that a few could care for them, I think it would be very much better, and for that time I shall ever work and pray. =========================================================================== Page 142 Biennial Report of the State Board of Corrections and Charities 1907-1908 MUSKEGON Infirmary two miles from Muskegon. The fine building destroyed by fire shortly after erection, has been displaced by a new brick struct- ure which is modern in its plan and equipment, comprising all conven- iences necessary for a well kept house, and it is many respects a model. =========================================================================== If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access more of our growing collection of FREE online information by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/ ===========================================================================