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Page 120          Biennial Report of the State Board
                     of Corrections and Charities
                                1873
                    
                             VAN BUREN
                               
      The poor-house is located on a farm in the town of Hartford,
    about 2 1/2 miles east of the village of the same name.  The 
    farm is pleasantly situated and is in admirable condition; the
    fences, crops, and barns all give evidence that a good farmer
    is in charge.  There is a good vegetable garden, and a fair
    orchard on the premises.  But little attention has been paid
    to ornamenting the grounds about the house with shade and
    ornamental trees.  A fair lawn in front of the house is in-
    closed by a good fence, the front being picket, and might by the
    
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Page 121

    addition of shade trees and shrubbery, be made a very inviting
    spot.  Within, the house is a model of neatness; we have seen
    but few if any homes that surpass this one in neatness and
    good order.  The rooms and beds of the paupers appeared as good
    as those of any well regulated family.  It certainly reflects
    credit upon superintendents, the keeper, and his lady, that a
    house with no more conveniences than this one is kept in
    such a tidy, healthy, and good condition.
      The great want in this establishment is proper means for
    the classification of the inmates.  The old and young, the sick
    and the well, the sane, the idiotic and demented are all thrown
    together, and children are associated with the ignorant and
    vile.  At the time of our visit there were but 12 paupers in 
    the house; none were insane; one is idiotic and suffers terribly 
    from violent and painful contortions; another is a weak-minded
    girl.  Most of the remainder are old men and women, several of
    whom have passed three score and ten.  The average number main-
    tained at the house is about twenty.  This house should be
    supplied with better facilities for bathing and with a suitable
    ice-house, hospital accomodations, and a better dining-room
    and sitting-room for the paupers.
    
    
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