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"Wisconsin State Board of Charities and Reform"
1871

Page 67
                       Green County Poor House

Is situated in the town of Mount Pleasant, about 12 miles northeast of the
village of Monroe.  It was visited August 4, 1871.

The farm contains 408 acres of land, valued at about $10,000.  The
buildings are valued at $2,500.

The place is under the charge of H. Rust, of Monroe, J. Grist, of
Monticello and Dan. Smiley, of Albany, as county superintendents of the
poor, and the house and farm are under the immediate care of Geo. B.
Bennett, as overseer.

The cost to the county of the poor house for the year ending November 1,
1870, was $3,102 -- and the amount paid for outside relief was about $500.

Mr. Bennett receives a salary of $600, out of which he pays the wages of
one girl.  The county pays the wages of two men at $20 per month, and also
provides one hired girl.  There is one woman in the house who works the
most of the time, and more than pays her way.  She is there on the account
of the helplessness of her husband who is a paralytic.  Should he die, or
recover, she would go away at once, as she is able and willing to take care
of herself.  There is one insane man who does considerable work.  Quite a
number of the inmates do chores and work around the house.  The house, at
the time of the visit, contained 34 inmates.  There were three children
under 10 years of age, and two between 10 and 20.  Two idiots, males.
There were nine insane persons, five males, and four females.

The insane are allowed their liberty almost entirely.  One woman has to be
locked in her cell when no when no one can be had to watch her.  They
occassion some trouble, as they sometimes wander away, but are far less
trouble than they would be if kept in their cells all the time.

Their constant association with the sane paupers is bad in its influence
upon both parties, but is perhaps the lesser evil until some better
provision can be made for the care of the insane.

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Page 68

The location of the house is very pleasant and approximate.  It is away
from the public road, and has quite a home-like appearance at a distance.

There was, however, a great lack of neatness around the house.  There is no
provision for drainage, and the slops and waste water from the kitch are
thrown upon the surface of the ground, making a most unsightly appearance,
and without doubt affecting the health and comfort of the inmates of the
house.

Two of the superintendents of the poor, Messrs. Smiley and Gist, were at
the house, in attendance upon their regular monthly meeting.  Their
attention was called to the necessity of better drainage, and they agreed
to have the matter attended to without delay.  As it was the day for the
regular visit of the superintendents of the poor, we presume everything in
and around the house appeared to the best advantage.

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