Near Chauncey in Athens County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Athens County Infirmary
Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 22, 2018
1. Athens County Infirmary Marker, Side One
Inscription.
Athens County Infirmary. . In the first quarter of the nineteenth century, when the general public believed that the insane and paupers could be rehabilitated into productive citizens, the Ohio Legislature gave authorization to county commissioners to establish county "poor houses." The Athens County Home, formerly own as the Athens County Infirmary, opened on this site in 1857 to provide care for indigent citizens of Athens County. When fire destroyed the original building in 1903, a new building was constructed from 1904- 1905, designed with the capacity to house up to one hundred people. When it was built, it was considered to be one of the finest and most modern charitable institutions of its time. The facility continued to provide housing for indigent and elderly residents until 1997 when the County Commissioners closed the home and it became a primary location for the delivery of social services in Athens County. , When the Athens County Infirmary opened in 1906, its design and operation incorporated the principles of scientific charity. This social theory moved away from indiscriminate giving, and instead focused on understanding the causes of poverty and what outcomes might be obtained by charitable acts. Children and mentally ill patients, who had resided in the infirmary before 1906, were sent to other locations. The remaining adult population was divided by sex into separate wings of the building. This included separate dining areas and porches to maintain complete separation of the sexes. Able-bodied residents aided with the farm chores, helping support the operation of the infirmary and the farm on which it resided. Complete with its own livestock, barns, farm equipment, surgical room, and even its own power plant, the facility was nearly self-sufficient.
In the first quarter of the nineteenth century, when the general public
believed that the insane and paupers could be rehabilitated into productive
citizens, the Ohio Legislature gave authorization to county commissioners
to establish county "poor houses."
The Athens County Home, formerly
own as the Athens County Infirmary, opened on this site in 1857 to provide care for indigent citizens of Athens
County. When fire destroyed
the original building in 1903, a new building was constructed from 1904-
1905, designed with the capacity to house up to one hundred people.
When it was built, it was considered to be one of the finest and most
modern charitable institutions of its time. The facility continued to
provide housing for indigent and elderly residents until 1997 when the
County Commissioners closed the home and it became a primary location
for the delivery of social services in Athens County.
When the Athens County Infirmary opened in 1906, its design and operation incorporated the principles of scientific charity. This social theory moved away from indiscriminate giving, and instead focused on understanding the causes of poverty and what outcomes might be obtained by charitable acts. Children and mentally ill patients, who had resided in the infirmary before 1906, were sent to other locations. The remaining adult
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population was divided by sex into separate wings of the building. This included separate dining areas and porches to maintain complete separation of the sexes. Able-bodied residents aided with the farm chores, helping support the operation of the infirmary and the farm on which it resided. Complete with its own livestock, barns, farm equipment, surgical room, and even its own power plant, the facility was nearly self-sufficient.
Erected 2004 by the Athens County Department of Job and Family Services and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 7-5.)
Location. 39° 23.586′ N, 82° 7.197′ W. Marker is near Chauncey, Ohio, in Athens County. Marker is on Ohio Route 13 south of Main Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 13206 OH-13, Chauncey OH 45719, United States of America. Touch for directions.
This wing faces the parking lot. To the right fields slope down to the Hocking River.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 1, 2018. It was originally submitted on September 1, 2018, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 533 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 1, 2018, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.