Harrisburg in Saline County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Poor House

Photographed by Jason Voigt, March 5, 2020

1. The Poor House Marker

Inscription. This house, built in 1877 with an addition in 1904 was the effort of the culture of that era to take care of the poor. As early as 1819, the Illinois General Assembly enacted a Pauper Bill requiring county commissioners to appoint overseers of the poor for each township. Usually, a paupers family received aid for the care of those of the house who could not care for themselves. By 1839 the Almshouse method of public welfare was introduced in which a building would be built on county land and pauper labor would farm it. One person could then oversee the operation. This farm originally containing 175 acres under the Almshouse Law using log buildings for many years until the brick building was constructed. The idealistic notion, that people would gladly work for their subsistence, soon met reality. The poor farm became an orphanage, a jail, an insane asylum, and a place for refugees, i.e. a social dumping ground for the outcast and deplored. There have been at least two occasions in its history when the county considered demolition because of the poor condition of the building. The poor farm represents a method of dealing

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with social problems during a time when there was very little public investment in social welfare. What started as an effort to help the county poor became another good idea that didn't work. The farm ceased operation sometime after 1950.

Erected by Saline County Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Charity & Public Work.

Location. 37° 43.13′ N, 88° 33.146′ W. Marker is in Harrisburg, Illinois, in Saline County. It can be reached from South Feazel Street just north of Bauman Lane, on the right when traveling north. It is in front of the Saline County Area Museum, which is part of Saline Creek Pioneer Village. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1600 S Feazel St, Harrisburg IL 62946, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southern Illinois — Little Egypt,

in Shawnee Hills,

and in the Tri-State Region.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Saline County Pioneer Village entrance image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jason Voigt, March 5, 2020

2. Saline County Pioneer Village entrance

Marker for The Poor House is seen in front of the house

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Pauper House (a few steps from this marker); Guard and Chossier Salt Kettles (a few steps from this marker); Hog Scalding Kettle (a few steps from this marker); Chenault School (a few steps from this marker); Cain Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Aydolette Cabin (within shouting distance of this marker); The Pauper Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); Aydolette Barn and Thrashing Floor (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Harrisburg.

Also see . . . Saline County Poor Farm on Wikipedia. (Submitted on March 13, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)

Credits. This page was last revised on March 13, 2020. It was originally submitted on March 13, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 1,110 times since then and 109 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 13, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.