The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-03-18
A Visit to the County Poor House.

Last Thursday afternoon we made a
visit to the County Poor House or Pau
rer's Home, which is situated about three
miles Northwest of the CITY, The object
of our visit was for the purpose Of giving
the INTELL1GENcER's readers, especially
those in Anderson County, some idea as
to the management of the institution, the
cost of its maintenance, &c.
Many years before old Pcndleton Dis
trict was divided there was a Paupers
Home, owned and supported by the tax
payers. It was then located at or near
where now stands the Pendleton Factory.
In 1929, two years after the Court House
was located at Anderson, tho Commis-
sioners sold that farm and bought por
ton of the present property. Thus it will
be seen that Anderson County has always
provided homo for those who were un-
able to provide for themselves. Mr.; Lu
ton Brady was the first Steward Of the
Poor House after it was moved to its pres
ent location. Since last November Mr..
W. T. McGill has been the Steward.
The present farm consists of about $40
acres Of land, of which about 100 are in
original forests. While portion OF the
land has been badly used and worn out,
the rest of it is in fair condition, some of
it having very fine soil. Last s2lar
about 500 bushels CT corn, about 4,0osst
bundles of fodder, about 200 gallons of
syrup and about 200 bushels of potatoes
were produced on the farm. There are at
present about ten acres sown in wheat
and twenty-five acres in oats. There are
three mules and five mich COWS on the
place, besides number of hogs, chickens,
&c. Besides the Steward and his family,
there are four hired laborers on the farm.
Last year the average number of in
mates per month was IS, and it cost the
County nearly $2,40O to take care Of
| them.
On the 1st of the present month there
were 43 inmates, % of whom are white.
Of the whites, the youngest inmate is 2
years of age, and the oldest IS years; Of
the colored, the youngest is years Of
age and the oldest lib. Three of the in
mates are blind, all colored; five are
idiots, three of whom are white; four are
lunatics, three of whom are colored. The
remainder of the inmates are afflicted in
various ways, several Of them being help
less. Only two or three arc able to do any
work out doors, while a number of them
can sew, knit or do light housework at
times. One of the white inmates has
been resident there since 1858.
The Poor House is located on hill,
and a very pretty view is had of the sur
rounding country. The white quarters
are situated on the west of the Stewards
house, and the colored quarters are on
tho north, the public road intervening.
The colored quarters consist of three
double houses or cabins. These houses
are old and in dilapidated condition,
though they appear to be comfortable.
The County Commissioners contemplate
tearing them down and erecting new ones
as soon as the funds of the County will
permit. Up to three or four years ago the
white quarters were also in dilapidated
| condition, being worse than the houses
now occupied by the colored inmates.
Three years ago the Commissioners erect.
ed two double brick houses, which are
very substantial and comfortable and are
we'll ventilated. Last year they erected
frame building, 3OxGO feet, with partition
through the centre. One room is occu-
pied by the males, and the other by the
females, Il number being in each room.
The rooms are heated by stoves, and
every convenience is provided for the in
mates. The Steward needs new dwell
ing house badly, and we learn that the
| Commissioners intend erecting new one
this Summer.
Under the guidance of Mr.. McGill, we
visited all the apartments of the inmates.
Every one presented neat, clean ap-
pearance The furniture is plain, and the
beds are supplied with an abundance of
warm bedding. There was no lack Of
fuel, and comfortable fires are kept burn
ing all the time. The inmates appeared
to be supplied with plenty of good, warm
clothing. Their meals are cooked in the
| Steward IS kitchen and carried to them in
their rooms. We conversed with num-
ber of the inmates, and each one spoke in
the highest terms of Mr.. McGill and his
kind treatment. All of them seemed to
be very grateful and thankful that they
had such pleasant home.
Among the colored inmates is Lucy
Bowie. who is perhaps the oldest person
in the State. She is now 113 years of age,
and las been resident at the Poor House
abou. four years. Her appearance indi-
Gates extreme old age, though she is re-
markably active for one of her years, and
gets about as easily as some persons do at
the age of seventy. She still retains her
mental faculties and her hearing and eye
sight. We had often heard of persons
who had reached the age of 100 years, but
never before had we seen one. When we
entered her room, Mr.. McGill introduced
US aud told her that we wanted to talk
with her. She made all old-fashioned
curtesy and asked us to take seat.
"How old are you, Aunt Lucy?" we
inquired.
"Well, my chile," she replied, "I'se
been in dis worl long time. Use now
lib years old"
"How is your general health?" we
asked.
"It's berry good. Deed, Use allus been
a helthy pusson. Neber was sick, an my
old marster useter say dat could do mo-
work dan emmy two niggers."
"Where were you born, Aunt Lucy? ?"
"rse born in de lower end of Hanover
County, in Virginny."
"Who did you belong to then, Aunt
Lucy?"
"I belonged to some orphan chillun
named Thompson"
aunt Lucy, they say you have seen
Gen. George Washington; is that true %
"Yes sir; seed him in Richmon seb,
eral times When was fourteen year ole
I went to Richmon' to stay and waited on
de table at dc tavern. One day dere was a
big stir OBJ do people an my young mis-
sus toll me dat Mars George Washington
I Lo<1 o,,,, n ~, u,oc of do fovarn on, LOT T