The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-08-06

4 where the aimsh0use is located.
Some, perhaps, have passed the prem
ises, and knew naught but that it was
the domicile Of some prosperous farmer
This property once belonged to Col
onel Persinger and was purchased a
number Of years ago by c. O'Leary, who
In turn sold it to the city for St, 600
The property con tains $50 acres OF good
land, partly timbered, with dwelling
house, barn and other necessary build
ings, besides new building containing
twelve rooms for paupers. The farm is
well stocked with fruits. and is well
watered.
II. r. Chiffon, the superintendent of
the almshouse was elected about two
ears ago and has given general salts
faction. Under his management the in
stitution will soon be self sustaining.
He has just harvested and threshed a
crop OF wheat which yielded about $50
bushels. The oat crop was medium but
the corn crop will be fine.
To be supe: iltendent of an a,ms1ouse
man must have the patience of Job
All classes of people are TO be dealt
with, from those OF good family and
broken fortunes, to the lowest classes of
negro Migrants.
For the last two months the capacity
of tho house has been taxed to the ut
most, but several have been discharged
in The last few days, and there is now
adequate room.
There are several peculiar inmates
whose characteristics and oddities
would, IL known, place ID I'm in the cat
cgory of eccentric characters.
Among those is =. d. McGoe, an old
man who has been an inmate almos.
ever since the city owned an almshouse.
He is getting too old to do hard work,
but Mr.. Chiffon has given him charge Of
the chickens and q portion of the garden
He is faithful to his post, and generally
has pretty good luck in planting seeds
and setting hens. All this work is reg
ulated by the changes of the moon.
MIR. McGcc spends the most of his time
in his room. He has never left the pc
misses except on one occasion 1t was
then that his son who lives at Pocahon-
tas found him and visiting the aim. :
house, prevailed on him to 20 home
with him. This was only few DAYS
ago. So Mr. McGee bids farewell to the
home that sheltered him SO long and
went to live with his son.
His son was too kind and no sooner
bad he reached homo and he gave him
SO Now the old gentleman could not
withstand the temptation to drink, no
he did drink and got drunk. Nor did he
stop at that but mounted passenger
train bound east and was carried some
where near Bedford City where he was
put of. 1t was Sunday and Mr.. uanes.
one OF the overseers of the poor was at
Montvale visiting relatives While
seated on porch be saw Mr. MEG &c
pass up the railroad track pulling for
Roanoke. He landed at the aim shouso
about o'clock Sunday night and de-
clares that he will never leave again.
l. M. Hessey is another old man, and
has been an inmate for nearly twelve
months lie has been Iretty we'll raised
used to giving orders himself and con-
sequently he can hardly reconcile him
self to MIR. Chilton's authority.
He only desires to recuperate that he
snay be able to finish q patent right 1t
Is an iron pavement. Instead Of using
brick or stone the blocks are cast iron.
He thinks such a pavement will last
we'll and hopes to get patent OH these
grounds. Mr.. llessey writes poety some
times ana has long manuscript in verse
about Roanoke. He has also written an
essay on the great snow storm which
occurred last winter.
Toere Is also q young woman who
gave her name as Annie Wright, but
who ha1 been found to be Annie Raw,
around which there is some mystery
She worked as servant for family in
this city and in some way broke her
ankle. She would never tell how. and
was sent to the almshouse for lack of
means negro says he knew her and
her people. They were we'll to do and
do not know where she is
Two little orphan children have found
homes at the almshouse. They are
children OF stonemason named Welch.
who died some months ago. The little
girl is an invalid, but the boy is n stout,
healthy little fellow, and seems much
pleased with his new home.
Everything is kept clean and in order.
The inmates are required to work when
able, but are we'll cared for when sick,
and receive good medical attention.
There are several colorcd inmates.
The most prominent is Hannah Kidd.
The mayor consigns her to the aims
house to get rid Of her, as size is a con-
frmed vagrant. She usually receives a
sentence OF thirty or sixty days, and
when the time is out she is discharged.
Hannah will be free again in q few days,
but no sooner than she reaches Roanoke
she will get on a high old drunk and
get pulled by the police. Hannah is a
good worker, and totes" water and
hoes corn like an old time negro lust
what Hannah is"