Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1900-01-08
ANNAPOLIS. MD. MONDAY. JANUARY 8. 1900.
THE ALMSHOUSE.
THE COUNTY'S HOME FOR
AGED AND POOR.
Who Its Inmates Area Sketch
of History Concerning The
Building.

Few Annapolitans have any idea OF
what the Anne Arundel County Aims
house is like. and few. even OF those who
are interested in institutions and their
work, have visited the almshouse. because
of its distance from Annapolis.
An hours drive from town brings the
visitor 10 the home of those dependent
upon the county's bounty. and whose
misfortune has made them its inmates.
There is no disgrace attached 10 being in
the county almshouse; it is mistor-
tune. but not disgrace.
When age comes to those not blessed
with this worlds goods. when money is
gone, and friends 60 with it-too old TO
work and not wanted "around" what is
there left but to 60 to the almnshouse
Sad indeed is the fate of some who have
been in birth, sickness and in death a
ministering angel. but whom nobody
wants or cares for when old and feeble
and net able to work; home gone, friends
gone-all gone but that one, who. with
sad heart and wet eyes, asks to be given
a home and shelter in the almshouse.
1t is blessed thing county has such an
institution, and il should be governed by
a humane body of men and women, al
though the Anne Arundel almshouse has
only men in its Board of Trustees. Poll
tics should have nothing TO do with an
institution of this kind, and the best OF
both parties should be chosen TO admin
lister the affairs. The county almshouse
is in a better condition al present than 1t
has been for years. 1t is as clean as a
new pin inside and out. II is thoroughly
comfortable and the inmates all say they
are treated kindly and have no complaint
to offer. There is always room for i'm
provement in all institutions, and this
one is no exception.
There are no modern convenences
here, no bath rooms. no sanitary plumb
ing. DIR. Frank H. Thompson, the pres
ent physician to the almshouse, has made
most humane and efficient officer, often
driving down there at midnight on calls
to attend the sick. He has done much to
improve the place since his term of office
and among other things has established a
hospital room. thus isolating the sick and
breaking up the habit OF feigned sick
ness. He has introduced several sanitary
measures, and has been endeavoring for
some time past to get bath rooms built,
but so far without success. The retiring
board of trustees is humane body OF
men, who GO out with the consciousness
of duty well performed. But one of the
board, Mr.. Lemon Beall, is re-appointed
under the new regime. The board is
only allow ed 81 900 per annum 20 run
the institution, and on this small sum
they have done the best possible work.
The keeper, Mr.. Nichols. has made
an excellent official, and his work is in
evidence all over the institution. which
is clean. well regulated and well kept.
There are IL white and 5 colored in
mates, whose time in the institution and
district from which they come are as
follows: White, male Edwin Boyle,
IL years, 9th district; Thomas Wood, IL
years, 3rd district; Ephraim Frielander,
5 years, 5th district; John Sullivan, 7
years. 9Th district; William Stanliff,
years, 3rd district; Frederick Wagner, 2
years, 4th district; Gottlieb Stromeyer, 1
year, 9Th district; Andrew Lamb, year.
9Th district. White. Female) )-Cather-
inc Dunn, a years. 9th district; Marga-
retta Bassford, years, 9th district; Rosa
Figs, 4 years, 9th district. Colored.
tMales)-Charles Decker, 20 years, 3rd
district; Robert Peters, years, Ist dis
trict; John c. Coleman, years, Ist dis
trict; Arthur Abraham. 2 years. Ist dis
trict; Della Stewart, years, and district.
OF these. Col. Boyle is 81 years old.
and the oldest inmate of the institution
next to him in age is Frederick Wagner,
SO years old. William Stanliff has no
use of his lower limbs. and to enable him
to get about out of doors. MIR. John X.
sullivan, one of the trustees, secured
through exciting an interest in the affiict-
ed MIN, goat and cart, in which he
takes great pride. The almshouse is
beautifully located on South River, COM
manding a view OF the Chesapeake Bay.
Il is an old colonial mansion, and was
built in the eighteenth century on site
that was laid out for an English town to
be called after London-"Londonto
The town, however, never materiallzed,
and evidences of the attempt are still to
be seen in the old foundations in the
vicinity. The almshouse is built on Gen.
George H. Stewards place, and has an
interesting history. Its spacious rooms.
long halls and beautiful situation well
adart !, for ire r,yesenf nilrnoses