County Home, 1842
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During Monday and Tuesday of this week we have had the honor of being one of twenty to serve Beaver County in the capacity of a grand juror. The bills of the court were all finished on Monday, which result was mostly due to the promptness and business capacity of J. M. Buchanan, Esq., district attorney.
On Tuesday the jail and poor-house, or "County-home:' as it is termed, were visited, an account of which may not prove uninteresting. The county jail is located in Beaver, a short distance from the courthouse. It is a stone structure, two stories high and surrounded by a high stone wall. People of a religious turn of mind have no doubt often read, or at least heard, of a whited sepulchre that was all fair without, but full of dead men's bones within. The only difference between this sepulchre and the Beaver Jail is, that the one contained the bones and the other has ample facilities for making them.
A more noisome, filthy, dirty, moldy, offensive hole we never have been in. The cells range on both sides of the hall and are set into the thick walls like ovens. The roof is leaky, and the prisoners informed us that in the mornings they were actually paralyzed and could scarcely move hand or foot, owing to the dampness and the water which ran down into their cells at every rain.
There are but few prisoners in the institution at present, six men, one young woman and small child, if we remember rightly. The sheriff and family occupy rooms in the front part of the building, and the only wonder to us is how they have escaped a pestilence.
Beaver, the "saints rest:' certainly does not dream of the condition of the place, and the honorable judges and court officials generally have not visited it or there would be a commotion of some magnitude in the staid old town. Grand jurors remarked: "I wouldn't put a pig I thought anything of in the building:" "I would not stable my horse in it:' etc., etc.
It is true the roof is leaky over the cells, but the dirt and filth which meets one on every hand both outside and in. It looks as if the place had not been swept or dusted for months; place a hand where you will, it is soiled. Damp, moldy, fever-creating odor meets you at the door, greets you in the cells, and revels everywhere. We have visited the jail ere this under the terms of Sheriffs Ledlie and Graebing, and found no such filthiness.
The grand jury reported this state of facts and recommended a general cleaning and repairing before winter set in, hoping that when this is done the sheriff in charge will see that it is swept and cleaned and kept in order.
The prisoners have labeled the lower tier, in black as follows: "Salt Shop," "Local Option Saloon:' "Billiard Parlor Next Door," "Private Saloon, do drop in:' "Economy Headquarters," "Beecher, Tilton and Starvation," "Lunatic Asylum," "Sankey and Murphy's Saloon," "Young Men's Home," "Sinners' Retreat:' "One Man Wanted, Tramp Preferred:'
The Poor House
The poor-house is located on the south side of the Ohio River, about two and one-half miles below Beaver. The buildings are substantial, roomy and built of brick with some frame additions. The farm contains 135 acres, 90 being tillable and is, since April 1, under the management of Mr. Stephen Minor and wife who are taking a laudable pride in keeping everything in first-class condition.
Cleanliness reigns on all sides, and the inmates are happy, well-fed and contented. They number 50 - - 25 male and 25 female; some of them are but recently from Dixmont, but quite docile and harmless. A number are deformed, and one old lady is dumb. She wrote on her slate: "It is hard to be here alone." We wrote: "Yes but you are well treated." The answer was a nod of assent.
Other inmates also informed us that they were well fed and well-treated, and complimented both Mrs. Minor and Mrs. Shrodes, the wife of the former manager, saying they were very kind to them.
Dr. Reid, of Dixmont, presented some fine flowers to the home, and we were informed that quite a number of the paupers enjoy reading very much. If this meets the eye of any persons having papers to spare, if illustrated all the better, they may "cast bread upon the waters" by mailing them to Stephen Minor, Bellowsville, Beaver County, PA.
The house is under the supervision of a board of directors, and Mr. Minor receives a salary of $500 per year for the services, all other expenses being borne by the county. The crops this year are good, consisting of hay, 34 tons, from 15 acres; from 600 to 700 bushels potatoes from 6 acres; wheat 212 bushels from 25 acres, not a good yield, as the soil is not adapted for wheat; 30 acres of very fine corn; one and one half acres of sweet pumpkins, (how many pies these will make we forgot to ask Mrs. Minor). The stock is 3 horses (another needed); 10 cows, I bull, and 29 hogs.
Under Mr. Minor 140 rods of board fencing has been done by some of the inmates to show their good will for being allowed a small quantity of tobacco.
The grand jury returned their thanks for a good dinner at a "poor house," and wish Mr. and Mrs. Minor all success.