By Shannon Butler
In previous blog posts we have discussed beautiful buildings of Poughkeepsie, some that are still standing and many that have been lost to time. When one thinks of fabulous architecture, we tend to imagine grand mansions where wealthy bankers and businessmen once lived, or local landmarks like banks, train stations, and even our very own library building here on Market Street. There is one grand building that has stood the test of time and has been a witness to many sad stories over the past century, yet still looks beautiful, and serves a purpose to this day. When you are speeding west on the arterial (admit it, you know you drive faster than 30 mph), you probably never take the time to glance at it, but the Poughkeepsie Almshouse should really be admired both for its beauty and its history.
In 1863, the City of Poughkeepsie purchased the old County Poorhouse, which was located on Maple Street and had been in operation since the 1830’s. The county and the city decided to separate their poor populations, as Poughkeepsie generally had a higher population of people in need than the rest of the towns and villages of the county. By the time the city took over the old building, it was not in the best condition. On February 7, 1868 a fire broke out in the old structure and the Poughkeepsie Journal proclaimed:
“At last Poughkeepsie is rid of the disgraceful shabby looking rookery which is located on the road to Bull’s Head on the suburbs and which of late years had been given the only dignity it ever possessed by being called ‘the city almshouse’. It was an outrageous looking affair and as strangers who visited our city drove by it on their way into the country or to visit Vassar College it could make even a hack driver blush to answer their enquiries as to what the building was used for. But every dog has his day and the city alms house which was, is not.”
Luckily, no one was hurt during the fire, and the city wasted no time in requesting money from the insurance company and gathering what funds they had available for the construction of a new almshouse. They turned to one of the area's new young architects, Mr. J. A. Wood, who would become responsible for designing several lovely buildings in the area, including a portion of the Bardavon Opera House, the Vassar Brothers Institute, and the Old Men’s Home just across Vassar Street. In the account books for the almshouse, we see the commissioner, Mr. Jacob B. Jewett, paid Mr. Wood a grand total of $750 to design an Italianate style brick structure. This new almshouse would no longer be an eyesore, but rather a beautiful building with which to house the city’s poor population.
In a Poughkeepsie Journal article from 1869, the layout of the building was described in full detail. The main center of the building contained the office on the first level and the men’s ward on the second and third floors. The women’s ward was on the first and second floors of the east wing, and on the west wing was the Superintendent’s personal residence. The kitchen and dining hall were located in the basement. Within a year of the opening, more buildings were added to the campus, including a separate laundry house and an additional wing towards the rear of the property, which had another male and female ward. The sexes were kept separate with the exception of meal time. In 1907, the infirmary was added to the property with the financial assistance of William Smith. Percival Lloyd designed a lovely building in the colonial revival style. Then, in 1936, an addition was added thanks to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal and the Public Works Administration, or PWA.
By the 1950’s, the property became known as the City Home Welfare Department, and was eventually closed down in the early 1970’s. For a while it sat, abandoned and very much neglected, until it was purchased from the city by the Boston Investment and Development Company in the 1980’s. An agreement was made between the city and the firm to allow for the Poughkeepsie Public Library District to operate a north end branch, which operated during the 1990’s. True to its original purpose, the majority of the property is currently used as Section 8 housing and affordable senior housing.
Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for an upcoming lecture with brand new research on the history of the almshouse and the people who lived and died here.
References:
Poughkeepsie Journal (Eagle News) - 19 Jan 1863, 8 Feb 1868, 14 May 1868, Jan 1869, 23 Mar 1907, 20 Feb 1984
Poughkeepsie Almshouse Records - LH Collection
Images: Photos taken by Shannon Butler of the modern day Almshouse and Infirmary