The almshouse was built in 1799 to house the county's poor, mentally infirm, young offenders, and others down on their luck. The building, now used by the Lancaster County Children and Youth Social Service Agency, is at 900 E. King Street, Lancaster, Pa. These burials were at county expense. There were few if any grave markers. Many burials were of almshouse "inmates" but others were of unidentified persons who died in the county.

Such a cemetery might have been called potter's field. This comes from a biblical verse on setting aside clayey land--suitable for the potter but not the farmer--for burial of the poor.

The almshouse was built in 1799 to house the county's poor, mentally infirm, young offenders, and others down on their luck. The building, now used by the Lancaster County Children and Youth Social Service Agency, is at 900 E. King Street, Lancaster, Pa. These burials were at county expense. There were few if any grave markers. Many burials were of almshouse "inmates" but others were of unidentified persons who died in the county.

Such a cemetery might have been called potter's field. This comes from a biblical verse on setting aside clayey land--suitable for the potter but not the farmer--for burial of the poor.