Poor Farm for county residents
In celebration of south Wood County's rich history, Daily Tribune Media has launched a weekly feature called "Vintage Venues," taking a look at some of the historical sites and buildings that hold significance in the community.
The Poor Farm
Address: Seneca Road in Port Edwards
Built: 1885
Brief history: Before there was Edgewater Haven Nursing Home, Wood County had a poor farm for needy people who did not have a family to take care of them.
The farm was established in 1885 and included a house, a large barn, two silos, two sheds, a granary, garage, stable, pig house, chicken house, well house and woodshed. There were two other small buildings; one was used for a bath house and the other for a resident who was disruptive.
The original building contained 10 sleeping rooms and two sitting rooms, one for men and one for women. In the basement there was a wash room and furnace room combined.
Later, there was an addition that included two living rooms, a kitchen and a room the superintendent and his wife used as a dining room. Upstairs, there were four sleeping rooms and a bathroom. The home was located on the south side of Seneca Road, just west of the railroad tracks.
Of great importance to the home and its residents was the land on which it was located. The farm had 300 acres, 40 in Seneca Township and 160 in the village of Port Edwards. It was operated by the superintendent with the assistance of a hired man and some of the residents. There were cattle, hogs and poultry. The milk not used was sold to a creamery. Food from the farm was used for residents. The farm was well supplied with machinery, including a tractor.
Interesting fact: Following the Poor Farm, there was a Wood County Home for the Aged, and later Edgewater Haven Nursing Home. The nursing home was built in 1928 on land donated by Nekoosa Edwards Paper Co. There have been many additions since then, and the original home was demolished and replaced in 2014. There also is a new rehabilitation building.
Wisconsin Rapids Tribune,
Wisconsin Rapids, WI
Published 1:00 p.m. CT Jan. 7, 2015
In celebration of south Wood County's rich history, Daily Tribune Media has launched a weekly feature called "Vintage Venues," taking a look at some of the historical sites and buildings that hold significance in the community.
The Poor Farm
Address: Seneca Road in Port Edwards
Built: 1885
Brief history: Before there was Edgewater Haven Nursing Home, Wood County had a poor farm for needy people who did not have a family to take care of them.
The farm was established in 1885 and included a house, a large barn, two silos, two sheds, a granary, garage, stable, pig house, chicken house, well house and woodshed. There were two other small buildings; one was used for a bath house and the other for a resident who was disruptive.
The original building contained 10 sleeping rooms and two sitting rooms, one for men and one for women. In the basement there was a wash room and furnace room combined.
Later, there was an addition that included two living rooms, a kitchen and a room the superintendent and his wife used as a dining room. Upstairs, there were four sleeping rooms and a bathroom. The home was located on the south side of Seneca Road, just west of the railroad tracks.
Of great importance to the home and its residents was the land on which it was located. The farm had 300 acres, 40 in Seneca Township and 160 in the village of Port Edwards. It was operated by the superintendent with the assistance of a hired man and some of the residents. There were cattle, hogs and poultry. The milk not used was sold to a creamery. Food from the farm was used for residents. The farm was well supplied with machinery, including a tractor.
Interesting fact: Following the Poor Farm, there was a Wood County Home for the Aged, and later Edgewater Haven Nursing Home. The nursing home was built in 1928 on land donated by Nekoosa Edwards Paper Co. There have been many additions since then, and the original home was demolished and replaced in 2014. There also is a new rehabilitation building.
Wisconsin Rapids Tribune,
Wisconsin Rapids, WI
Published 1:00 p.m. CT Jan. 7, 2015
Poor Farm for county residents
In celebration of south Wood County's rich history, Daily Tribune Media has launched a weekly feature called "Vintage Venues," taking a look at some of the historical sites and buildings that hold significance in the community.
The Poor Farm
Address: Seneca Road in Port Edwards
Built: 1885
Brief history: Before there was Edgewater Haven Nursing Home, Wood County had a poor farm for needy people who did not have a family to take care of them.
The farm was established in 1885 and included a house, a large barn, two silos, two sheds, a granary, garage, stable, pig house, chicken house, well house and woodshed. There were two other small buildings; one was used for a bath house and the other for a resident who was disruptive.
The original building contained 10 sleeping rooms and two sitting rooms, one for men and one for women. In the basement there was a wash room and furnace room combined.
Later, there was an addition that included two living rooms, a kitchen and a room the superintendent and his wife used as a dining room. Upstairs, there were four sleeping rooms and a bathroom. The home was located on the south side of Seneca Road, just west of the railroad tracks.
Of great importance to the home and its residents was the land on which it was located. The farm had 300 acres, 40 in Seneca Township and 160 in the village of Port Edwards. It was operated by the superintendent with the assistance of a hired man and some of the residents. There were cattle, hogs and poultry. The milk not used was sold to a creamery. Food from the farm was used for residents. The farm was well supplied with machinery, including a tractor.
Interesting fact: Following the Poor Farm, there was a Wood County Home for the Aged, and later Edgewater Haven Nursing Home. The nursing home was built in 1928 on land donated by Nekoosa Edwards Paper Co. There have been many additions since then, and the original home was demolished and replaced in 2014. There also is a new rehabilitation building.
Wisconsin Rapids Tribune,
Wisconsin Rapids, WI
Published 1:00 p.m. CT Jan. 7, 2015
In celebration of south Wood County's rich history, Daily Tribune Media has launched a weekly feature called "Vintage Venues," taking a look at some of the historical sites and buildings that hold significance in the community.
The Poor Farm
Address: Seneca Road in Port Edwards
Built: 1885
Brief history: Before there was Edgewater Haven Nursing Home, Wood County had a poor farm for needy people who did not have a family to take care of them.
The farm was established in 1885 and included a house, a large barn, two silos, two sheds, a granary, garage, stable, pig house, chicken house, well house and woodshed. There were two other small buildings; one was used for a bath house and the other for a resident who was disruptive.
The original building contained 10 sleeping rooms and two sitting rooms, one for men and one for women. In the basement there was a wash room and furnace room combined.
Later, there was an addition that included two living rooms, a kitchen and a room the superintendent and his wife used as a dining room. Upstairs, there were four sleeping rooms and a bathroom. The home was located on the south side of Seneca Road, just west of the railroad tracks.
Of great importance to the home and its residents was the land on which it was located. The farm had 300 acres, 40 in Seneca Township and 160 in the village of Port Edwards. It was operated by the superintendent with the assistance of a hired man and some of the residents. There were cattle, hogs and poultry. The milk not used was sold to a creamery. Food from the farm was used for residents. The farm was well supplied with machinery, including a tractor.
Interesting fact: Following the Poor Farm, there was a Wood County Home for the Aged, and later Edgewater Haven Nursing Home. The nursing home was built in 1928 on land donated by Nekoosa Edwards Paper Co. There have been many additions since then, and the original home was demolished and replaced in 2014. There also is a new rehabilitation building.
Wisconsin Rapids Tribune,
Wisconsin Rapids, WI
Published 1:00 p.m. CT Jan. 7, 2015
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One of the oldest settlers of Wood County
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