I have a number of references to the New York City Alms House, mostly from the late 1820s and early 1830s. A number come from a remarkable muck-raking newspaper of 1830 called the Owl. Few issues survive of probably not many published, all at the American Antiquarian Society. A sample: Mr. Owl, *** I am a pauper at the Bellevue Almshouse and have been so for some years, and am a hard working man. My wife is also in this establishment. However hard my treatment is, there is nothing I complain of so severely as the circumstance of being separated from my wife who sleeps in a different part of the house. There are many married people in exactly similar circumstances to mine. A MARRIED MAN. The Owl, September 25, 1830 (I:16) p. 1, cols. 2-3 GAT On Fri, May 9, 2014 at 12:05 AM, Christopher Philippo <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > http://www.poorhousestory.com/new_york_poorhouses.htm > > All counties seem to have been required to have almshouses, though > Hamilton County might not have had one. A quick check of a couple > websites, and a quick Internet and fultonhistory.com search turned up > info on a number of them, though more searching still is required for a > number of counties. If anyone has info, please feel free to contact me > off-list if you like. > > Albany County > http://www.poorhousestory.com/ALBANY.htm > http://www.timesunion.com/albanyrural/almshouse/ > > http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Albany-County-Almshouse-Cemetery-1896-1926-4993097.php > “Albany has a case of body snatching. […] Graveyard ghouls have been > rifling the graves in the Almshouse cemetery at Albany.” > “New York State News.” Evening Telegram [NY]. October 24, 1878: 1 col 2. > "The cemetery is an ill-kept spot, which has been once filled with bodies > and is now being dug up the second time. There are no suitable markers. > The city of Albany needs a better morgue and the almshouse should provide > more decent burial.” > Annual Report of the State Board of Charities for the Year 1909. Vol 1. > Albany, NY: J.B. Lyon Co., 1910. 477. > http://books.google.com/books?id=W8IlAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA477. > > Allegany County > http://www.poorhousestory.com/ALLEGANY.htm > > Bronx County > Possibly: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=65710 > > Broome County > “flooding of the Chenango River throughout this century is reported to > have washed away hundreds of burials from the Broome County poorhouse > cemetery in Binghamton, New York" > http://archlab.uindy.edu/documents/CemeteryTaph.pdf > "On February 5, 2010, over a period of four hours this historic structure, > having stood testament for 140 years to a community's humanitarian spirit, > was reduced to land-fill." http://nyslandmarks.com/alms/ > > Cattaraugus County > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2334157 > > Cayuga County > “The cemetery is located behind the County Sheriff's office and the County > Jail. It was rediscovered in 1988 when a prisoner escaped and searchers > tripped over the headstones as they were searching for him." > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2310627 > > Chautauqua County > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2353683 > http://www.poorhousestory.com/CHAUTAUQUA.htm > > Chemung County > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2405962 > > Chenango County > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2507258 > > Clinton County > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2290469 > > Columbia County > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2225285 > > Cortland County > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=636188 > > Delaware County > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2496168 > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2423021 > http://www.poorhousestory.com/DELAWARE.htm > > Dutchess County > http://www.poorhousestory.com/DUTCHESS.htm > > Erie County > “Major infrastructure improvements necessitated the salvage excavation of > human skeletal remains associated with the Erie County Poorhouse Cemetery > Site (A02940.02949, UB 2756) in the City of Buffalo, New York, on what is > now the Main Street or South Campus of the University at Buffalo (UB)." > http://meeting.physanth.org/program/2014/session25/perrelli-2014-erie-county-poorhouse-cemetery-site-ub-2756-excavation-methods-and-results.html > > Essex County? > > Franklin County > “the cemetery has been put in order" > Annual Report of the State Board of Charities for the Year 1909. Vol 1. > Albany, NY: J.B. Lyon Co., 1910. 578. > http://books.google.com/books?id=W8IlAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA485 > > Fulton County > http://www.fulton.nygenweb.net/cemeteries/Smalljohns.html#cem > “The cemetery was graded, fenced, a monument erected and markers provided > for the graves." > Annual Report of the State Board of Charities for the Year 1909. Vol 1. > Albany, NY: J.B. Lyon Co., 1910. 485. > http://books.google.com/books?id=W8IlAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA485 > > Genesee County > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2271081 > > Greene County > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2393447 > > Hamilton County > (possibly none; see http://www.poorhousestory.com/HAMILTON.htm ) > > Herkimer County > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2392897 > http://www.poorhousestory.com/HERKIMER.htm > > Jefferson County > “The Jefferson County Home was located in Pamelia, and its cemetery is now > on the grounds of SUNY Jefferson (Jefferson Community College)." > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2508509 > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2414385 > > Kings County > “Kings County Farm Cemetery is no longer in existence. The whereabouts of > those interred are unknown at this time." > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2142497 > > Lewis County > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2402121 > > Livingston County > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2214424 > > Madison County > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2334487 > > Monroe County > http://www.poorhousestory.com/MONROE.htm > "On July 25th 1984, the cemetery was rediscovered while doing excavation > in the park. It is thought that the cemetery was used from 1826 to 1863 by > the Monroe County Poorhouse. No names of the persons buried herein are > known." http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nymonroe/cem/index.htm > > Montgomery County? > > Nassau County? > > New York County? > > Niagara County > “Burials from 1915 to June 1960. Wooden markers were removed from graves, > new metal markers were made and replaced in approximate position in 1990 > and vandalized soon after.” > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2446621 > "Rediscovering a nearly forgotten cemetery in Lockport" > http://buffalo.twcnews.com/content/news/587803/rediscovering-a-nearly-forgotten-cemetery-in-lockport/?ap=1&MP4 > "volunteers shifted focus to Niagara County and the site of the former > Niagara County Almshouse. Virtually undisturbed for ninety-six years, this > cemetery had just a few stones which appeared to be marking graves. Nature > had literally taken over the site with thick overgrowth of grape vines, > wild roses, Hawthorne trees, and poison ivy. Initially, it was very > difficult to determine the boundaries of the cemetery" > http://inmatesofwillard.com/2013/06/05/cemetery-restoration-people-inc-the-museum-of-disability-history/ > > Oneida County > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=65557 > “the Oneida Burial Site, a late 19th century poorhouse cemetery in Oneida > County near Rome, New York, was discovered in 1988 only after construction > workers with backhoes and other heavy machinery had already destroyed up to > 100 burials" > http://archlab.uindy.edu/documents/CemeteryTaph.pdf > > Onondaga County > “Eighty bodies from Onondaga County Poorhouse reburied as part of OCC > renovation […] The bodies were removed during the winter of 2010-11 as the > poorhouse transformed into H-1 Hall, now known as the John H. Mulroy Hall > at OCC. […] Seib said the burials at that part of the poorhouse grounds > ended in 1840, when the plot was full and they moved gravesites to another > location on the grounds." > > http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2012/09/remains_of_80_bodies_from_onon.html > “It was some time in 1883 that the late Henry W. Duguid, then one of the > Members of Assembly from Onondaga county, secured enactment of a law which > gave to the medical colleges of the State rights to the bodies of criminals > and paupers under certain clearly defined conditions. This law was a boon > to the medical institutions, and it put a stop forever to the robbery of > graves, a practice which up to that time had proved a lucrative occupation > for certain adventurous spirits, who laughed the the haunting horrors of a > midnight graveyard and skillfully eluded the vigilance of the officers of > the law, willing to run the risk of death from a revolver bullet in > consideration of the sure returns from their ghoulish pursuit. […] > “Syracuse, partly because it was the home of the Syracuse Medical college, > and partly because of the presence here of a band of unusually reckless and > devil-may-care young men, had in the early eighties an unenviable > reputation in the matter of grave robbing. Not only were bodies supplied > for the local medical college, but they were shipped from here to various > other cities where medical colleges were located, and a flourishing > business in the furnishing of cadavers grew up that was only brought to an > end by the tragic death of Dr. Hervey W. Kendall, which resulted, first, in > the passage of the so-called ‘anatomy’ law, and, secondly, in an arousing > of sentiment which made the occupation of grave robbing even more dangerous > than it was before.” > “Secret of Dr. Kendall’s Murder Told After 20 Years; Story of Grave > Robbing in Onondaga Co.” Sunday Herald [Syracuse, NY]. March 27, 1904: > 9-10. [includes illustrations] > > Ontario County > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=64282 > http://www.poorhousestory.com/ONTARIO.htm > > Orange County > “If you thought people who lived in poorhouses died young here is a > surprise!” > http://www.poorhousestory.com/ORANGE.htm > > Orleans County > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2353686 > http://www.poorhousestory.com/ORLEANS.htm > > Oswego County > “This cemetery is no longer visible, according to the records of the Town > of Mexico historian it is now buried under the bus garage parking lot." > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2194363 > > Otsego County > "'The Poor House cemetery records are sparse and scattered.' [...] The > Poor House was demolished in the 1960s and today the site is a working > farm. The remains of the overgrown cemetery are all that is left.” > http://www.clubrunner.ca/Data/7170/3556/html/88334/No%2038%20April%2013,%202010.pdf > > Putnam County > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2155723 > “I am probably the first relative to visit his gravesite (in 2005), 80 > years after his sad and lonely death.” > Augustus Cole (1830-1915), Putnam County > > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GScid=2155723&GRid=12068371& > http://www.poorhousestory.com/PUTNAM.htm > > Queens County? > > Rensselaer County > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2538887 > “A human skull was found yesterday by youngsters playing near Griswold > Heights. > “Investigation by police revealed that the skeleton had probably been > unearthed from the old burial ground once located near the south side of > Griswold Heights and east of the rear entrance to St. Joseph’s Cemetery. A > resident of Griswold Heights notified police of the discovery and Patrolmen > Thomas O’Brien and Paul Spenard of the radio patrol went to the scene. > “The skull was later turned over to Coroner Anthony E. Matera.” > “Children Find Skull At Griswold Heights.” Times Record [Troy, NY]. > September 23, 1954: 7 col 2. > Evidently in the woods north of the Wynants Kill, east of St. Joseph’s > Cemetery, and south of (and/or under?) Griswold Heights housing project. I > don’t know if anything remains of it, or what was done with the skeleton > found in 1954. > https:[log in to unmask],-73.679062,527m/ > Griswold Heights has arguably been treated on par with the County Farm: > not sufficiently patrolled or cared-for. > “This morning when the men had reported for work, a laborers’ foreman, > Albert Iannone, went looking for Sunkes and found him dead on the floor of > the building. Authorities said he had been dead since yesterday.” > “Workman Found Dead on Job at Griswold Heights; Fred Sunkes, 63, Died > Suddenly Yesterday While Working At Housing Project.” Times Record [Troy, > NY]. May 23, 1950: 11 col 2. > “The Troy [Housing] Authority has become increasingly concerned with the > rapid rise in crime and vandalism, particularly in its row-type projects: > Griswold Heights and Corliss Park.” > “Housing Authority Studies Hiring Special Police Forces.” Times Record > [Troy, NY]. September 4, 1963: 21 cols 1-2. > Crowe II, Kenneth C. “An exchange of words, a bullet in the head; > Neighbors say Troy shooting victim asked partygoers to quiet down.” Albany > Times Union. September 15, 2009. > http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/An-exchange-of-words-a-bullet-in-the-head-549993.php > > Richmond County > “Abandoned, located West side of Brielle Avenue and North of Rockland > Avenue." > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2395802 > > Rockland County? > > St. Lawrence County > “The list of those buried at the County Home are indexed in Liber 33 Pages > 416-440 in the Miscellaneous Files at the County Court House in Canton. “ > http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/NYSTLAWR/2004-01/1073049750 > > Saratoga County? > > Schenectady County? > > Schoharie County? > > Schuyler County? > > Seneca County > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2306190 > > Steuben County > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=214938 > > Suffolk County > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=64281 > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2329148 > “We have to report the donation made last fall by Prince H. Foster, Esq., > of Babylon, of a large number of ornamental trees and shrubs for the Alms > House cemetery. They were set out and cared for, and, with the exception > of a few that were winter killed, are growing well. This gift is an > indication of Mr. Foster’s thoughtful care, liberality, and deep interest > in all things that relate to the poor, and is deserving of this public > acknowledgement.” Sag Harbor Express. November 1, 1877. > > Sullivan County? > > Tioga County > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2261080 > > Tompkins County? > > Ulster County > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2199390 > http://www.poorhousestory.com/ULSTER.htm > > Warren County > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2147737 > > Washington County > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2282274 > http://www.poorhousestory.com/WASHINGTON.htm > > Wayne County > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2498260 > “In an investigation of the robbing of the grave of George Wilbur, at the > Wayne county alms house cemetery, in Lyons, it has been ascertained beyond > a doubt that during the past few years at least ten bodies have been stolen > from that cemetery. Two of these were dissected in the unused room above > the old Forfar lumber office on Geneva street, in Lyons. Another was > dissected in a barn in the northern part of that village, and several > bodies have been shipped to medical colleges in Buffalo, Albany and New > York.” > “Wayne.” Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. April 20, 1886: 3 col 2. > > Westchester County > “In 1935, the land where the County Alms House Cemetery was located was > given over to make way for the construction of the Saw Mill River Parkway. > Instead of disturbing any of the existing graves, the cemetery in Eastview > was covered over with 20 feet of dirt and the Parkway was then built over > it. This old cemetery would've been located somewhere around the > present-day vicinity of Exit 23 off of the Saw Mill River Parkway." > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2381268 > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2175243 > > Wyoming County > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2374798 > > Yates County > http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2525049 > -- George A. Thompson The Guy Who Still Looks Stuff Up in Books. Author of A Documentary History of "The African Theatre", Northwestern Univ. Pr., 1998..