REPORT

OF

VISITATION OF ALMSHOUSES IN THE EIGHTH

JUDICIAL DISTRICT.

To the State Board of Charities:

Herewith is submitted the report of visitation of almshouses in the Eighth Judicial District for the year ending September 30, 1909.

On his annual visitation of the public charitable institutions in this district, the Commissioner noted many improvements, among the most important of which are the following: Complete exterior painting was in progress or completed at Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua and Wyoming County Almshouses. The water supply was improved at Genesee and Orleans County Almshouses, and the plumbing at Allegany and Cattaraugus County Almshouses. New meat coolers were built at Niagara and Genesee County Almshouses and the latter institution is now equipped with iron stair fire escapes of a safe pattern. At the Erie County Almshouse and Hospital a new morgue was begun, and cement sidewalks laid. Chautauqua County Almshouse has considerable new flooring, and a root cellar. The improvements made are creditable to the institutions, three of which, Allegany, Chautauqua and Genesee County Almshouses, are ranked as first class institutions, both as to plant and management.

The most important recommendations made in the district during the past year, were in connection with the Erie County Almshouse and Hospital. These buildings are very old and do not meet the requirements of modern sanitary housing of the sick poor. With a view to moving the almshouse from the city of Buffalo to a country site, the board of supervisors of Erie county sold 105 acres of the almshouse farm to the University of Buffalo for $54,300. This leaves 13 acres of land for the almshouse and 59 acres for the hospital. The public interest has been much aroused in behalf of better medical and surgical wards for the hospital, the tuberculosis and maternity wards already being located in modern buildings. The question uppermost in the minds

of the taxpayers was whether the outlay of a considerable sum of money would put the main building of the Erie County Hospital in satisfactory condition, or whether economy would be conserved by razing it and building a new fireproof hospital in its place. In any case the present capacity of the hospital is not great enough to accommodate all patients and the erection of new surgical wards is necessary. An officer of the State Board of Charities was sent to make a thorough inspection of the premises in order to determine the advisability of overhauling them, and he was later called in consultation with a committee of supervisors of Erie county. The expert testimony of engineers and architects and the sentiment of the committee of supervisors and the State Board of Charities concurred that the best thing to do is for Erie county to erect a modern hospital with a capacity of 500 beds. The press of the city has given cordial support to the idea, and it is hoped that before long Erie county will have a creditable hospital for the care of the sick poor. The removal of the almshouse to the country should be accomplished as soon as possible, so that the city site may be taken over by the Erie County Hospital.

The needs of the almshouses of the district are mentioned in the following paragraphs, and the report concludes with a statistical summary of the almshouse population.

Respectfully submitted,

WILLIAM H. GRATWICK, Commissioner, Eighth Judicial District.

Allegany County Almshouse, Angelica, N. Y.

DANIEL C. GRUNDER, Superintendent.

The Allegany County Almshouse has a capacity of 90, census of 57, and is valued at $40,000. It consists of four frame cottages, the administrative building, men's and women's dormitories and the service building. There is no hospital. A recent qutbreak of erysipelas, which almost cost the life of one inmate, proves conclusively that a detached hospital is needed. The almshouse is otherwise well equipped and affords an excellent home for the county poor.

Cattaraugus County Almshouse, Machias, N. Y.

WILLIS P. KYSOR, Superintendent.

The Cattaraugus County Almshouse is built on the cottage plan and consists of a group of frame and stone buildings valued at $57,000. There is ample room for the women but the men's cottage and hospital will not accommodate all the men. The others sleep in a small frame cottage which is unsuitable, and on the first floor of the stone building, which is quite distant from the main quarters for men. It will be necessary either to provide more wards for men in the stone building, or to enlarge the men's dormitory. A new laundry is needed, conveniently located. The drainage of this almshouse is unsatisfactory, and an artificial system of sewage disposal will probably be necessary. On account of the topography of the surrounding land the question of drainage is very difficult.

Chautauqua County Almshouse, Dewittville, N. Y.

CHARLES E. DODGE, Superintendent.

This is a brick almshouse, built on the congregate plan, but with a detached hospital, contagious diseases hospital, laundry and creamery. The plant is well kept up and clean. The work is done mostly by inmates, and the results are most creditable. There are no important needs.

Erie County Almshouse and Hospital, Buffalo, N. Y.

MARTIN HEILBRONN, Keeper.

The capacity of the Erie County Hospital is 460 and of the Almshouse 435. The buildings are of Niagara limestone, and the older ones are out of date. Changes are needed in the management of the institutions, to place them on a modern footing. The superintendent of the almshouse is superintendent also of the hospital, although he is not a medical man, nor is he experienced in hospital management. The hospital should be placed in full charge of a medical superintendent, who should be responsible directly to the board of supervisors. The division of labor among the almshouse employees is inequable. Both the superintendent

and his assistant devote most of their time to office work, although they have the assistance of a competent clerk, and the management of the inmates, inspection of the men's buildings, making of repairs, etc., falls on the carpenter, who is so overburdened with duties that he performs none of them well. The daily sweeping, mopping and bed making is quite well done, but the semi-annual house cleaning seems to have been passed over for some time past. The trim of the doors, mouldings and all projecting surfaces are filthy, and dirt has collected in closets and dark corners. The almshouse is very much run down and better administration is needed.

Erie County Lodging House, Buffalo, N. Y.

GEORGE B. KRUG, Superintendent.

The Erie County Lodging House is on its second year of activity. With a capacity of fifty, which is never exceeded, it is filled every night in winter, and some men are sent to other lodging houses, where their maintenance is paid by the county. Its chief merit is that it tries to find work for men, and succeeds in many cases. The dormitories are clean and well aired, and a good quality of food is served. The spotless kettles which adorn the kitchen walls are not those in which the cooking is done, but the common cooking utensils are kept out of sight.

Genesee County Almshouse, Linden, N. Y.

THURMAN A. HART, Keeper.

The excellent improvements made at the Genesee County Almshouse during the past year have raised it to the first class. It is built on the cottage plan, with good water supply, plumbing, lighting and laundry facilities. There is a hospital, which is kept clean, but the employment of a nurse would add much to the comfort of the patients. A morgue is needed and there should be markers for the graves.

Niagara County Almshouse, Lockport, N. Y.

ALANSON C. BIGALOW, Superintendent.

From the last of August, 1908, to the first of February, 1909, this almshouse had no water supply at all except what was hauled

in barrels. The census on December 16, 1908, was 124. The almshouse site is remote from the railroad, and there is a long haul for coal and food supplies. The almshouse is old, inconvenient, does not provide adequately for the separation of the sexes, nor for bathing, and is dark and poorly ventilated. A new almshouse on a more convenient site and a better water supply are imperatively needed.

Orleans County Almshouse, Albion, N. Y.

GEORGE W. POSSON, Superintendent.

The Orleans County Almshouse, with a capacity of 110, and a valuation of $70,000, has some good features and some poor ones. There is a modern hospital and a good laundry building. The women inmates have comfortable quarters and appear to be well cared for. The small cottage for men is well kept, and the grounds are attractive. The men's wing of the almshouse is in poor condition and should be renovated, making large open dormitories. An improved lighting system is needed. The condition of the farm buildings and the care given the stock do not appear to be satisfactory. An inmate, apparently tuberculous, is isolated in the old tramp house, an unsuitable place, for the cottage is dark, damp and ill-ventilated. There is no day room for men, but they sit in their bedrooms, which increases the labor of keeping the almshouse clean. The service rooms in the basement are dark and insanitary.

Wyoming County Almshouse, Varysburg, N. Y.

EDWARD C. STANLEY, Keeper.

This frame almshouse is built on the cottage plan, with a capacity of 90. It is valued at $30,000. An unused cottage, formerly a schoolhouse, would make an excellent hospital, and should be so equipped. Each building is heated by itself and there is no hot water system to the various cottages. The men's cottage is old and the plastering is falling. It should be replaced with metal sheathing. The almshouse has a good water supply and fire protection and the dormitories are provided with fire

escapes.