Jefferson County Insane Asylum and Poorhouse

Date: 1854 [unknown]
Location: Jefferson, Wisconsin

About

It has been called several things in its 150 year history, but Jefferson County's Countryside Home has always existed to serve the people of the county.

Originally called the county "Poor Farm," officially established in 1854, some documents indicate that plans for a facility to care for infirmed or destitute people in the county existed before Wisconsin became a state.

Designed as a self-supporting farm to provide subsistence and give some residents an opportunity to work, the poor farm was a common institution in 19th century government to care for "paupers."

Documents list among the prevailing causes of "pauperism" in the early years as old age, sore eyes, blindness, asthma, friendlessness, vagrancy, dementia and consumption.

Over the decades the purpose and focus of the facility changed as did its name. The first half of the 20th century required that a sanitarium for polio patients fall under the umbrella of county services, in addition the Forest Lawn home for the Aged.

Medical progress closed the polio sanitarium in 1958. In 1978 the farm animals and equipment were sold at auction liquidating the last vestiges of the days it was considered the county farm.

The "Governor's Message and Accompanying Documents, Volume 2" states this about the location:

There is a finely built brick asylum for the chronic insane, on the cottage plan, and well managed. Some insane are received from other counties.

There is a poorhouse, fairly well built. The superintendent of both is elected by the county board.

Sources

• Source: http://www.dodgejeffgen.com/archive/JeffersonCtyHome.htm

• Source: Governor's Message and Accompany Documents, Volume 2, Democrat Printing Co State Printers, Madison Wisconsin, 1885