317
HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
CHAPTER
XVI.
SUPPORT
OF THE POOR.
THE, laws of the state make ample provision for the
relief of the poor in the several towns; permanently, if they have a settlement,
temporarily, when they have no settlement, at the expense of the town where they
belong, or at the expense of the state, if they have no settlement in any town
in the state. The town of Middlebury, from its organization, has made provision
as required by law, for the poor within its limits. But previous to 1822, no poor
house had been provided. The necessities of the poor were relieved at their residences,
if they had any, and houses were rented for families who had none. In case of
individuals, without families, who needed permanent support, they were boarded,
at the expense of the town, in private families. Not unfrequently such persons,
at public auction, were committed to the care of the lowest bidder. The following
are among the records of the town meetings:
March 1,
1804, "Voted that Mrs. Frank, a pauper, be set up to be boarded by the week,
to the lowest bidder. She was struck off to James Crane for a dollar a week."
March 24 1817, "Voted to
set up some of the town poor to be struck off to the person or persons, who
will keep them at the lowest price. Widow Frank bid off by Martin Everts, to
be kept for a year at one dollar, ninety-nine cents. Thomas Clark bid off by
Joshua Hyde, to be kept for three months, at one dollar a week."
This
may not seem to be a very christian mode of disposing of the poor. But we believe
they were always committed to respectable families, who provided sufficiently
for their comfort. Besides, this Mrs. Frank was looked upon with little
favor, and most people thought her inability to support herself arose only from
an indolent
318
HISTORY
OF MIDDLEBURY.
and obstinate
disposition. At any rate, with all her infirmities, she contrived to outlive,
by many years, the patience of the people."
At
the annual meeting in 1822, the overseer of the poor was authorized by vote "to
rent a poor house under the direction of the selectmen." At the annual meeting
in 1823, the town authorized the selectmen to "provide a poor house and furnish
employment for the paupers;" and the same vote was repeated at the next annual
meeting. Under the authority of this vote, the selectmen had, previous to the
annual meeting in 1825 purchased and used for a poor house, the house and lot
now owned by Cyrus Morton, on the street leading to the creek, south of the rail
road depot. For some reason the town seemed not to have been fully satisfied with
this arrangement, and the subject was agitated at several meetings until in March
1829, when it was voted to sell the whole establishment, and it was sold. Other
plans were afterwards proposed, and in 1831, a committee was appointed to confer
with the other towns in the county, as to the expediency of establishing a county
poor house, and petitioning the legislature to authorize it.
At
an adjourned meeting in April 1839, it was "Voted to purchase a farm for the accommodation
and support of such persons, as are or hereafter may become charageable to the
town, and to provide such buildings and furnish the farm with such stock, as will
be necessary for the purpose said farm is intended for." A committee was appointed,
with full power to make the purchase and bind the town for the payment,-"provided
the amount does not exceed the sum of $6000." The committee were also authorized
to borrow of the trustees the money belonging to the United States deposit fund,
as it shall, from time to time, be paid, and deposit the same with the treasurer,
to meet the orders they may draw for the purchase of the farm; and the trustees
were directed to collect, within two years, such part of said fund as may be needed
for that purpose.
The
committee purchased of Dan Dike the farm now occupied for that use, in the south
part of the town, containing one hundred acres, with commodious buildings, being
the south half of the original Slasson pitch.
At
the March meeting in 1842, the selectmen were instructed to
319
HISTORY
OF MIDDLEBURY.
borrow,
of the trustees of the deposit fund, "all said fund not already borrowed," except
the amount due the State treasurer to meet the claim required to be refunded,
after the census of 1840, as elsewhere explained. At the annual meeting in 1844,
the selectmen were authorized to purchase an additional tract of land, for the
use of the poor establishment, not exceeding in amount the balance of the deposit
fund; and they purchased about sixty acres.
There
has
been expended for the farm, buildings, stock, farming tools and furniture the
sum of $7,013,33. Of the whole fund there has been. lost, in small balances, the
sum of $176, by the failure of the securities, and the loss of the notes by fire.
As we have stated elsewhere, the sum for which the town is responsible is
|
|
$7,501,56
|
| Expended on farm, |
7,013,33
|
|
| Lost, |
176,00
|
---7,189,33
|
|
_______
|
|
| On hand in the
treasury, |
$312,43
|
|