This big old three story brick house was built in 1884. It served as the county’s poorhouse for almost a century. It stands west of Paw Paw on the Red Arrow Highway. Able-bodied destitute people worked in the fields growing food for the residents. They also cared for the mentally and physically disabled people who lived in the house. The farmland is now part of the county fairgrounds and the house is used as a museum ran by the county historical society.
Poorhouse records show 36 people were buried in a nearby cemetery but with the graves being unmarked the old “potter’s field” cemetery has not been located.
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