Dating
to around 1904, the widespread campus of the Farm Colony operated
as a 'poor farm.' Poor farms were established in almost every state
as rehabilitation centers for the less fortunate. Often associated
with hospitals and mental asylums, poor farms provided the mentally
ill and the impoverished opportunities for treatment and work. Many
of these establishments included farms and gardens for residents
to raise and grow their own food, as evidenced at this site by the
ruins of a large greenhouse.
Additional buildings were constructed in the early 1930's, adding
to the Farm Colony's eclectic mix of architectural styles. The impressive
Colonial Revival porticoes stand tall today, being marred only by
graffiti, while the double-pitched roofs of the older buildings
have caved into the rooms below. Perhaps a few buildings located
further from the main road that runs through the colony were built
even later. These structures are slightly more intact, with more
modern accessories, including a 'calendar clock' quietly humming
on the wall.
Dating
to around 1904, the widespread campus of the Farm Colony operated
as a 'poor farm.' Poor farms were established in almost every state
as rehabilitation centers for the less fortunate. Often associated
with hospitals and mental asylums, poor farms provided the mentally
ill and the impoverished opportunities for treatment and work. Many
of these establishments included farms and gardens for residents
to raise and grow their own food, as evidenced at this site by the
ruins of a large greenhouse.