Before we had a nursing home, we had a ‘Poor House’
By Bill Lattin
Orleans County Historian
ALBION – A group of residents of the Orleans County House posed for this picture around 1900. The photo was taken by Frank L. Weller of Holley.
The man standing in front of the screen door and the man sitting on the railing are staff members of the County House or the “Poor House.” It was located on County House Road and was the forerunner to the Orleans County Nursing Home.
Back when this photo was taken, the residents were referred to as inmates. Many lived there for reasons other than ill-health, including just being poor.
