NEW HAMPSHIRE’S FASTEST GROWING ONLINE NEWSPAPER

Library presents look back at how needy fared at almshouses, poor farms of the past

Comment Print
Related Articles
The old almshouse on the County Farm in Dover formerly housed many of the county's poor and needy. (Courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER - A Rochester Library program seeks to shed light on the plight of the poor in times gone by when they were often housed on county farms or almshouses.

The presentation is being brought to the community by the Friends of the Rochester Library, who will be hosting the event on Nov. 18 at 6:30 p.m. in partnership with New Hampshire Humanities.

The talk - titled "Poor Houses and Town Farms: The Hard Row for Paupers" - will be hosted by scholar, farmer, journalist and longtime public official Steve Taylor.

Taylor will explore New Hampshire's historic struggles, even from its earliest settlements, with issues surrounding the treatment of poor people. He'll highlight the early northeastern colonies' approach, which was based on England's 1601 Poor Law, which imposed compulsory taxes for maintenance of the poor but made no distinction between the "vagrant, vicious poor" and the helpless, and honest poor.

He'll discuss the confusion that persisted for generations and led directly to establishment of almshouses and poor farms in most of the state's towns, as well as the county institutions which would collectively come to form a dark chapter in New Hampshire history. Taylor will also examine how people were treated in these facilities and how reformers eventually succeeded in closing them down.

Attendees will also learn about the differences in the way the less fortunate are treated today compared to historically. A county commissioner will also be on hand to discuss Strafford County's modern-day responsibilities and programs that support those in need.

Taylor operates a dairy, maple syrup, and cheese making enterprise in Meriden Village with his sons. He has been a newspaper reporter and editor, and served for 25 years as New Hampshire's commissioner of agriculture. Taylor was the founding executive director of the New Hampshire Humanities Council and is a lifelong student of the state's rural culture.

"This will be an extremely informative and eye-opening program that will shed light on our state's long lasting challenges supporting our most needy residents," Library Director Brian Sylvester said. "I encourage everyone to attend, and I want to thank the Friends for their consistent ability to seek out new and engaging presenters."

The program is free to attend, but the Friends of the Library will be accepting donations of canned goods and new or lightly used scarves, hats and mittens for those in need today.

Please call the library at 603-332-1428 to RSVP and help staff assure adequate seating.

Read more from:
Top Stories
Tags:
None
Share:
Comment Print
Powered by Bondware
News Publishing Software

The browser you are using is outdated!

You may not be getting all you can out of your browsing experience
and may be open to security risks!

Consider upgrading to the latest version of your browser or choose on below: