SUMMARY OF PUTNAM COUNTY POOR FARM

 

The official records of the Putnam County Poor Farm are contained in two small ledger books which are presently stored in the County's Old Records Section in Palatka, Florida.

 

This home for the dysfunctional poor was variously referred to in the record books as the "Putnam County Poor Farm, County Farm, County Poor House, County Poor Farm, and County Hospital."  Those who were housed and cared for were known as "paupers, inmates, and patients."  They came from all walks of life and from various sections of the United States.  The population at the poor farm was made up of the young, the middle aged, and the very old.  They were both male and female and their race was black, white, and American Indian.

 

Regardless of how those who were institutionalized were addressed, the County Poor Farm System served an important role in the welfare of a considerable number of unfortunate people who were old, sick, and in general without family or personal financial means to care for themselves.  Many were vagrants, Ho-Bos, and tramps that, for whatever reason, found themselves "down on their luck" in Putnam County, Florida.  But most important they were human beings in need and were extended a helping hand by the citizens of this County.

 

The Poor Farm System came into being in Florida before there was a National, State, or County health and welfare system as we know it today.  Local doctors served the patients at the "home" and there was a regular visiting nurse, all paid at the expense of the County taxpayers.  This program was administered by the Board of County Commissioners who, along with the County Sheriff, kept a watchful eye on all activities at the "farm."

 

When we first commenced abstracting and compiling the Putnam County Poor Farm records, it was generally assumed by many that the patient/inmates were treated poorly and provided for in an uncaring manner.  However, study of these records do not bear this out.  In general, the system provided a much-needed service for those who were "down and out on their luck."

 

The Sheriff picked up many of the County Farm patient/inmates laying ill by the side of the road, brought them to the "home" where they were fed nutritious meals, given a warm dry bed, and treated for their medical ills.  For many of those unfortunate souls it proved to be a dry warm deathbed, for they were terminally ill before they came into the care of the Poor Farm Hospital.

 

Most of those who died at the "County Farm" were given a modest Christian burial in a little cemetery located nearby.  At the time of their death, there were few, if any, relatives or friends to mourn their passing.

 

There are about 100-recorded burials in the Poor Farm Cemetery.  Twenty other patients who died here were taken away for burial in other local cemeteries.  Records indicate that the Putnam County Poor Farm began operation in January 1916 and officially closed on October 16, 1935, having been in operation for almost 20 years.  However, the County authorities and local undertakers were still burying paupers in the Poor Farm Cemetery as late as July 1939.  There may have been others buried here at a later date for which we have no record.

 

In 1966 the Board of County Commissioners granted Florida Power and Light a power line right-of-way, which, unfortunately, went directly across the Poor Farm Cemetery.  When contractors were clearing the right-of-way the cemetery was "bull-dozed" and all traces of individual burial sites were destroyed.  However, when the right-of-way was surveyed, a notation of the exact location of the cemetery was made and by this means it is possible to re-establish the boundary of the Poor Farm Cemetery.  We hope the boundaries of this burying ground will be re-established in the near future, and we believe it is the proper and lawful thing for the County to do.

 

The Board of County Commissioners sold this property February 25, 1965, to O. F. and Eva L. Allen (husband and Wife) and Gerrit and Eramae Dinkla (husband and wife), for the sum of $7,850.00 as evidenced by Putnam County Official Record Book 138 Page 586.

 

In addition to the names and other data extracted from the patient/inmate sections of the Poor Farm Records, the following information, from the monthly expense vouchers submitted to the Putnam County Board of Commissioners, is interesting and informative:

 

1.         January 13, 1916 - H.R. Rudianski was the "Watchman" at the Farm and was paid $20.00 per month for his services.

 

2.         February 7, 1916 - B.G. Sykes was employed as "Superintendent” of the Poor Farm at a salary of $50.00 per month.

 

3.         March 15, 1917 - H. Pruitte was employed as "Keeper" of the Poor Farm at a salary of $50.00 per month.

 

4.         From August 1917 to November 1921 - B.G. Sykes served as "Superintendent" at a salary of $50.00 to $75.00 per month.

 

5.         From November 1921 to September 1926 - L. Bohanon replaced B.G. Sykes as "Superintendent" at a monthly salary of $50.00 per month.

 

6.         In October 1925 - L. Bohanon was paid $3.00 for burying a pauper - R.W. Black (see Book #1 - Page 4).

 

7.         April 1926 - G.W. Watkins replaced L. Bohanon as "Superintendent" at a monthly salary of $50.00.  In October 1926 his salary was increased to $75.00 per month.

 

8.         February 1928 - Mrs. G.W. Watkins replaced her husband as "Superintendent" of the Poor Farm at a salary of $75.00 per month.  In addition to her salary, she was also paid $5.00 per month gas allotment for the use of her private automobile.  Apparently Mrs. Watkins served as "Superintendent" of the Putnam County Poor Farm from February 1928 until it’s closing on October 16, 1935.  (After Mrs. Watkins assumed the position of "Superintendent" the records on the patients at the Farm seemed to be kept in more detail, and more accurate, than by previous managers.)

 

Last updated:    11/28/2020

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