The "Almshouse" Story

Plaque along East King Street which tells of the Hospital,
now known as Conestoga View, and the Almshouse.  The
Almshouse is to the right behind the sign and Conestoga
View is to the left in the distance.

It was an ordinary day.  Just finished taking a photo of one of the most enduring buildings in Lancaster County, Pennsyl- vania.  Building was called the Lancaster County Almshouse and was built primarily for the social control of the poor in the county.  I assume that most medium to large cities have houses such as the one in Lancaster, but most probably have not survived as the almshouse in Lancaster has.  Matter of fact, an easement guarantees the remaining part of the original building can never be demolished and its exterior can never be altered.  The building of the house began in 1799 and opened the following year.  

A post card shows what at one time this building filled
 the property along East King Street.  Much of the building
was removed to make way for Conestoga View.

At first delinquent and dependent children were housed in the almshouse, but records do not show if they were admitted to the house with their families due to poverty.  County taxes provided the primary funds for the operation of the almshouse.  The almshouse included a working farm and stone quarry as well as a manufacturing unit so that the residents of the almshouse could help reduce the amount the county would have to pay for their stay.  The house was run by a steward with his wife who served as the matron of the hospital.  Other workers at the almshouse included attendants, nurses and a storekeeper.  

Conestoga View.

The documentation of the Lancaster County Almshouse and Hospital came about because of a gift from the Edward Hand Medical Heritage Foundation in 1989 and was carried out by the Delaware Valley Threatened Buildings Survey at the University of Delaware.  At some point in history some of the building was demolished to make room for what is known as Conestoga View which is a skilled nursing facility and rehabilitation center for Lancaster County members.  In 2000, what remained of the Lancaster County Almshouse and Hospital was listed as the second oldest continuously operating hospital in the nation with the Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia being the oldest.  

The Almshouse which still remains.

Lancaster County Commis- sioners voted in 2005 to sell the almshouse and the neighboring Conestoga View.  The sale was loudly critized by county residents who feared the almshouse may be demolished.  The house was purchased by Complete HealthCare Resources and housed the county's Children & Youth Services.  The county's lease with Complete HealthCare expires this year.  The easement that will not allow demolition or alteration of the building may cause the building to be turned into a museum.  Lancaster residents may have what they wanted in the first place.  I have always admired the house and grounds and also hope that it becomes a museum in the near future.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.