County Poor Farm

A lone concrete pillar marks the entrance to the Franklin County Poor Farm, built in 1873 to house the poverty stricken wards in the county. The farm included 160 acres to the east and south on which an infirmary, barns, ice house, smoke house, and pest house for those with communicable or incurable diseases were built. In 1896 the farm was discontinued and the infirmary was moved to the south edge of Ottawa on 17th and Elm Streets. This building burned in 1911 and was replaced by the 3-story brick building that stands today.