I was doing some research and I came across something referencing the Saginaw County Poor Farm. I was completely unaware of Saginaw Couty having a poor farm and it really intrigued me. I found out that it was on Hospital road and after seeing the photo it hit me like a ton of bricks (Saginaw bricks of course) I recognized that barn immediately, It is across from Community Village and is used by Saginaw County. It was the old barn from the farm. Everything else is gone including the cemetery. 

The farm opened in the 1860s to house the county’s poor along with mentally ill patients.  The building shown in the photo was built in 1892 to replace an earlier building. It was a state of the art facility when it was constructed and considered one of the best poor farms in the state. It houses about 75 residents that worked on the farm. The farm had 165 acres to grow vegetables and feed for the cows and chickens raised on it.  The farm closed in 1978 and the remaining residents were moved to Community Village. An old paupers cemetery was across the street from the poor farm. The bodies were moved to St. Andrews and Oakwood cemetery. I assume to make room for what is now the Healthsourse Hospital.

Reminder: I will be at the Arthur Hill Bazaar this Saturday, December 7th selling Pure Saginaw calendars and T-shirts. I hope you will stop by and say hello. if you can’t make it you can order from my website HERE

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