Lombard Poor Farm, Barnstable, MA (1933)

Content Warning: Derogatory Mental Health Terminology & Mentions of Abuse

A particular focus of Lantern for Lost Voices is understanding and illuminating the histories of poor farms in and across the United States. In order to detail and understand these sites and those who resided on them, we need to understand what poor farms are, what cultural forces surrounded their existence, and their impact.

Lombard Poor Farm, Barnstable, MA (1933)
Lombard Poor Farm, Barnstable, MA (1933)
Photo Credit: National Parks Service, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In this article there are mentions of derogatory terminology enforced upon those with mental health conditions. LLV does not condone these terms or any resurgence of their use in everyday vernacular. These terms are listed as cultural artifacts of the prevailing voice at the time of poor farm creation in the early United States. 

Grace Aftandilov

Poor farms, country farms, and poorhouses refer, culturally, to the societal aim at addressing rising poverty in the early settlements; government land and housing were designated for poorer individuals to perform work in exchange for lodging. Over time, these facilities oversaw those who were societally referred to as “indigent, mentally ill, paupers, and the insane” (Goffstown Historical Society. N.d., 3). These poor farms became the foundation for future government regulated iterations like mental asylums and early forms of social welfare. Poorhouses, as a concept, originated in 17th century England; “Municipalities were expected to care for their poor, and made a distinction between people who were old and unable to care for themselves and the able-bodied… and could be imprisoned if they refused [to work]” (Blakemore 2023).

The goal with creating these facilities was to disincentivize long-term stay and address the negative, social association of the poor. These facilities were unsanitary, overrun at times, and situated on the outskirts of towns – in essence, the goal was to sequester the poor from active society members, deeming their existence that of an eyesore (Blakemore 2023). This generated a severe, distinct, and well-documented dislike and retaliation, from the inhabitants, for the management of the facilities; people of all ages were admitted within these walls and many had to be re-committed after attempts to escape the trying conditions (The New Hampshire Gazette 1837).

LLV has taken a focus on New Hampshire’s poor farms, in particular, Grasmere and the Hillsborough County farm. The conditions and normalcy of poor farms stand in stark contrast to their contemporary statistics, they’ve touted a consistently low poverty rate – a 7.2% (Statista 2023).  Their history with poor farms is much more robust than this stat suggests. Per the Bicentennial, the first establishments of poor farms in New Hampshire were in 1817. “Finally purchased old Kidder house, built 1799, at ‘Blaisdell’s Corner’ in 1823. Town poor previously vendued at prices ranging from 5 [cents] to $1.75 per week” (Goffstown Bicentennial Historical Committee, 1961, 16)

The most well-documented poor farm was located on 300 acres purchased from Noyes Poor, valued at $10,000 at the time. This farm was established in 1849 for 88 residents in Hillsborough County (Goffstown Historical Society. N.d., 3). There was a brief interlude period in which the residents were moved to Whiting Farm in Wilton from 1867-1895, then returned back to Grasmere in Goffstown  (Goffstown Historical Society. N.d., 3). The relevance of this move is unknown and is regarded merely as a product of changing political sentiments – however, this is merely speculative and records overlook this reasoning since the town’s poor were not closely kept up with (Goffstown Historical Society. N.d., 3). We can also see evidence of this due to their respective cemeteries not listing the name of the deceased but rather demarcating them with only a number (Hadley 1922, 256).

The identity of Grave Number 8 has been lost with the records.
Hillsborough County Farm Cemetery, Goffstown, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire

Photo Credit: Danielle St. Pierre

There is no record of the burials. Who fills these unknown graves or when the burials were made is shrouded in obscurity. There is no legendary story that sheds any light upon it, and no information can be obtained relative to the occupants of these graves. They were buried many years since, uncared for and neglected (Hadley 1922, 256).

This information is the preliminary, foundational understanding provided, regarding the origin and impact of poor farms in and across the United States. By having this information cataloged and delineated, we can better understand the culture surrounding the lived experiences of those who worked at these facilities. These sources foreground the current, prevailing voice attached to the poor farms and what, at the time, publications were willing to detail. 

Accessibility Notice

LLV is committed to fostering an environment that makes all materials as accessible and accurate as possible for the community. This blog post exists as a living description and document. Part of the process of illuminating voices is making a safe space to exercise that voice and having that voice respected. Have an amendment or suggestion for rewording? Email us!


Reference List

Blakemore, Erin. 2023. “Poorhouses Were Designed to Punish People for Their Poverty.” Date Accessed January 28, 2024. https://www.history.com/news/in-the-19th-century-the-last-place-you-wanted-to-go-was-the-poorhouse

Goffstown Bicentennial Historical Committee. 1961. “Goffstown, New Hampshire bicentennial, 1761-1961.” Goffstown, New Hampshire: Goffstown Bicentennial Historical Committee. 

Goffstown Historical Society. N.d. “Cemeteries of Goffstown: Hillside, Westlawn, Shirely Hill and Pine Grove.” New Hampshire: Goffstown Historical Society.  

Hadley, George Plummer. 1922. “History of the Town of Goffstown.” Salem, Massachusetts: Higginson Book Company. 

The New Hampshire gazette. 1837. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress, 20 June 1837. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83025588/1837-06-20/ed-1/seq-2/Statista. 2023. “Poverty rate in New Hampshire in the United States from 2000 to 2022.” Accessed January 28, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/205490/poverty-rate-in-new-hampshire/#statisticContainer

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About the Author

Grace Aftandilov (she/her) is the Director of Political and Anthropological Research. Grace is an anthropologist and international and comparative political analyst. She joins the team driven by her desire to create and provide sustainable, accessible information repositories for the public. Her goals and experience are underscored by her deep commitment to knowledge-sharing and reclamation efforts. Grace is based in New York.

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