July 1, 2003
A Story to be Told!
Photo Gallery
[Special Thanks to Deena Weintraub for her Photographic Assistance with the page]
[I fear my amatuer Web Page Design does not do her work Justice]
[Copyright 2003, Virginia "Ginny" Buechele, all rights reserved]


Dutchess County Alms/Poorhouse House
Potter's Field

I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down
Livin' in the hopeless hungry side of town. . . .
Johnny Cash, from ''Man in Black,'' 1971

This page is dedicated to Encouraging the Preservation of the Cemetery on
Dutchess County Owned Property formerly the site
of Dutchess County Almshouse and Infirmary
projected to be utilized as an Eastern Dutchess County Services Center
in the future!

A STORY TO BE TOLD?

One small lonely & forlorn marker with the initials "L. B. H."
Who was it that mourned the loss of the L. B. H.
and placed this marker?
A weeping mother, a distraught father,  a loving child
or a friend at the County House,
that "L. B. H." shared the last few days of life with
and cared so deeply as to insure
a friend was remembered!

L.B.H. Identified - READ his STORY !*!


           [Marker 473/458]
 
On my July 1, 2003 visit a number 741 marker was found.
Also numerous markers with double numbers.
Not sure what this means!
Are there 2 burials in the graves marked by these markers with double numbers
or
do these graves hold inclusive burials????

[The size of these markers can be judged when compared
with my sneaker in the corner of the picture below.]


[Marker 492/478]


 
 
Dutchess County Board of Supervisor's Proceedings - Tuesday, November 27, 1883
[Copyrighted Abstract and Transcription - Virginia "Ginny" Buechele - July 17, 2003]
The following is an EXCERPT from the Report of the Local Committee on Charities, presented by the Board Chair, John T. Smith, Esq.
-----------------------------------------------
"But secondly, we wish to put on record our solemn and emphatic protest against the disposition that has been made of the religious services in the Alms House."

"The useful and commodious chapel was devoted to other uses.  Then came a reduction in the appropriations last year, no money whatever was devoted to this purpose, and no provison of any kind is now made by the county for religous services."

"The dead are buried like the brutes that perish, no recognition of their immortal souls, no pointing of the living to God, who holds our lives in his hands.  Many of the poor creatures have a horror of the County House for the very reason that they know that under the present arrangement, when death comes to claim them, they will be put under the ground, without services of any description."

"In the name of the citizens of the county, in the name of all who have the spirit of humanity, in the name of christian civilization, we ask you to make some provison for the regular teaching of religous truth to those who may desire it, and to make arrangements for a burial service of the dead."

J. E. LYALL
Chairman Committee

 Click Here to Read the Full Committee Report
--------------------------------------------------
I wish I had seen these words and called upon them when I was addressing the D C Legislature regarding the Cemetery on the Alms House Site in the Town of Washington.  Although it appears that efforts to preserve the cemetery are gaining momentum, my research into the history of the Dutchess County Alms House, the Cemetery and the individuals who resided there and may be buried in the cemetery on the site continues.

As my research continues, I hope to find exactly when the above situation may have been rectified.
In the 1908 Board of Supervisors Proceedings - Dutchess County Alms House Report - May 12, 1908 - under
VI. SALARIES, WAGES AND LABOR is listed:
For Religious Purposes: 
Protestant Chaplain, $100 
Catholic Chaplain, $100 

Click on the Links Below
for an Updates on Endeavors to
Save this Cemetery!

UPDATE - September 9, 2002

 September 13, 2002 Update

Public Works & Transportation Committee RESOLUTION #202258 - 17  September 2002

Ad-Hoc Sub-Committee  FINAL Report - 1 September 2002

Ad-Hoc Sub-Committee  MEETING MINUTES - 9 September 2002

Ad-Hoc Sub-Committee  INTERIM Report - 1 May 2002

For further background on the Dutchess County Poor House
visit the Dutchess County Page at  

Linda Crannell's Poorhouse Story Web Site
- Time Line - Dutchess County Poorhouse
where you will see that what is termed the County Infirmary Site today
was established as the County Poor House in 1863.

 1908 Report Dutchess County Alms House

Family Ties are Lasting Bonds Woven in Each Heart
To Keep a Family Close in Thought Together or Apart

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