THE CATTARAUGUS COUNTY HOME 

In 1833 the Board of Supervisors of the County took official action 
to provide a place for the better care of their County Poor. Advertisements were taken for land proposals and in 1834  Williard Jefferson's proposal was selected and his farm of 200 acres was purchased for $2,300. 

In 1835 a house was constructed and completed and it received 33 paupers. In 1846 the building was destroyed by fire, with all books and papers, but was soon rebuilt. 

A committee appointed by the Senate visited the institution in 1857 and made the following remarks; 

"For the accommodation of the insane are 2 small houses; one an old dilapidated one, very cold in winter from its loose construction and much decay, and at all times particularly offensive from the accumulation of filth; the other a new structure, though an inferior one and ill planned. This for some reason, Is seldom used. In these cells the Insane sleep on straw with very little clothing, the straw becoming filled with filth before being changed. Two are confined in these cells. The insane are  attended by a male pauper. None during the year are improved or cured. They receive the same medical attention as the remaining paupers. No application has been made for admission to the State Asylum. In the house Is one idiot and one blind person. Intemperance is the cause of one-half the pauperism here. The house is a poor one, and the poor, especially the insane, are illy cared for. '' 

After this report was made, funds for additional lands and construction of a new building was authorized, The year 1859.  All not to exceed $400,00. 

"In 1860, L. S. Jenks, William Napier and L D. Warner reported that it was necessary to erect a building 30' by 40', two stories, the main building to serve as a wing to a new edifice to be built at a later time. This building was to be completed by November 1st., 1861 and not to exceed in cost of $1,2000.00. 

In 1869 the State Commissions of Public Charities commented that the needs of the poor were to be met by the new stone building constructed near the site of the old one which would accommodate 100 people, apartments or the keeper and his family. The old buildings were to be abandoned upon the stone buildings completion. Included with the building was a 200 acre farm, They had 3 superintendents and a keeper. At that date 60 persons were being kept there, among them were 23 insane, 3 idiots, 1 blind, one mute and 6 children.

When the building was completed, a stone structure 36 by 80' and 3 stories high with slate roof surmounted by a cupalo was the result. It's cost, $17,800.00. The grounds contained 200 acres with 50 acres of woods about 2 1/2 miles north of the farm. The institution was not self supporting. 

In 1878 it contained 83 inmates of which 43 were insane. To accommodate the insane an asylum wan completed about 20 rods west of the poor house. There were 4 buildings at that time. One being the keepers residence in the Gothic style, 2 1/2 stories high. One being a 2 story gothic style building-one to house males, one for females, a one story dining hall containing the kitchen. The dining hall was connected with the male and female dwellings by a covered passage. Underneath this was the heater. Entire cost about $15,000.

The above information was obtained from the Machias, New York, Chickasaw Sesquicentennial 1827-1977 book.