Boston Poor House

Boston Poor House was a historic institution in Boston, Massachusetts, that provided shelter and care to the city's poor and needy, including those from Charlestown, Massachusetts, Roxbury, Massachusetts, and Dorchester, Massachusetts. The poor house was established in 1660 and was influenced by the English Poor Laws, which were also adopted by other American colonies, such as New York Colony and Pennsylvania Colony. The institution was supported by the City of Boston and received funding from the Massachusetts General Court, as well as donations from wealthy individuals like Peter Faneuil and John Hancock. The poor house was also associated with nearby institutions, including Massachusetts General Hospital and the Boston Almshouse.

● History

The Boston Poor House was founded in 1660 as a response to the growing number of poor and homeless individuals in Boston, which was also a major port city and a hub for maritime trade with Europe and the Caribbean. The institution was modeled after the London Workhouse, which was established in 1576 and was also influenced by the Elizabethan Poor Law of 1601. The poor house was initially located on Common Street in Boston and was later moved to Brimmer Street in the West End, Boston. The institution was managed by the Boston Overseers of the Poor, who were responsible for overseeing the care and well-being of the inmates, including those from nearby towns like Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Salem, Massachusetts. The poor house was also supported by the Society for Encouraging Industry and Employing the Poor, which was founded in 1752 by Benjamin Franklin and other prominent Philadelphians.

● Architecture

The Boston Poor House was designed in the Georgian style, which was popular in Boston during the 18th century, and was influenced by the works of Christopher Wren and Inigo Jones. The building featured a large central block with wings on either side, and was constructed using local materials like brick and stone, which were also used in the construction of other notable buildings in Boston, such as Faneuil Hall and the Old State House. The poor house was designed to accommodate a large number of inmates, including families with children, and featured dormitories, kitchens, and other facilities, including a chapel and a hospital. The institution was also surrounded by a large garden, which was used to grow food for the inmates and was maintained by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, which was founded in 1829.

● Operations

The Boston Poor House was operated by the City of Boston and was funded by a combination of public and private sources, including donations from wealthy individuals like John Adams and Samuel Adams. The institution provided a range of services to its inmates, including food, shelter, and medical care, as well as education and job training, which were provided in partnership with organizations like the Boston Latin School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The poor house was managed by a team of overseers, who were responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the institution, including the management of the kitchen, the laundry, and the infirmary. The institution was also subject to regular inspections by the Massachusetts State Legislature, which ensured that the poor house was being operated in accordance with the Massachusetts Poor Law of 1794.

● Notable Inmates

The Boston Poor House was home to a number of notable inmates, including Crispus Attucks, who was a African American sailor and soldier who was killed during the Boston Massacre in 1770. Other notable inmates included Phillis Wheatley, who was a poet and abolitionist who was born into slavery in West Africa and was later freed by her owner, John Wheatley. The poor house was also home to a number of immigrants from Ireland and Scotland, who came to Boston seeking work and a better life, including those who arrived on ships like the Mayflower and the Columbia Rediviva. The institution was also associated with notable figures like Paul Revere, who was a silversmith and patriot who was involved in the American Revolution, and William Lloyd Garrison, who was an abolitionist and journalist who founded The Liberator in 1831.

● Closure and Legacy

The Boston Poor House was closed in 1864 and was replaced by a new institution, the Boston City Hospital, which was established in 1864 and was located on Harrison Avenue in the South End, Boston. The poor house was demolished in 1870 and the site was redeveloped for other uses, including the construction of the Boston Public Library, which was founded in 1854 and is one of the largest and most respected public libraries in the United States. The legacy of the Boston Poor House can be seen in the many social welfare institutions that were established in Boston during the 19th century, including the Salvation Army, which was founded in 1865 by William Booth and Catherine Booth. The poor house also played an important role in the development of social work as a profession, and was associated with notable figures like Jane Addams, who was a social worker and peace activist who founded Hull House in Chicago in 1889.

● Conditions and Reforms

The conditions at the Boston Poor House were often harsh and unsanitary, with overcrowding, poor ventilation, and inadequate food and medical care, which were similar to those found in other institutions like the New York City Almshouse and the Philadelphia Almshouse. The institution was also criticized for its treatment of women and children, who were often separated from their families and forced to work long hours in poor conditions, which was also a concern at other institutions like the Lowell Mills and the Lawrence Mills. Reforms were implemented in the mid-19th century, including the establishment of a new board of health and the appointment of a superintendent to oversee the institution, which was influenced by the work of Dorothea Dix, who was a nurse and social reformer who advocated for the improvement of mental health care in the United States. The poor house was also influenced by the Charity Organization Society, which was founded in 1881 by Josephine Shaw Lowell and other social reformers, and which aimed to improve the delivery of social services to the poor and needy.