Ibbotson - Eloise

THE FIRST POORHOUSE, 18321838. This ramshackle building was located on part of the Leib farm at Gratiot and Mt. Elliott streets in Detroit. The cholera epidemic of 1834 caused over 50 children to be made orphans and many were sent to the poorhouse. In 1837, there were 80100 inmates in the poorhouse. More space was needed, but land was expensive in the city so a move was made to the country.

THE REVEREND MARTIN KUNDIG. Kundig was a noted Detroit clergyman and humanitarian. Known for his heroic work during the cholera epidemic, he was also the first commissioner of the poor. He did not limit his expenditures to the small amount he was allotted by the County, but spent his own monies on the poor. As a result, he went into debt and his personal property was seized and sold at auction. Fr. Kundig left Detroit for Milwaukee in 1842 and later repaid all his Detroit debts.

THE BLACK HORSE TAVERN, 1828. This wooden log cabin and land were purchased in February 1839 for $800. The tavern was run by Samuel S. and Nancy Torbert. The Detroit and Ypsilanti four-horse stage stopped here on its daily trips to allow passengers a short rest. Tales were told of whisky sold at 15 a gallon and a free-for-all fight an hourly occurrence at the Black Horse Tavern. This site was in Nankin Township 16 miles from Detroit.

THE SECOND POORHOUSE OR COUNTY HOUSE, 1838. The log cabin, which was formerly the Black Horse Tavern, became the keepers quarters and in 1838-39 a frame building was put up to house the inmates. A frame cookhouse was erected in back of the log building and was used for cooking for both inmates and the keepers family.

THE THIRD COUNTY HOUSE, 1845. In 1843 the old Black Horse Tavern was sold to a Mr. La Platt for the princely sum of $2. This new brick building built on the site housed the keeper and his family and the old and feeble inmates. Other inmates were housed in the frame building. A portion of the basement of the new brick building was used to house drunks and unruly inmates and chains were fastened to the walls.

EXTENSION OF THIRD COUNTY HOUSE, 1856. Ten years after the third county house was built, more space was needed, so this brick extension to the east was added in 1856. It had a finished basement with a dining room, bakery and furnace room and was surrounded by a whitewashed fence. A vegetable garden and cherry orchard were in front.

KEEPERS RESIDENCE IN FRONT OF THIRD COUNTY HOUSE, 1865. A.L. Chase, the keeper at the time, was the first to occupy this addition. In addition to housing the keeper, the building provided an office and storeroom for the clerk, and a room for the Superintendents of the Poor to meet. There was also a bedroom that was used by the resident physician in later years.

COUNTY ASYLUM AND POORHOUSE, 1876. A birds-eye view of the Third County House after the main building and wings were raised to three stories. The drawing is from H. Belden & Co.s Wayne County Atlas .

ANOTHER VIEW OF THE COUNTY ASYLUM AND POORHOUSE, 1876. This drawing also appeared in H. Belden & Co.s Wayne County Atlas . The center of the building was erected in 1868 and the wings in 1876.

FARM GREENHOUSE, 1917. A farm was kept from 1839 on to feed the inmates. The first crops grown were peas, corn, oats, onions, beets, rutabagas, and pickles. The farm expanded as the population increased. The farm greenhouse enabled the hospital to advance the growing season three to four weeks in the growing of crops. The frame barn in the rear was erected in 1876.

VIEW OF HOLSTEIN-FRIESIAN HERD, 1912. In 1898 eight cows and bulls of the Holstein-Fresian breed were purchased to produce wholesome milk economically for the patients of Eloise. This herd quickly grew in size to over 100 by 1917 and some were exhibited at the Michigan State Fair. The grain barn, built in 1875, and other farm buildings are in seen the background.