Brian Hall on Instagram: "𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐏𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦 Established in 1871, the Shawnee County Poor Farm was located about five miles north of Topeka, tucked among the hills of Indian Creek and Pleasant Hill. Originally housed in a decent sized farmhouse, the poor farm became part of a network in Shawnee County, taking residents from the state asylum, the Boy's Industrial School, and a private asylum in North Topeka. Like with most poor farms, residents worked in order to earn their stay. Farming, nursing, cleaning, cooking, everything was done by the residents. Seeing a need for expansion, a new brick building was begun in 1920 and completed in 1923. Men resided on the west side of the building, women on the east with infirmary rooms in the center. The poor farm closed in 1941 but reopened in 1945 as the Shawnee County Infirmary. Fannie Lawrence was the director of the infirmary until it closed in 1974. On the last day, a tree was planted in front of the building. That tree, today, is the large maple tree in the first picture. The building reopened again the following year as the Shawnee North Community Center. Dormitories for residents now host preschools, camps, and weight rooms. The poor farm had a small cemetery, reportedly directly in front of the building. It was established in 1871 when Michael Rourke died on April 17. Reportedly, most of the graves were moved to Rochester Cemetery but neither the county or Rochester have proof that happened. 1)The south façade of Shawnee North, showing the maple tree planted in 1974. 2)A side of the front stairs looking west. 3)The windows of what used to be the sick ward. You can see where bars would go across the windows. 4)A bricked-up window. It's theorized this was a way to pass perishables from the storage shed to the pantry. 5)The north façade looking toward the west wing. 6)One of the chimneys. Most have been sealed up or removed. 7)A newer window where an old window used to be. 8)A coal chute. 9)The east wing sleeping porches. #ShawneeCounty #poorfarms #history #Kansas #hospitals #parks #communitycenter"

3 likes, 1 comments - Brian Hall (@tauycreek) on Instagram: "𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐏𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐚𝐫�..."