tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834267977604421778.post8995229166734657171..comments2023-12-16T15:55:01.741-08:00Comments on Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy: The Online Diary of a Central Oregon Grandmother: John Riley, 1898: First the Poor Farm and then The Oregon State Insane AsylumOregon Gifts of Comfort and Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07171271956883698673noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834267977604421778.post-30165124437893856992014-02-09T11:14:23.956-08:002014-02-09T11:14:23.956-08:00Hi Ms. Kathy,
The Douglas County Genealogical So...Hi Ms. Kathy,<br /> <br />The Douglas County Genealogical Society has asked that I do some research on the Douglas County Poor Farm. In so doing, I have found your web page on John Riley. As I am sure you now know, the “Cleveland” mentioned by the County Judge, is a area, now off Melqua Road and with a Roseburg, Oregon mailing address.<br /> <br />I am seeking permission to utilize some of your material on the captioned subject for my finding on the Douglas County poor Farm. Specifically, I would like to utilize one letter from Judge Starnes to John Letsom?<br /> <br />Your web page on John Riley is marvelous. If you would ever allow the Douglas County Genealogical Society permission to use that page in their printed material, I am certain that they would be very pleased.<br /> <br />Thanks for your consideration,<br /> <br />John Urbaniak<br />Roseburg, OregonOregon Gifts of Comfort and Joyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07171271956883698673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834267977604421778.post-74123226962234594322013-03-30T06:02:10.789-07:002013-03-30T06:02:10.789-07:00Kathy - I forgot to mention that there are also tw...Kathy - I forgot to mention that there are also two beautiful historic cemeteries on Melqua Rd - the Cleveland cemetery nearer the south end and the Coles Valley Cemetery on the north end. <br /> <br />good luck in your search - I haven't found much out about the Cleveland poor farm - but I also haven't had time to visit the Douglas Historical resources in Roseburg. If you ever get a chance to drive Melqua Rd - the "poor farm" is just past (or north) of the confluence of the south and north Umpqua rivers - you can see the confluence and the county park across the river from Melqua Rd. The poor farm property is the next strip of land along Melqua Rd and has a large barn at the road. The old house sits back nearer the river. The barn has an interesting piece of statuary in the barnyard - a bull I believe. Directly across the road is a driveway that goes to a home that you cannot see uphill - but you'll surely remember. The owner is a local celebrity of sorts - an artist that is responsible for many concrete over fiberglass statues that you see along his driveway, in the poor farm barnyard and further along Melqua Rd in the fields. I believe that the artist probably now owns the poor farm property. <br /> <br />Just some local color!<br /> <br />RobertaOregon Gifts of Comfort and Joyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07171271956883698673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834267977604421778.post-36497334128935617242013-03-30T05:58:36.539-07:002013-03-30T05:58:36.539-07:00I really enjoyed your blog - I found it while sear...I really enjoyed your blog - I found it while searching for the roots of what our neighbors call the "poor farm" down the road where I just moved.<br /> <br />If you mapquest "Cleveland, Oregon" you get the area where we recently built a home on Youngs Lane, Roseburg. About 3 miles east of us, along Melqua Road toward Roseburg there is an old farm along the Umpqua River locally known as the poor farm. Since even the UPS guy knows this area as Cleveland, it might be that your story about getting sent to the "Cleveland poor farm" might be the poor farm right here in the Roseburg area - much closer than Medford or Grants Pass. <br /> <br />Just a thought!<br /> <br />Roberta WatsonOregon Gifts of Comfort and Joyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07171271956883698673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834267977604421778.post-79526896133247466792012-07-13T20:54:00.197-07:002012-07-13T20:54:00.197-07:00Love your site, and my g-grandfather is listed as ...Love your site, and my g-grandfather is listed as dying in the Umatilla County Poor farm 1933, this location was on the city outskirts of Pendleton, Oregon<br /><br />Thanks again for your hard work and beautiful posting. PennyPennynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834267977604421778.post-4875543595774883782012-04-22T18:38:16.335-07:002012-04-22T18:38:16.335-07:00fascinating history and documents. I'm also st...fascinating history and documents. I'm also struck by how color changes how we see photos of old buildings. Less foreboding in color!Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11954692169914973706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834267977604421778.post-3564516576650903872012-04-22T15:33:23.341-07:002012-04-22T15:33:23.341-07:00I see I'm not the only one dropping a heap of ...I see I'm not the only one dropping a heap of info for people to see and read. <br />BTW: much liked that postcard in that other post linking here. What a grand place.<br /><br />I guess your Mister Riley suffered from depression. But I warrant such places would be full, given the state of the economy and how people are suffering from the inequality existing in our/your/their system.<br /><br />BTW: that great grandpa of yours look mean, while the missus look sad. Your input???<br />:/~<br />HUGZBruno Lalibertéhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09607511642101907283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834267977604421778.post-70294978483740677322012-04-22T04:28:39.533-07:002012-04-22T04:28:39.533-07:00Fascinating post - I'd not hear of poor farms ...Fascinating post - I'd not hear of poor farms before.Wibbohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02276903940866394424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834267977604421778.post-50768126097317568162012-04-21T17:09:16.701-07:002012-04-21T17:09:16.701-07:00Sad to think that it's possible Mr. Riley didn...Sad to think that it's possible Mr. Riley didn't not suffer mental problems and could have been housed for something as confusing as epilepsy. All the lives that were destroyed over decades because medical science and the state did not have the best interest of their wards.Tattered and Losthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00208918251232477186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834267977604421778.post-80537672658653367172012-04-20T21:20:07.377-07:002012-04-20T21:20:07.377-07:00Absolutely fascinating. I think Postcardy is right...Absolutely fascinating. I think Postcardy is right - nowadays Mr. Riley would have just ended up homeless. Thanks so much for this wonderful post.Christine H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09786732494496282743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834267977604421778.post-42471610823613486312012-04-20T18:05:18.990-07:002012-04-20T18:05:18.990-07:00I remember when I was growing up we had a Poor Hou...I remember when I was growing up we had a Poor House in our town. That was in the 40's and 50's. That eventually became a nursing home at that location and is still there today. Wish I had as much info in my genealogy collection as you have.<br />QMMAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04721708092323894355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834267977604421778.post-74758196703617679002012-04-20T12:27:28.251-07:002012-04-20T12:27:28.251-07:00I knew about poor farms, but I didn't know abo...I knew about poor farms, but I didn't know about unrelated guardians. Nowadays, Mr. Riley might just end up homeless and on the street.Postcardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16399915833682943432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834267977604421778.post-22563149255148326682012-04-20T08:05:29.589-07:002012-04-20T08:05:29.589-07:00Oh no! A tale from bad to worse! I have heard abou...Oh no! A tale from bad to worse! I have heard about such poor farms, which many around where a good thing, when family couldn't help and much better than taking to living in the streets, right? I also have heard/read about those asylums or places for depressed people, like mud treatments or something. But such a story you have detailed so excellently with great letters, (gotta love their spelling at times) and thankfully we don't send people away to asylums as easily as they did back then! What a delightful history lesson I always get here! Thanks Kathy!21 Witshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00071361755673253230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834267977604421778.post-40356535537305413792012-04-20T00:17:26.097-07:002012-04-20T00:17:26.097-07:00What a story, Kathy. It must have taken some work ...What a story, Kathy. It must have taken some work to put it together. I guess the poor farms were a different version of our work houses in the 1800s which Dickens had a lot to say about. We had equally harsh names for our hospitals - lunatic asylums rather than insane asylums.<br />Great post.Bob Scotneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00662958579705940009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834267977604421778.post-50203012343688458082012-04-19T09:56:49.493-07:002012-04-19T09:56:49.493-07:00Wow, Kathie, such an interesting story. and you ha...Wow, Kathie, such an interesting story. and you have so many great letters from so long ago. what treasures. but poor Mr.Riley. I'll bet he wasn't really insane. I'd seen insane too, if they sent me away from my kids to a poor farm. <br />Nancy JavierNorth County Film Clubhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13683794164957833415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834267977604421778.post-15812605897822150682012-04-19T06:32:22.114-07:002012-04-19T06:32:22.114-07:00I’ve learned something new again Kathy! I’d never ...I’ve learned something new again Kathy! I’d never heard of Poor Farms, and it seems you have your work cut out trying to find out about this transaction. There are a lot of unanswered questions. Your grandfather seems to have been a benefactor of some sort, but I wonder how he got involved. Poor old John Riley. I’m sure you’ll be posting about him again!Little Nellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11862657943846727987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834267977604421778.post-19880448752063810812012-04-19T03:39:56.079-07:002012-04-19T03:39:56.079-07:00We have it so good nowadays. I can't imagine ...We have it so good nowadays. I can't imagine living in those conditions! Very good post.Rosiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06015301472659256675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834267977604421778.post-69027255421114080622012-04-18T16:28:34.304-07:002012-04-18T16:28:34.304-07:00p.s. Thank goodness there are no more poor houses...p.s. Thank goodness there are no more poor houses... otherwise I'd be in one! ;)<br />and that there are no more insane asylums... otherwise my son would put me in one! ;)<br />gvGloriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05089446185793581415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834267977604421778.post-20057480505725439132012-04-18T16:27:04.135-07:002012-04-18T16:27:04.135-07:00SO interesting, Kathy! I feel so badly for John Ri...SO interesting, Kathy! I feel so badly for John Riley though! It seems there was no one on his side at the Poor Farm or Asylum... I still don't understand how your great grandfather got to be his Guardian though, or why he'd WANT to be! It seems like your GG even had to PAY to be is guardian! Plus that seems like a big responsibility to be someone's guardian and worrying about the person's kids and all. I wonder why they wouldn't let your GG sell Riley's farm/crops to give the money to Riley's kids, you know? Man, it is like a mystery! Maybe you will find out more as your go over more letters and things. Good luck, it's a big job sorting through everything! VERY interesting story though.<br />Best,<br />GloriaGloriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05089446185793581415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834267977604421778.post-6814143370371469822012-04-18T12:28:39.572-07:002012-04-18T12:28:39.572-07:00Such an interesting and puzzling story about poor ...Such an interesting and puzzling story about poor Mr. Riley. There were poor houses in Virginia too, but I don't know of any pictures. I'll have to look into that.Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17863357756727783017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834267977604421778.post-29269075925246137152012-04-18T11:33:07.949-07:002012-04-18T11:33:07.949-07:00Very interesting post.
I never knew that there wer...Very interesting post.<br />I never knew that there were poor farms!Tammyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05273525995021787486noreply@blogger.com