Poor House Story

History of the Poor House

The Wellington County Museum and Archives is a National Historic Site, located in the oldest remaining rural House of Industry and Refuge in Canada. Commonly known as the Poor House, this building was built in 1877 as a place for the poor, homeless, and destitute people of Wellington County. Approximately 1,400 men, women, and children sought refuge here from 1877 until 1947.

Group portrait of Poor House Inmates in front of the stone wash house, circa 1916 — Inmates of the Poor House, photographed by Elora photographer John Connon circa 1916. The stone building behind the inmates is the stone wash house, which was demolished in the 1950s. Ph 9276, 9277, 9279.

The Industrial Farm

The Poor House was designed to operate as a self-sufficient industrial farm, with thirty acres under cultivation. Crops like oats, turnips, wheat, hay, potatoes, carrots, peas, and sugar beet mangolds were grown, and an orchard with 100 trees provided apples. Chickens, pigs, and cows provided eggs, meat, and fresh butter, and any surplus was sold in town to offset the cost of purchasing staples like sugar, coffee, and bread.

An old archival photo showing the original Poor House building, front walkway, barn and tressle bridge railroad — The Poor House and Industrial Farm circa 1908-1912. At this point in time the hospital wing extension (right) is completed, the front lawn is an apple orchard, and the outhouses are located in the small building at the far left, beside the barn. Ph 13402.

Cemetery

At the edge of the property, a cemetery was established for residents of the Poor House who had no family to claim their remains at death. 271 men, women and children were buried here. To learn more about their stories, take a short 6-minute walk on the Museum Trail to the cemetery or visit the House of Industry and Refuge Resident Database.

Large stone gravestone reading "In memory of the pioneers of this 1877 to 1946county who died in wellington home

From Poor House to Present Day

In 1947, the House of Industry was renamed to the Wellington County Home for the Aged, and the term 'inmate' was officially replaced with 'resident.' The Home closed in 1971, and the residents were transferred to a new senior's home in Elora called the Wellington Terrace. In 1975, the building re-opened as the new home of the County Museum.

Our site continues to evolve. A new Archives wing opened in 2010, the Heritage Barn opened as a seasonal public exhibit in 2011, the original 1918 Poultry House was restored in 2020, and a playground was added in 2023.

Agricultural equipment on display inside heritage barn.

Book cover for "If these walls could talk" on display in front of museum

Frequently Asked Questions

The history of the Poor House is complex and research is ongoing to discover more details about the House and the people who lived there. Although much is known about the site's history, many questions remain. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the Poor House.

What did people do before the Poor House was built?

Municipalities provided meagre assistance to those in need, such as providing basic groceries, weekly loads of firewood, or waiving property taxes so that people could continue to stay in their homes. This assistance was deliberately kept to a minimum to discourage the poor from becoming dependent on public charity.

Before the Poor House opened in 1877, when no other shelter was available, the homeless destitute were sentenced to the County Jail, especially over the winter months.

Who was allowed to live in the House?

Why were the residents called inmates?

Who ran the House?

The House was run by a Keeper and Matron, a married couple who lived in the House with their children. The Keeper was responsible for all aspects of running the farm, including planting and harvesting crops, caring for the livestock, and assigning daily farm chores to the male inmates and hired farm help. The Matron oversaw all operation inside the House, supervising the female inmates and hired domestic staff in daily chores including cooking, cleaning, laundry, and caring for ill inmates.

Could people leave the Poor House?

Were there children in the House?

Nearly 200 children were admitted to the House between 1877 and 1898, after which point children were entrusted to the care of the Children’s Aid Society or orphanages. About 50 children from the Poor House were bound out to local families as farm and domestic servants. Most were at least eight years old before they were bound out, but some younger children were adopted permanently into local families. About a dozen children were returned to the House by dissatisfied families, only to be sent out again to new placements.

What happened to people who died at the House?

Over 570 people died in the House, mostly due to old age and chronic afflictions like heart disease and tuberculosis. The remains of about 300 inmates were claimed by family members and buried in local cemeteries throughout the County. The remaining 271 inmates were buried in a cemetery on site, which is open to visitors and stands as a memorial to the men, women, and children who lived and died at the Poor House.