Greene County Almshouse Township Rd. TR156A, Carrollton (Greene County) This 1870 brick Italianate is one of only a few surviving buildings in Illinois constructed by county governments to house and care for the poor and indigent. County almshouses were first established in 1839, pre-dating Jane Addams’ Hull House in Chicago by 50 years. Male and female paupers would work on the surrounding farm to provide for themselves; children would attend community schools. Mentally impaired citizens were integrated rather than left in seclusion. The farming operations declined when almshouses were converted for use as elderly care facilities in the early 1900s. This building was abandoned in the 1950s, when the number of residents requiring county assistance dwindled. Over the years, this county-owned building has fallen into an advanced state of disrepair, as evidenced by the collapsed porch, graffiti, and missing windows. The remaining land is leased to a tenant farmer who would like to expand agricultural operations if the historic building is demolished.

Links: Landmarks Illinois | Greene County Economic Development Group | Western Illinois Tourism | Greene County Illinois | Illinois Tourism