ASHLAND — There have been three different Ashland County Homes erected along Route 60 north of the Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center over the years.
The first was built in 1850 and no known photos exist, but it has been described as a two-story, brick structure.
Counties often ran a home referred to then as the “infirmary or poor house” which were publicly funded. These structuers housed paupers, the elderly, and physically or mentally ill who would have otherwise been homeless. Eventually, mentally ill patients were placed in more specialized institutions.
Infirmary residents were expected to help on the farm and do household chores if they were able. This helped make the property more self-sufficient and also reduced operational costs.
The oldest documented person who resided at both the first and second infirmaries was well-known in the area. Alexander Lyons was born in eastern Pennsylvania and later lived in the “Pine Hills” area near Loudonville. He resided within the household of Hannah Carnagy according to 1850 Census records.
At the age of 70, he was taken in at the infirmary on Dec. 31, 1851. According to records from 1901, he was still living at the infirmary and 120 years old. This was also verified by some of his distant relatives.
“Old Alex” as he was called loved milk and Johnnycake as well as his tobacco but was reportedly afraid of thunderstorms and guns. He earned his keep at the infirmary by driving cows and cutting kindling wood.
By 1897, the first county home had been condemned due to extremely poor living conditions and the building of a new structure was started. Alex was transferred to the new facility.
Many people often pondered how long Old Alex would live. According to death records he passed away at the infirmary on Feb. 1, 1905 after never really having been sick as far as anyone who knew him was aware.
Another gentleman who became a resident at this second facility who probably knew Alex Lyons was a man named Albert Newman. He moved in sometime in 1899.
According to Albert, he was a former slave from Virginia who had been sold on the block twice before the Civil War even started. The second time he was sold for $500 in 1853. After the Civil War ended, he was freed and moved from Virginia to Pennsylvania. From there Albert came to Ohio with the Shuey family who lived on US 250, east of Ashland.
He stayed with them for 14 years.
Albert was happy with his lot in life and felt he had a good home at the infirmary. He was described as an industrious, patient, and very kind-hearted old gentleman who helped care for the livestock.
Albert did not know exactly how old he was but when he was sold in 1853, his master told him he was 25 years old. If that was true, Albert was 74 years old when he passed away at the infirmary in 1902 but many believed he was closer to 90 years old. Albert was never married and was buried in the cemetery on the infirmary farm.
The infirmary where both these men lived was finally torn down and in 1975. The third county home was erected and named the Heartland Home. By this time the stigma of it being the “poor house” was gone and its inhabitants were referred to as residents. The Heartland Home was closed March 31, 2009 and residents were moved to more appropriate facilities to match their individual needs.
