The County Poor Farm was called many different names such as Pauper Farm, found in the 1920 census for the county. The Daily Soliphone referred to it as Poor House. Whatever it might have been called it was created for good intentions in order to provide systematic and economical care for the poor and less fortunate. The County purchased in 1891 an eighty- five acre farm, three miles north of Paragould. The Greene Acres Nursing Home opened Nov. 25, 1957 when 10 poor farm residents were moved into the new 21 bed facility. To replace the Poor Farm with a modern facility. Organizations answered this appeal to help the unfortunate and formed a special committee with Donald Cox, manager of the Paragould Chamber of Commerce, as chairman. In addition Mrs. T.J. Dickey , J. Ed Thompson, Thomas E. Watson, Roy Garner, J.T. Brown, Tom Ballard, Mrs. Luther Cline, Rev. T. Watson Daniel, Jim Davis, John Easley, Joe Howard , Mrs. Earle D. McKelvey, W.G. Nutt, Dr. Donald I. Purcell, Mrs. L.V. Rhine served as the charter board members.

It is true in our time, as in Bible times that 'the poor we have always with us.' Early county records show numerous allotments for the care of paupers. That was supported by county funds'. Time and neglect with meager funding from the county had reduced the farm to a slum condition. When citizens learned of the deplorable conditions at the farm, they responded with donations of furniture, clothing and food. Repairs were made to the creaking old farmhouse. It became obvious that poor farms were outmoded and the elderly poor and sickened, less fortunate should be cared for in a more humane efficient manner. Below is a entry from Greene County Court Record, Book 1, p. 76 year 1877, is a sample.

On this day it is ordered by the Court that Richard E. Bearden be allowed the sum of Eight & 50/100 dollars per month from this date for keeping Lucy Lumpkin a pauper for the remainder of the year 1877, for which warrants may issue quarterly on the Pauper fund, and that said Bearden enter into sufficient bond conditioned for the faithful discharge of his duties as keeper of said pauper.

W.D. Newsom, was caretaker of the county poor farm when in the fall of 1899. The 85 acre farm had been purchased eight years earlier from T.R. Willcockson for $1,750 'to provide systematic and economical care for the poor' On what is now Fairview Road. In 1949, the citizens of Paragould and Greene County were suddenly made aware of the deterioration in the condition in which a group of elderly and ill people existed was published. The local Big Picture which had only just started publication, picked up on the story and published a series of photos showing the ramshackle house and the wretched state of the inmates, followed by a series of editorials on the responsibility of the county to these unfortunate people. Although attendants are hired for a part of the work, the inmates, also called wards in some census are expected to assist in so far as they are able.

At any rate, as controversy raged, it spilled over in the newspapers so the general public could get in on the matter. The Dec. 18, 1918 issue of the Paragould Soliphone featured an article with a Grand Jury report. It seems that the County Court had instructed a grand jury to investigate the condition of the Court House, the Jail and the Poor Farm. The jury reported that the Court House and the Jail were generally satisfactory but that the sanitary conditions of the poor farm were most atrocious. From the report of the Grand Jury:

We have also examined the county poor house and the inmates thereof . We found six old men ranging in the age from 64 to 86 years kept at the poor farm; and we regret to report that the general condition of everything pertaining thereto is in bad sanitary condition. The bed clothes are filthy; and we desire to especially call attention to the court to the case of one inmate of this farm: He is 75 years old, and is suffering from paralysis; but is compelled to lie in a bed fit for no human being to occupy, while the bedbugs and other vermin literally play hide and seek over his person...

Four days later, on Dec. 19, 1919, an article written by Dr. E. S. Baker, County Health Officer, appeared in defense of the poor farm. Dr. Baker had visited the farm many times in his capacity of health officer. He claimed the sanitary conditions were as good as possible taking in the consideration the inmates and their ideas of sanitation and cleanliness. He pointed out the farm received those persons who because of their perverseness of temper and habits, cannot live with their own children. Dr. Baker pointed out that the keepers of the farm had been needlessly criticized by uniform persons.

Turnover was high among those who managed the farm. The managers seemed to have viewed their task as an almost impossible one and certainly a thankless one. Bad publicity in the early 1950's, especially in the Commercial Appeal and the Big Picture, finally led to the farm's closing.

Jessie E. and Lottie Walters managed the farm approximately 1914 to 1918. The 1910 census shows that John L. and Belle Turberville were managers of the Poor Farm at that time. The 1900 census show Wm H. Newsom and his wife Annie were managers at that time. The Daily Press carried a brief article Oct. 4, 1920 issue indicating Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Curry were taking over the management. The location of the farm never changed it was located on the north side of what is now Fairview Road and proceed about four-tenths mile, off to the north about 200 yards you will see a small red building and a barn is where the farm was supposed to have been located.

ARKANSAS' POOR FARMS VISITED
by A.G. Weems

It was quite by accident that my arrival at the Greene County Ark., poor farm near Paragould coincided with the departure of the manager for the last six months, A.B. Holcomb. He had been notified less than a week previously of his dismissal by County Judge Harvey Farrell and was, infact, in the process of packing his belongings.

On the surface, this farm was like alot of others visited in Tennessee and Mississippi. It was worse than some, better than others. The 12 inmates, all white, occupy two cabins on the twenty acres. Each of these houses, though small, has a central lobby heated by a large wood stove, the inmates living in small unheated rooms opening off on three sides.

A much needed job of renovation had been started sometime before, but got no further than the one tiny room in which it began. There, the place had been cleaned, the walls and bed painted and curtains hung over the window. It looked much more livable than any of the others.

PARTING SAD FOR INMATES
And here's the ticklish part:
Holcomb, who had just been fired, said the judge had ordered the work stopped.The judge, who had dismissed him, said Holcomb had told him the work could not go on until the weather improved and the houses opened up. 'We don't see eye to eye,' the judge said.

I sat in one of the cabins and talked with the inmates, none of whom wanted Holcomb to leave.

'He's the only one who ever tried to take care of us right, one tearful old lady said, 'why do they have to take him away?' The others nodded or spoke in sad agreement.

Scheduled to take Holcomb's place was Johnny Smith, a previous caretaker at the farm.

A short time ago the Paragould Junior Chamber of Commerce showing intrest in the home, took furniture and clothing out and this, too, seemed to create something of a misunderstanding. In answer to a question, Judge Farrell replied:

'Of course, we are glad to accept donations from civic and church groups, but I want it clearly understood that the county is not appealing for donations. We are giving the people who live there everything they need.'

Jeptha Futrell Jr., president of the Jaycees, however, was apparently upset when told of Holcomb's dismissal. 'It just don't add up,' he said.

NO PHONE AVAILABLE
The farm, though located several miles out in the country, has no telephone and incase of illness the manager must make a trip into town for the doctor. The farm does not produce food needed on the place, though inmates are reported well fed. It is operated on a budget of $1600. However, Judge Farrell said it ran over $5000 last year, his reason for dismissing the manager who preceded Holcomb.

Two male residents are shown relaxing on the front porch of the men's house at the county poor farm. The man on the right has been identified as George Todd. Ray and Christine Cole (inset) were caretakers of the poor farm from 1942 to 1946.

Ray and Christine Cole were caretakers for the poor farm from 1942 - 1946. 'My dad got $50 a month plus room and board,' Gerald Cole said. 'He didn't do it for the money. He did it 'cause he wanted to. He was a successful salesman before we moved out there. Dad could go out and make $100 on any day he wanted to'. Ray Cole was known around the county as 'The Watkins Man,' selling household products door to door.

Cole said there were generally about a dozen inmates at the farm. 'We called them inmates back then,' Cole said they would be referred to as residents today.

Before the 'poor farm' was established, people who fell on hard times would be taken care of by someone who was reimbursed by the county. This entry, taken from History of Greene County, Arkansas by Vivian Hansbrough, is a sample: 'On this day it is ordered by the court that Richard E. Bearden be allowed the sum of Eight & 50/100 Dollars per month from this date for keeping Lucy Lumpkin a pauper for the remainder of the year 1877, for which warrants may issue quarterly on the Pauper fund, and that said Bearden enter into sufficient bond conditioned for the faithful discharge of his duties as keeper of said pauper.'

According to Hansbrough, the county purchased 85 acre farm three miles north of Paragould on what is now Fairview Road in 1891. This was 'to provide systematic and economical care for the poor.'

Cole said his father was also a 'truck patcher.' He loved to work a garden. He'd go out and sell a few items, then come back and hoe that garden.

'He raised vegetables for all of us to eat. We ate what the residents ate. We didn't get special treatment, except that we had our own house to live in.' There were seperate houses for the women and men.

Some of what they ate had also fallen on hard times. Cole remembers a turkey that wandered around the place. 'He was a mean thing. He'd always chase me, and sometimes he'd get to me and spur me. One day I was ready for him. When he came at me, I had a big stick and I sent him flying. We had turkey for three days.'

Although it was not required, the residents were encouraged to help out on the farm. Hansbrough wrote, 'Although attendants are hired for a part of the work, the inmates are expected to assist in so far as they are able.'

'There was one lady there who my mother encouraged to help out by scraping and drying the dishes. My mother told her it would do her good to be active.' He said she worked for awhile, but then started making excuses to get out of helping.

'She took to using crutches all the time. She would say her back was hurting too much to be able to stand to dry the dishes. One day she was hobbling across the yard and that mean ol' turkey, before I killed it, started to go after her. She threw those crutches into the air and started to run faster than you would believe. Funniest thing I ever saw,' Cole heartily laughed.

Cole remembers a cemetery on the northeast corner of the property. 'It was called a pauper's grave. It's been plowed over now. That's a shame, I think all cemeteries ought to be kept scared. Just because they were poor folks doesn't mean they shouldn't be treated with respect,' Cole said.

'We used that cemetery to bury a baby one time,' Cole said. 'Someone had found this baby -- on Eight Mile Creek, I think -- in a laundry bag. It was dead. They brought it to us. We had to bury it in an orange crate.'

The county poor farm was eliminated with the establishing of Greene Acres Nursing Home in 1957.