There is a book titled, "The Sussex County Alms House" compiled by Phyllis M & R. John Stanaback, 1990. It records that in March of 1832 a house and land were purchased from John D. and Mary Struble in Frankford Township at a cost of $30.00 an acre for a total amount of $10,017.80. The stone farmhouse on the property was built by an Augusta tavern keeper, Abram Bray. The Almshouse was occupied in the spring of 1833, and the Freeholders announced in the newspapers that the paupers of Walpeck, Sandyston and Montague would be admitted April 15, those of Stillwater and Wantage on the 16th, Green and Hardyston on the 17th, Byram and Newton on the 18th, Vernon and Frankford on the 19th, and the announcement added, "All must be thoroughly washed and cleansed from dirt, filth and vermin." Records indicate that for more than a century entire families, women with one or more children, along with elderly men and women were housed at the Poor House - in some instances for a few days, while many stayed for years. Separate quarters were provided for men and women. They received plain but wholesome food, sufficient clothing and clean sleeping accommodations. In return they were required to do such work as they were physically able to do, which could include farm work, working in the slate quarry, or saw mill. At the turn of the century school was held on the top floor. From 1833 until 1900 the dead were either taken by their families or buried in the "cemetery attached to the Institution," which is a potters field with unmarked graves. From 1900 until 1955 they were buried in the cemetery across the street with graves. The book shows admissions, births, deaths, etc at the Alms House. It can be found at the Sussex County Historical Society Library in Newton and likely other libraries in the area. Annette Ely Schaumann