Hi all, Thank you all for the kind responses to my questions. Here is a summary of what I was told: George R. Farr, Historian, Town of Elmira sent the following: "There are no records that have survived the Chemung County Poorhouse. Those that did exist were lost in the 1972 flood. As far as why someone would end up there even if they had family, it is simply a case of the family either not wanting to care for them at home or not financially able to do so. The poor house was more than just for people who were poor. It was in many cases for older people who had no money and no where to go and no one to take care of them. Social Security did not go into effect until the mid 1930s. People who died there wouldn't necessarily be buried in the poor house cemetery. Their family may have at least had them buried in a regular cemetery. There is no list available for the poor house cemetery. Each marker there has a number and 2 letters." I was also told it was a very nice place by someone whe worked there in the 1960s. "it was family run and people that were able could work in the gardens... and care for the animals, It was self sufficent and they raised their own produce ,Meat and milk." The manager died and it was turned back to the city and another facility opened in Elmira. Another person said: "Looking at "Chemung County History 1890-1975" by Byrne, on p434 it says the County Home at Breesport began in 1837 with purchase of 178 acres and included a large farm operation until 1960 when this part was ended. The facility closed in July 1971 when a new facility opened in Elmira." Someone else said the cemetery closed in 1934. The building still stands in disrepair. I also found the following on the Tri-Couties site: Our County and its People, A History of the Valley and County of Chemung, by Ausburn Towner, 1892, PART V, THE TOWNSHIPS, TOWN OF HORSEHEADS, CHAPTER IV page 491-2 The poorhouse was located in Breesport in 1836, at the time of the organization of the county. There were three superintendents then, Wyatt Carr, James Van Etten, and George Coryell. A farm of 180 acres was purchased of Robert Lindsley. At the time there was a log house on the land. A stone foundation was put under it, a small addition was built, and it was so used as the county house for many years. In the course of time other buildings were put up. Joseph Rodbourn was Superintendent in 1861, and that year he began building the present wooden structure, He was authorized by the supervisors to use a sufficient sum out of the excise fund to complete it. This was accomplished in 1862. In 1888 a new brick house was erected, which is complete in all respects for the purposes for which it is intended. On January 27, 1891, it had ninety-six inmates - seventy-three men and twenty-three women, The present officers are: Superintendent, Eugene Atkins; keeper, Harvey Coleman; matron, Miss Belle Roushey; physician N. S. Messenger; chaplain, the Rev. James Shewsmith. Maybe someone will turn up an old copy of the cemetery listings or some other records in their attics, but I suppose that is too much to hope for. Sandy Heaxt, Cantonment, FL (formerly of Elmira and Horseheads, NY)