In a message dated 02/24/2000 4:01:25 PM Mountain Standard Time, bafosnocht@email.msn.com writes: << PADUTCHgenONLY-L@rootsweb.com >> Hi, The information I have is that the Berks County Poor House opened in Shillington in 1825 and closed in 1951. A new facility opened in Bern Twp. at that time. In addition to being a Poor House, it served as a hospital and an insane asylum. I have heard that it served as the inspiration for one of John Updike's novels (can't remember which one at the moment). I have seen a bio on one of my shirttail kin that says he was elected "a director of the poor of Berks County" in November 1908, and served in that position for three years. I would imagine he had something to do with the operation of the Poor House in that position. Jay