This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/0dB.2ACI/4098.2 Message Board Post: I believe all or almost all of the Pennsylvania counties had a county home which was often known as the "poor house" or "poor farm". In the days before social secutity, unemployment benefits, and other social programs, people often had no choice but to go to the poor farm. Entire families might be there if a father lost his job or died and often the inmates were old, ill, had mental problems or were alcoholic.Most of these county homes are still in existence. They are usually still run or at least supervised by the county comissioners in some way and serve as nursing homes. Most are remodeled or have new buildings and facilities and care is usually comparable to private nursing homes. The county nursing homes have been renamed--probably to take away the stigma that was attached to being in a county home. The one in Venango County is now called Sugarcreek Station. I live in York County and the county home here is called Pleasant Acres. Formerlly I lived in Cambria County wh! ere the county home is called Laurelcrest Manor. The U.S.GenWeb site for Venango County has some good information on the Venango County Home. On the left hand side of the page click on "Poor Farm" and you will see a picture of the old original county home building which has been extensively remodeled and is still in use along with a newer building. That site also has a list of burials in the Venango County Home cemetery. Many of the county homes have old cemeteries and some still have an occasional burial. I have checked with the county homes in Venango County and Cambria County and they have good records on the people who were inmates. If you are related to a former inmate, I think they would allow you to see the old record books.