Fairfield County Poorhouse, also known as the Fairfield County Infirmary, and later the Clarence E. Miller Building. The large brick structure served the residents of Fairfield County in some capacity for over 170 years until it was closed officially in late 2013.
1828- At the time township officers called “overseers of the poor” had the responsibility to care and ensure that the homeless and poor, in their townships, would receive food, clothing and medical care by contracts to the lowest bidder. They built a wooden building North of Lancaster in 1828 to properly care for these individuals.
1840- Over time the building could not keep up to capacity, and a large brick building was built in its place.
1865- The building was expanded on again and outbuildings were constructed for: laundry, tenant house, storage, and farming facilities. A farm across the road from the infirmary grew livestock and crops for the people that lived there.
1917- By this time, the farm brought in a total of $4,300 from the sale of crops and livestock. Natural gas lines were run to provide lighting and heat.
1926- 3,857 feet of pipe were laid to provide water to the infirmary.
1958- The infirmary finally for electricity.
1903- The population reached its record population of 82 “inmates”.
1924- A crazed inmate attacked the infirmary superintendent, striking him in the head with a bar he was using to stack hay, in the field across the street. Fellow inmates helped the superintendent while the other staff captured the inmate.
1929- March 22nd; 73-year-old Jane Householder opened a gas stove and caught her clothing on fire, two attendants smothered the flames with rugs. A doctor was called to come and care for her, but she died nine hours later. She was buried in behind the infirmary in the paupers cemetery, which is used for those that are not claimed by family or to poor for another.
1960s- The population of the residents began to slowly decrease over the last 30 years and the farmland across the street was sold to Ohio University.
1985- May; The facility closed and last 16 patents were sent to nursing homes or other facilities.
1986- The building was remodeled becoming the county health department for the next 27 years. A sprinkler system, enclosed stairwells, emergency lighting and a fire alarm were added. The building was now the Clarence E. Miller Building, after the former Congressman.
2011- The building had mold, crumbling walls, loose bricks and other concerns. The old infirmary needed an estimated $4 million to reconstruct.
2013- The health department leaves and the facility laid vacant since.
2016- There were several bids on the property, but all were rejected by county commissioners.
2018- The property was purchased by Habitat for Humanity, they hoped to use it for Halloween events and even bought the American Horror Story buses. You can see the authentic Twisty the Clown bus from Freak Show when you visit!
2019- Destination Fear came and filmed an episode.
2020- February; the building was purchased from Habitat for Humanity by Adam Kimmell, with a view to turning it into a full-time tourist attraction.
2020- March; After years of extensive restoration the infirmary was nominated to be part of the National Register of Historic Places.
Quick Overview:
The "inmates" as called in the 19th century, were admitted for a multitude of reasons, most common; both physical and mental health conditions, and drunkenness. Some spent the majority of their life at the poorhouse, many died due to medical conditions or old age. After death many of them were buried in the infirmary cemetery. The majority of burials were unmarked and only a few have tombstones stand today.
There were a variety of events made life at there tolerable, such as when county officials visited, they were come and eat dinner with the inmates. Christmas gifts were donated to by local Lancaster residents: as quoted from a Lancaster Eagle-Gazette article in 1927- “pathetic figures who have no longer any connection with the outside world.” Ice cream socials were held, local bands and orchestras played music, there was many events to "help" sooth the residents at Fairfield.
Abuse claims of residents being chained up, placed in holding cells, and beaten by the superintendent.
Haunted Activity
Many employees who work or have worked in the building claim people talk when no one else was in the building.
A ghost named “Willy” haunts the second and third floors. People believe he is one of the only tombstones in the cemetery with a name on it.
A woman wearing 1800s-style clothing with her hair in a bun has been spotted by several witnesses.
One woman who was working late one night looked up to see a little girl standing in the doorway. When the woman asked the little girl if she needed help, the girl vanished.
Many county employees were afraid to go into the attic due to a coldness and strange feeling about the place.
The second floor women’s restroom has the claim of the same feeling.
Of course there are disembodied voices, the smell of lavender, slamming of cell doors on the 3rd floor, and a 7 foot tall dark shadow figure in the attic.
Information gathered from roadsideamerica.com and asylumproject.org
Photos gathered from google images for Fairfield Infirmary
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