Van Buren County Poorhouse

Constructed in 1884 as the county poorhouse and infirmary, this building housed people who were indigent or had intellectual or developmental disabilities. Residents performed many tasks, including working on the grounds and the adjacent farm. They produced much of the poorhouse’s food. The building operated as a county social welfare office from 1951 to 1958, reflecting society’s changing methods of aiding the poor. In 1973 the Van Buren County Historical Museum moved into the structure.