Inmates' Work by ncr staff

1) Introduction (1:14)
a) John Miller’s father was hired to manage the farm operations of the County Home in 1932.
b) He became superintendent of the entire facility and served until his death in 1960.
c) His widow, Lillian C. Miller, took his place for a few years before Mr. Miller himself took over.
2) Operation of the Farm (3:20)
a) Farm and dairy farm
b) Provided milk for the Home, the Tuberculosis Sanatorium, and a women’s reformatory across Tryon St.
c) Incarcerated women did laundry service for the county
3) Inadequate Care for Mentally Ill (3:28)
a) Families not usually part of the patient mix in the 1930’s
b) Jail cells used to isolate mentally ill – no other treatment
c) Under Mr. Miller, Sr., the incarcerated residents were sent to Broughton or Goldsboro.
4) Physicians (1:54)
a) Dr. McLaughlin put in the most years of service
b) He served all the County institutions and maintained a private practice
5) Reports + Fire Prevention (1:34)
a) Grand Jury conducted yearly inspections.
b) New building with improved fire prevention measures installed during father’s administration.
6) Crops Raised (1:35)
a) 25-40 acres of garden: beans, squash, tomatoes, okra
b) Hands made $0.75/day during the Depression
c) Corn, grain, hay grown
d) “10-mule farm” – based on calculation that one hand with one mule could plow 15 acres.
7) Inmates’ Work (2:52)
a) One could paint, one was a blacksmith, another did repairs
b) After 1950, “inmates” became “patients”
c) 1960, “County Home” became “Greenacres Rest Home”
d) Cemetery on the grounds
8) Inmates’ Quality of Life (3:28)
a) Ratio of men to women
b) Durations of stays in County Home
c) Care of the sick and terminally ill
d) Notable residents
9) Farm Work, Diet (2:38)
a) Snapping peas, peeling peaches
b) Cannery operation at the Home
10) Worship Services + Movies (1:16)
a) Local churches supplied pastors on a rotating basis
b) Theater-operators would show movies once a month
11) Changing Conditions (3:04)
a) Physical condition of residents changed over the years
b) Social Security, public housing reduced number of residents there out of economic need
12) Social Security (2:21)
a) Listening to the elderly
b) The effect of Social Security
c) White liquor, playing cards
13) Stories (4:09)
a) Attended elementary through high school at Newell.
b) Stories of residents walking off, or of assuming responsibilities in the Home
14) Managing the Home (4:17)
a) Dismissal of Superintendent in 1932
b) State and Federal cost-sharing
c) Rising cost of care at Green Acres
15) Growth in University Area (3:26)
a) Increase in land values in area.
b) “People of vision” in Charlotte
c) Water and sewerage key to development
16) Suppliers to the Home (1:10)
a) Bid Process for wholesale goods
b) Purchase and dispensing of drugs
17) Integration of the Home (3:04)
a) 1961 - New addition to existing building for black patients
b) Late 1960s, gradual desegregation under pressure from federal government
c) “We made it work”
18) Lakes at County Home (2:05)
a) Two lakes at two different times:
b) One was a WPA project, which was later filled in
c) A second was built by Blythe Construction
19) End of Green Acres (4:20)
a) Became Private Facility in 1962
b) Mecklenburg County reassumed responsibility [1972]
c) Hospital built on site, patients relocated