New Exhibit Explores Erie County Almshouse and the Origins of UB's South Campus

by DENISE WOLFE

A new exhibit now on display in the lower level of Abbott Library traces the history of the Erie County Almshouse and its lasting connection to the University at Buffalo.

Foundations of an Institution: The Erie County Almshouse and UB's Main Street Campus, 1851-1926 examines one of Buffalo's lesser-known historical institutions and the land it once occupied.

The Erie County Almshouse was established in 1829 at the intersection of Fargo and Porter streets on what is now Buffalo's West Side. By 1851, it had relocated to Main Street, the present site of UB's South Campus.

Between 1851 and 1926, the Almshouse aided more than 180,000 men, women and children, providing shelter, food and, at times, medical care to needy residents at little or no cost. In return, residents — also referred to as "inmates" — were expected to contribute to Almshouse operations through farm work and manual labor. The complex eventually grew to include an insane asylum, hospitals, consumptive wards, a working farm and a cemetery. 

In 1909, UB acquired 106 acres of the Main Street property. The Almshouse officially relocated to Alden, N.Y., in 1926.

The exhibit features photographs, maps and institutional ledgers that offer a glimpse into the Almshouse era, while also highlighting what remains on the property today.