By RAY ADLER
Ask Adler
What is the little structure on the east side of the courthouse square? It is a bell from the Hamilton County Old Folks Home. The Old Folks Home was the home for elderly paupers who didn’t have family able to help them or money to pay somebody to do so. It was a precursor to modern day nursing and assisted living facilities.
The Home was located on the site of the current Noblesville High School on North Cumberland Road in Noblesville. It was built in 1857 with additions in 1878, 1903, 1905 and 1910 and was deactivated in 1983. It was reported to the County Commissioners in 1985 that it was a fire hazard and should be bulldozed. I recall making the remark that it had existed for more than 125 years without burning, so it couldn’t be a fire hazard. Approximately two weeks later, it burned to the ground. Wisdom comes from experience and experience comes from mistakes.
Philip Henderson, as president of the County Commissioners, was the moving force behind creating the bell housing and was joined by commissioners George Stevens and Jere Roudebush. Roscoe Moorhouse’s company did the actual construction work.
The Home had a large garden, and those that were able to do so helped raise the food to offset the cost to the county to maintain the facility. The dinner bell was a signal to come in for a meal. Dinner bells and County Homes are part of our past.