Columbiana County Infirmary

Last updated on February 27, 2026

The Columbiana County Infirmary, established for the aged and disabled indigent, was located in Columbiana County, Ohio.

History

In 1816, the State of Ohio enacted legislation requiring counties to provide care for the indigent and mentally ill within their jurisdictions. In response, Columbiana County commissioners began planning for a county home. Admission of indigent individuals was based upon recommendations from township trustees, county commissioners, physicians, and psychiatrists.

In 1829, the county purchased 200 acres of farmland near New Lisbon for $3,100. ³ The property included an existing house that was ordered repaired under a $92 contract awarded to Andrew Scott. The work included chinking the exterior brick with lime mortar, installing a new sill beneath the sleeping room, constructing a new brick chimney, adding an enclosed staircase, and installing new windows and doors. An inspection conducted on March 23, 1830, determined that the repairs had not been completed in accordance with the contract.

In 1861, the county acquired an additional 133 acres of farmland for $3,600. Soon afterward, a three-story infirmary building for the “infirm and well-disposed inmates” was constructed at a cost of $12,570. ³ In 1872–73, a separate three-story building for the mentally ill was erected at a cost of $8,000. ^{1 3} Additional large brick buildings and a red frame barn were subsequently added. By 1879, the complex consisted of two three-story brick buildings, a powerhouse, a heating plant, cold storage facilities, and a dairy and frame barn.

By September 1880, the infirmary housed 176 inmates. That number declined to 125 by February 1905. ³ A remodeling project to the circa 1873 building, costing nearly $5,000, was completed in late 1908. ¹⁰

In 1936, a small hospital with three wards and 30 beds was added, funded by the Public Works Administration. ¹ Prior to its completion, patients requiring hospital care had been transported to the City Hospital in Salem.

New Facility

By the 1950s, the county home’s function had evolved primarily into that of a mental ward and nursing home. On May 12, 1959, it was proposed that a $989,000 bond issue be placed on the November ballot to finance construction of a new county infirmary. ^{5 7} In October, a report issued by the county sanitarian and a consultant described the existing infirmary as a firetrap and unsanitary. The report specifically criticized deficiencies in the water supply and sewage disposal system, food preparation equipment, and dairy operation. ¹¹ Steep staircases and inadequate fire exits made the facility particularly dangerous for elderly residents. The bond issue was defeated by approximately 3,000 votes.

On December 12, 1960, the Ohio Department of Industrial Relations ordered the county to discontinue occupancy of the infirmary following violations identified during an inspection in November. The administration building, primary residence, hospital building, and laundry and boiler building were all cited as deficient. The inspection also noted inadequate sanitary facilities and severe neglect of maintenance. The county was given 120 days to evacuate residents, although two extensions were later granted. ¹⁴

Columbiana County Poorhouse — Source: Salem News, December 17, 1960.

A proposed 0.7-mill levy for improvements was rejected by voters in November 1961. ¹⁴ Additional proposals—a 0.8-mill operating levy and another 0.7-mill improvement levy—were defeated on May 8, 1962. ^{13 15} Following these defeats, county officials sent a letter to the State Fire Marshal requesting another extension of the condemnation order and delay of resident evacuation. A 60-day extension was granted in August. ¹²

In November, voters approved a three-year, 0.7-mill levy for the operation of the nursing home at the infirmary. ⁹ The first in a series of repair projects began in January 1963. ¹⁶ Construction of a new sewage treatment plant commenced in June. ¹⁷

In April 1964, the county applied for $200,000 in federal Auxiliary Works Program funds, with the county committing to match the amount, for construction of a new nursing facility. The request was approved. Ground was broken on April 17, 1964, for a one-story, 40-unit county nursing home. ^{6 8 9} Built by Riley Construction of Alliance at a cost of $430,000, the facility opened in mid-January 1965. However, due to a lack of equipment, the first 20 residents were not admitted until August 17. ⁸

The original infirmary complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. In 1994, the nursing home facility was renovated and expanded for use as a county-wide jail.

Demolition

In June 2010, the county abandoned efforts to use federal funds for demolition of the infirmary complex because doing so would have required a waiver from the Ohio Office of Historic Preservation. ² The waiver would have obligated the county to enter into a memorandum of agreement preserving the memory and historical significance of the infirmary. Additionally, $40,000 in secured federal demolition funds had to be expended by June 30, leaving insufficient time to solicit and award contracts. The discovery of asbestos further delayed demolition proceedings.

The Columbiana County Infirmary complex was ultimately demolished in 2016. Components of the buildings were salvaged by members of the Amish community for reuse.

Gallery

Sources

Mack, Horace. “Poor-House.” History of Columbiana County, Ohio: With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers. Philadelphia: D.W. Ensign, 1879. 29-30. Print.
Giambroni, Tom. “Spared Home could become project.” Morning Journal [Lisbon] 27 June 2010: n. pag. Print.
McCord, William B. “The County Infirmary.” History of Columbiana County, Ohio and Representative Citizens. Chicago: Biographical, 1905. 47. Print.
“County’s Poor Get Good Care.” Evening Review [East Liverpool] 10 June 1908: 1. Print.
“Infirmary’s Bond Issue Tops Ballot.” Evening Review [East Liverpool] 29 Oct 1959: 1. Print.
“Open House Planned Soon at County Nursing Home.” Salem News 20 Aug. 1965: 1, 8. Print.
“Bond Issue Proposed for County Home.” Evening Review [East Liverpool] 12 May 1959: 1. Print.
“How County Home’s New Nursing Unit Will Look.” Salem News 30 Apr. 1964: 1. Print.
“Ground Broken for County Home Hospital.” Salem News 17 Apr. 1964: 1. Print.
“Busy Week at Capital.” Evening Review [East Liverpool] 4 Sept. 1908: 1. Print.
“County Infirmary Condemned by State Authorities.” Salem News 17 Dec. 1960: 1, 7. Print.
“It’s a Familiar Story.” Salem News 1 Aug. 1962: 4. Print.
“Infirmary Order Extension Sought.” Salem News 11 May 1962: 8. Print.
“Voters May Decide Infirmary Fate.” Salem News 1 May 1962: 1. Print.
“County Infirmary, Operating Levies Rejected 2nd Time.” Salem News 9 May 1962: 1. Print.
“County Infirmary Repair Projects to Get Under Way.” Salem News 25 Jan. 1963: 3. Print.
“Infirmary Sewer Contract is Let.” Salem News 29 Jun. 1963: 12. Print.