Before we had a welfare program, Independence County had a Poor Farm for folks that found themselves in a time of need and despair. There they would find lodging and farm grown groceries. It was one of many poor farms or houses created in the mid-1800s. A similar English model during the Industrial Revolution inspired poor farms. Shelter and food were provided for those community members who could not support themselves with the expectation that they would provide labor for the farm work.
The project to recognize this site was started in 2017 and came to fruition early on the morning of June 22nd 2023 as County Judge Kevin Jeffery places the marker on the site of the Poor Farm. Land owner Justin Blankenship graciously agreed to allow this to happen. Local resident Linda Hidy, her daughter Jennifer Hidy-Pitts and others had worked tirelessly to gather all of the supporting documents that allowed the state of Arkansas to construct the sign.
