Van Tassell, A Day in the Life - Poor Farm
A Day in the Life, Van Tassell was celebrated on Sunday, June 14, 2026 as part of America 250/Explore Niobrara events celebrating America's 250th birthday.
Click here for Melva Baldwin's Niobrara County Poor Farm History
Courtesy of The Lusk Standard, 02/14/1919
COUNTY BUYS FARM NEAR VAN TASSELL
Niobrara county is to have a farm equipped to care for its pauper
population. At the meeting of the county commissioners held this week
Commissioner Calhoun was instructed to purchase the 40-acre farm of John
Pendray, which lies one-half mile north of Van Tassell. This farm is
ideally located for a place of this kind as the farm is well supplied
with buildings, besides having a good dwelling house suited for this
purpose. There is a good well of water on the place, and the tract is
fenced and cross-fenced.
By this arrangement the county will save many dollars in caring for
the needy. Last month $157 was expended on one person living alone and
those now receiving cash from the county will be sent to the county
farm, there to be cared for properly and much more economically than
heretofore.