The history of caring for the poor

ASHEBORO — Many Randolph County natives are familiar with the former County Home property, located on South Fayetteville Street in Asheboro. 

What many may not realize is that when that building opened in the 1920s, it replaced a facility that had already been in operation for a century in a different location, and which included a burial ground for the poorest of the poor of Randolph County society.

Ricky Allred (of “Walk Thru the Past”) will present a program describing the origins the system for the care of the county poor, the institution in which they lived, and, most importantly, the stories of many of those individuals who inhabited the Poorhouse and who now lie in the largely forgotten County Home Cemetery.

“The Least of These” will be presented on Saturday, Jan. 28, at 10 a.m. in the downstairs meeting room of the Asheboro County Public Library, 201 Worth St., Asheboro. 

The presentation is free.