MENUWeekly Column
Each week a small segment of Vernon County history is published in the county papers.
For the week of 5/11/2025
by Carol Krogan, assistant curator
A new exhibit has recently been added to the Vernon County Museum and History Center, entitled Vernon County Institutions. The Vernon County Poor House and Vernon County Asylum, both owned and operated by the county, were located in Viroqua along County BB on the north side of Viroqua. The Asylum was built in 1889 and the Poor House in 1896. These large, brick buildings housed the mentally challenged and poor people of the county and some from surrounding counties. There were very few options then as there were no government programs like Medicare or Medicaid to assist those who couldn’t afford their care. The state of Wisconsin provided compensation for each resident and that along with proceeds from the townships and county farms on which the buildings stood, the county was able to support the operation of the facilities.
The establishment of a Poor House/Alms House/Farm actually began in 1856 when a Commissioner of the Poor committee was named. In 1857, a farm with a residence was purchased in the town of Harmony and sometime in the early 1860s, land was secured in Viroqua which became the new location of the Poor House and farm. It was located in the same area where the brick building was erected in 1896.
Eventually, the Poor House became more of a home for the elderly and infirm. Even though the Poor House or “Old Home” was operating as a nursing home, new regulations and treatments for residents prevented it from doing so. In 1969, the Poor Farm building became more of a residential home for seniors who were all ambulatory and could mostly care for themselves.
In November, 1954, the Vernon County Home for the Retired was opened. It was considered a residence for people who could live on their own and a “half-way house” between home and hospital. In March, 1975, residents of the Old Home were transferred to the Vernon County Home for the Retired (“New Home”), to other facilities or moved in with relatives. As time progressed, as residents need more nursing-home type care, the building didn’t meet nursing home building codes. The need for a full-fledged nursing home came to fruition when Vernon Manor opened in October, 1981. The residents of the New Home moved to Vernon Manor. The New Home named the Erlandson building and became an annex for county offices. The Old Home was demolished in 1987.
The Vernon County Asylum was erected in 1889 for people with mental issues and those with long-term medical afflictions who had no family or couldn’t be cared for at home. The afflictions included epilepsy, paralysis, tuberculosis, alcoholism, dementia and chronic kidney disease. On January 11, 1889, an open house was held for the public. At the open house, Andrew Elmore, of the state board of charities and reform, described the building: “there is no better institution of its kind in the United States”, and, “it is the only state in the Union that has a comfortable home for every one of its insane.”
Each of the facilities were overseen by superintendents, often a husband and wife. They lived on site. More staff took care of residents, cooked and cleaned. Each building sat on a working farm, operated by county employees. Cash crops were planted, livestock was raised and large gardens, tended by residents who were able, supplied produce to sell and for use by the institutions. Residents assisted with the canning of fruit and vegetables. Livestock raised on the farms included dairy cows, chickens, horses and sheep.
At some point in the late 1940s, the name of the Vernon County Asylum changed to the Vernon County Hospital. Eventually, due to upgraded standards of care and advances in medical knowledge, the work in a mental hospital was looked at in a different way. By the 1970s, the building no longer met state requirements. In July, 1976, the 99 patients still residing there were relocated. The building was razed in May, 1979.
Complete records of names of residents of the Poor Farm and Asylum are unavailable. Over the years, museum staff and volunteers have tried to piece together information about residents from different sources, mainly from newspaper extractions, censuses and obituaries. We have created a database with names of residents from the 1860 – 1950 censuses, by year and by last name. We also have a collection of obituaries as well as discharges and placements. This is an ongoing project.
These institutions were an important piece of Vernon County’s history. We invite you to visit the museum to see more and also to view other exhibits reflecting the county’s history. Current hours are Monday – Friday, 11-4.
This photograph was taken before 1987 when the Alms House was demolished. The Alms House is shown in the foreground, after it was painted, and the Asylum and surrounding buildings at the top.
For the week of 5/4/2025
by Kristen Parrott, curator
A new exhibit is now open at the Vernon County Museum and History Center, commemorating the U.S. 250th. July 4, 2026, will mark 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, and the creation of the United States of America. This anniversary is called a semi-quin-centennial, meaning “half of 500 years”.
Over the next few years we will present several exhibits, programs, and other events marking this important milestone. The new introductory exhibit offers five themes for reflection during the 250th: Power of Place, We the People, Unfinished Revolutions, American Experiment, and Doing History.
From now until Friday, May 30, you can continue to enjoy a free outdoor exhibit on the south lawn of the historic Sherry-Butt House museum. This outdoor installation is called, “We Take Our Sports Seriously”. It’s a “history walk” created by the Wisconsin Historical Society as part of its History Makers Tour. The giant exhibit panels cover the history of a variety of sports in Wisconsin.
The Sherry-Butt House is located at 795 N. Main St. in Viroqua, at the corner of N. Main and Fairview Dr. The exhibit is installed on the lawn facing Fairview Dr. You can park along the street or behind the house, and walk over to the lawn to see the exhibit. The History Makers Tour is presented by Culver’s, and is made possible in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
Grilling season has begun, and our first grill-out will be held on Saturday, May 10, from 10AM to 2PM, outside Nelson Agri-Center in Viroqua. If you need a lunch or a snack that day, stop by to see what’s grilling. All proceeds will go towards our project of installing heating and air-conditioning on the upper floors of the Vernon County Museum and History Center. The fundraising for the project is going well, and we are over halfway to our goal. The installation work will begin this summer.
Spring hours continue throughout the month of May. The museum and history center is open this month from Monday through Friday, 11AM to 4PM, or by appointment. The historic Sherry-Butt House museum will open for the summer season on Saturday, May 24. The house will be open Saturdays and Sundays, 1 to 5PM, from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.
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