United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, County Fermanagh, Irvinestown
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In 1836 the Poor Law Enquiry found that over one third of people in Ireland were dependent on the potato as their main source of food. The population had grown to 8.2 million by 1841, and was vulnerable to any failure of the potato crop. The Great Famine (1845-1849), caused by potato blight, resulted in a national catastrophe.
The Poor Law
In an attempt to alleviate the problems arising from widespread poverty in early 19th century Ireland a new Poor Law was enacted in 1838. The Act created 130 Poor Law Unions, each run by a committee known as The Poor Law Guardians. One of the main provisions of the Act was the construction of a new workhouse in each Union. George Wilkinson designed all of Ireland's 130 workhouses in accordance with a number of standard adaptable designs. They were built to accommodate 1% of the population (80,000) and not to alleviate the level of destitution and poverty that Ireland was to face from 1845-1949 [sic - 1849]. Entrance to the workhouse was particularly distressing, with families being strictly segregated on the basis of gender, age and state of health. The design of the workhouse buildings and the recreation yards ensured that segregation was maintained at all times. The workhouses provided some relief from starvation and destitution, but life there was without dignity. Of the 1.2 million lives lost during the Famine, at least one in five of those deaths occurred in the workhouses. Those who died were buried in what became known as "Famine pits" or mass graves.
There were three Poor Law Unions located in County Fermanagh: Enniskillen, Lisnaskea and Lowtherstown (Irvinestown).
Potato Blight
• Phytophthora infestans, more commonly known as potato blight, is a fungus-like organism characterized by the withering and shriveling of plant leaves. Spores are washed down into the tubers (potatoes), and if infected the potatoes will rot. They will continue to rot even if they are dug up and stored.
• Potato blight was first observed in America in 1843, and in 1845 in Europe. The first sighting in Ulster was detected here in County Fermanagh on August 28th 1845. By September 1845 reports of blight were coming from all over Ireland. The vulnerability of the Irish people was to be fully realised as their chief source of food was destroyed. Ireland faced a mass shortage of food. Hunger and starvation were witnessed through out the country. Fermanagh did not escape from the ravages of the Famine, losing 25% of its population to death and emigration.
Lowtherstown (Irvinestown) Workhouse
Lowtherstown (Irvinestown) Workhouse was built on a 5-acre site at the west of the town. Today the workhouse buildings no longer exist and housing occupies the site immediately south-west of where you now stand. It was built to accommodate 400 inmates and declared fit for the reception of inmates on October 28th 1844. The first inmates were admitted on 1st October 1845. In the dark days of the Famine in 1848 the most it housed at any one time was 796 inmates, with a total of 2887 paupers passing through in that year.
During the Famine a 40-bed fever hospital was built on the north side of the site. The workhouse had its own burial ground on the west of the site. Food was inferior to that of other unions and in 1846 a typical adult's food for a day was 198g of oatmeal for breakfast and 227g of oatmeal for dinner, while no supper was offered. Each inmate was allowed half a pint of buttermilk for breakfast and dinner. Irvinestown Workhouse was described in July 1847 by Dr. Phelan, the medical inspector to the Poor Law Commissioners, as the "worst" he has seen in the north of Ireland. He referred to patients lying on bare floors with scarcely enough straw under them and being in a filt[h]y state.
Lowtherstown Famine Graveyard
Due to the large numbers of inmates dying it was resolved by the Board of Guardians on January 13th 1847 that a portion of the workhouse ground should be ditched in as a burial ground. For 150 years this rough field has been known locally as "The Paupers", as with the graveyard at Cornagrade in Enniskillen. No stone marked the graves of those who died so tragically during the Great Hunger of 1847. At a public meeting in the town in 1996 it was resolved to erect a memorial on this site in memory of those who suffered and died as a result of the Famine. The field was to be known as the Famine Graveyard. The memorial stone was officially unveiled on October 4th 1997 by direct decendants of a family from the area who drowned in 1847 in a shipwreck off the Isle of Islay, Scotland whilst making their way to the New World.
In addition to the Famine graveyard located here, people were also buried in a Famine Pit at Ardess Church 5 miles away.
(Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Charity & Public Work • Disasters • Settlements & Settlers) Includes location, directions, 4 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
In 1836 the Poor Law Enquiry found that over one third of people in Ireland were dependent on the potato as their main source of food. The population had grown to 8.2 million by 1841, and was vulnerable to any failure of the potato crop. The Great Famine (1845-1849), caused by potato blight, resulted in a national catastrophe.
The Poor Law
In an attempt to alleviate the problems arising from widespread poverty in early 19th century Ireland a new Poor Law was enacted in 1838. The Act created 130 Poor Law Unions, each run by a committee known as The Poor Law Guardians. One of the main provisions of the Act was the construction of a new workhouse in each Union. George Wilkinson designed all of Ireland's 130 workhouses in accordance with a number of standard adaptable designs. They were built to accommodate 1% of the population (80,000) and not to alleviate the level of destitution and poverty that Ireland was to face from 1845-1949 [sic - 1849]. Entrance to the workhouse was particularly distressing, with families being strictly segregated on the basis of gender, age and state of health. The design of the workhouse buildings and the recreation yards ensured that segregation was maintained at all times. The workhouses provided some relief from starvation and destitution, but life there was without dignity. Of the 1.2 million lives lost during the Famine, at least one in five of those deaths occurred in the workhouses. Those who died were buried in what became known as "Famine pits" or mass graves.
There were three Poor Law Unions located in County Fermanagh: Enniskillen, Lisnaskea and Lowtherstown (Irvinestown).
Potato Blight
• Phytophthora infestans, more commonly known as potato blight, is a fungus-like organism characterized by the withering and shriveling of plant leaves. Spores are washed down into the tubers (potatoes), and if infected the potatoes will rot. They will continue to rot even if they are dug up and stored.
• Potato blight was first observed in America in 1843, and in 1845 in Europe. The first sighting in Ulster was detected here in County Fermanagh on August 28th 1845. By September 1845 reports of blight were coming from all over Ireland. The vulnerability of the Irish people was to be fully realised as their chief source of food was destroyed. Ireland faced a mass shortage of food. Hunger and starvation were witnessed through out the country. Fermanagh did not escape from the ravages of the Famine, losing 25% of its population to death and emigration.
Lowtherstown (Irvinestown) Workhouse
Lowtherstown (Irvinestown) Workhouse was built on a 5-acre site at the west of the town. Today the workhouse buildings no longer exist and housing occupies the site immediately south-west of where you now stand. It was built to accommodate 400 inmates and declared fit for the reception of inmates on October 28th 1844. The first inmates were admitted on 1st October 1845. In the dark days of the Famine in 1848 the most it housed at any one time was 796 inmates, with a total of 2887 paupers passing through in that year.
During the Famine a 40-bed fever hospital was built on the north side of the site. The workhouse had its own burial ground on the west of the site. Food was inferior to that of other unions and in 1846 a typical adult's food for a day was 198g of oatmeal for breakfast and 227g of oatmeal for dinner, while no supper was offered. Each inmate was allowed half a pint of buttermilk for breakfast and dinner. Irvinestown Workhouse was described in July 1847 by Dr. Phelan, the medical inspector to the Poor Law Commissioners, as the "worst" he has seen in the north of Ireland. He referred to patients lying on bare floors with scarcely enough straw under them and being in a filt[h]y state.
Lowtherstown Famine Graveyard
Due to the large numbers of inmates dying it was resolved by the Board of Guardians on January 13th 1847 that a portion of the workhouse ground should be ditched in as a burial ground. For 150 years this rough field has been known locally as "The Paupers", as with the graveyard at Cornagrade in Enniskillen. No stone marked the graves of those who died so tragically during the Great Hunger of 1847. At a public meeting in the town in 1996 it was resolved to erect a memorial on this site in memory of those who suffered and died as a result of the Famine. The field was to be known as the Famine Graveyard. The memorial stone was officially unveiled on October 4th 1997 by direct decendants of a family from the area who drowned in 1847 in a shipwreck off the Isle of Islay, Scotland whilst making their way to the New World.
In addition to the Famine graveyard located here, people were also buried in a Famine Pit at Ardess Church 5 miles away.
(Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Charity & Public Work • Disasters • Settlements & Settlers) Includes location, directions, 4 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
We lived in harmony with the planet for thousands of years. We respected the earth and we were thankful for all the gifts it gave us.
Frank J. Portman, president of the Frank Portman Company and our Restoration Project contractor was called to God one week before our celebration to mark the completion of the Old Mission Dolores Restoration Project. From the inception of the Project in 1991 through the last weeks of his life, Frank Portman dedicated himself to the success of every aspect of the effort to restore Mission Dolores and preserve it for the future. 
La Paz y Bien -- Peace and Goodness
In 1810, the few settlers of the village under the leadership of pioneers Bates Cooke and Benjamin Barton petitioned the state of New York to have this area changed from a public square to building lots for purposes of selling. Benjamin Barton was commissioned by the land office to have it surveyed and presented for approval to the New York legislature. The legislative session of 1815-16 approved the opening of the lands for sale with the following provision: The area included shall become lands of the common schools, and the commissioners of said schools are to sell, maintain and invest the funds derived therefrom, for the support and maintenance of common schools of the Village of Lewiston. 
Founder of this Mission of San Francisco de Asis (Dolores) distinguished son of Spain; missionary in the Sierra Gorda, Lower California and at Carmel; president of Missions in Mexico and California; zealous missionary; able administrator; resourceful pioneer; chosen companion and biographer of Junipero Serra.
This ceramic mural is the work of Guillermo Granizo, a native San Francisco Artist. Shortly after Guillermo’s birth in 1923 the Granizo Family moved to Nicaragua for a period of eleven years. The family then returned to San Francisco. Extensive travel and research in Mexico and Central America in 1958 has provided flavor of many of his works. 
This edifice the construction of which was started in 1788, was dedicated August 2, 1791. An adobe structure in use since that time, it is the oldest building in San Francisco. Original adobe brick walls and roof tiles are still in place.
More than one hundred years ago, the bicycle was king of the road in San Francisco. 
This marker stretches between 3rd and 4th Streets on the east side of King Street. At opposite ends are two identical Rammaytush plaques. In between are 104 mini-plaques, in two parallel rows, each with a known word in the Rammaytush language.
North of this monument, Robert Ober, a wealthy merchant built his home. A long tree-lined approach adds prominence to this 1½ story brick Georgian-style residence. This Tidewater style of architecture is rarely found in Montgomery County. Distinguishing features include a five bay facade, paired gable end chimneys and a broad sloping roof. The four chimneys serve ten fireplaces. Rolling Ridge was perhaps one of the earliest farming operations in Laytonsville, an area of fertile, well drained soil. The farmstead continued with later owners Warfield, Christopher, Small and Jones families. Once-significant formal landscape elements are attributed to John H. Small III, a landscape architect.
This building was constructed in 1917 on five acres of land with $6,000 donated from the estate of Mrs. Mary Lily Kenan Flagler Bingham, (1867-1917), wife of Henry Flagler, the owner and promoter of the Florida East Coast Railroad. Kenansville School is the oldest known public school building in Osceola County. The two-story masonry vernacular brick building, of late 19th, early 20th century design, was erected by A.J. MacDonough, Architect, and Track and Nash Contractor. From 1917 to early 1920, the school housed grades one through 12 with as many as 100 students and five teachers. By 1922, only 29 students were enrolled in grades one through six and were taught by one teacher. The school closed in 1962 and sat empty for 30 years. In 1992 it reopened, serving students from pre-K to second grade and saving the younger children the 35-mile bus ride to St. Cloud. In 2003, the school closed its doors permanently. In 2005, the school was deeded to the Kenansville Community Association, Inc. with the help of the School Board of Osceola County and the Board of County Commissioners of Osceola County. For several decades, the school was one of the state’s outstanding rural schools.
Independence. Grayson County is noted for traditional music and altitude. Four of Virginia’s five highest mountains are to be found here. In 1850 Grayson County was in the midst of controversy concerning the location of the county seat. As a compromise between two rival camps, a third site was selected and named Independence,
based on the fact that a group of “independents” had favored this option. One of the most famous and colorful fighting units of the Civil War was the Grayson Daredevils, 91 farmers from the Elk Creek community. They were part of the Stonewall Brigade.
In 1885, Hamilton Disston, Pennsylvania industrialist and pioneer Florida promoter, established an extensive experimental sugar plantation on the drained lands around St. Cloud. The enterprise, part of Disston's promotional scheme, prospered for several years and operated its own cane mill. After the abolition of the federal bounty on domestic sugar, the business failed and much of the machinery was sold for scrap. The failure caused large scale sugar planting in Florida to be abandoned for many years.
