The Knox County Poor Farm demolition project began this week.
Mullins Supply of Bicknell, the contractor hired for the project, started tearing down the deteriorating structure on a cold, rainy New Year’s Eve morning which was Tuesday. Work commenced at the site, located at 2008 South Hart Street Road, as part of the county’s plan to repurpose the property.
Plans to demolish the building were discussed by county officials in August, and preparations have been underway since then to complete the project.
Over the years, various efforts were made to repurpose the historic building, including a 2023 proposal to transform it into a hospice center. However, the structure, which has been in disrepair for sometime ultimately returned to the county.
The property will now play a key role in Knox County’s ongoing efforts to modernize and consolidate office space. Plans include constructing a new Emergency Operations Center on the site, which will house a centralized dispatch center, the Knox County Emergency Management Agency, and the Coroner’s Office.
While many residents expressed sadness over the demolition of the historic structure, others have recognized the necessity of moving forward.
Last year, Vincennes PBS featured the Poor Farm building in an episode of its web series, History Vault, which explored the lore and history of the site through interviews and archival footage. The episode is available to watch on the Vincennes PBS YouTube channel.
