4. You Think You Have Troubles?

  Accompanied by Detective Buck Fletcher a HERALD reporter called at the home of William Kirkland and family on North West street last Friday afternoon. We say home, but that is hardly the proper name as it lacks a great deal of being a home. That there are people living in Winchester in such filth and in such a destitute condition we had no idea. We read with horror the description of the homes in Packingtown as told in the Jungle, but we were convinced last Friday that the same conditions exist in Winchester. And we do not exaggerate when we say equally as bad.                          The Kirkland family live in one room, ten by twelve feet in size. There are four little children, besides the parents. Mr. Kirkland has the consumption and it is only a question of a few weeks, if that long, until he will be relieved from his suffering by death. At the side of the bed was a can used for a spittoon and it was filled with corruption that the poor man had spit up. In fact the can was too small and the corruption was all over that part of the floor and being spread everywhere by the bare feet of the children. Later in the afternoon Mrs. Kirkland emptied the can a few feet from the rear and only door leading outdoors.
  In the same bed lies the oldest boy, who is probably ten or twelve years old, with the measles. The other children of course, are exposed and are sure to contract the disease.
  On the table, which is used for all purposes, were the dirty dishes and from there appearances they probably have not been washed for weeks, if ever. Judging from the filth on all sides water is seldom used.
  The stove is a poor excuse. Very often it goes out and is not started for hours, yet a man is in that room lying at the point of death with tuberculosis. A few strips of carpet are on the floor and one does not need a magnifying glass to see the filth. The walls and ceiling are black with dirt and the bed clothing is the same way. We imagine that bed bugs, lice and all other such living creatures find this home a most agreeable place for their existence.
  One of the little girls was bare foot and the faces and hands of the entire family were like the ceiling and walls as described above. Their clothing were in rags.
  At night as many get in the one bed as possible and the others must lay on the floor.
  Mr. Fletcher took them some cake and canned fruit. It was indeed a pleasure to see those children go after that cake. All they had to eat that day was some potatoes and biscuits and with all respect to Mrs. Kirkland, who probably does the best she could under the circumstances, the biscuits were not fit for a dog. But nevertheless to a hungry person most anything is acceptable.
  Mrs. Kirkland is not the proper person to have charge of children and to take care of a man nearly dead with a dreadful disease.
  As soon as the matter was reported Trustee Williams and Mr. Fletcher looked after the wants of this unfortunate family and when possible the children will be taken to the Orphan's Home. Only a few weeks ago one child died.
  Before the children were taken away another little girl died and she laid in the same bed with her brother and father for three days before her body was removed.

--The Winchester Herald 1907.

___________________

Randolph County, Indiana 1818-1990
Commonly referred to as "The Red History Book"
Compiled by the Randolph County Historical Society, 1991, Second reprint 2003.

To obtain your own copy of "The Red History Book" stop in at The RCHS Museum Shop or send an email to arrange placing a mail order.

___________________

Want to learn more?
Visit The Museum.
     Hours vary with volunteer availability. Check the website or Facebook for current open to the public hours or call/message/email to arrange an appointment.
Facebook group: Randolph County Indiana Historical and Genealogical Society

Visit the website.
     Here is a link to the cemetery database.  https://rchsmuseum.org/cemeteries-database

Follow the blog.
     Scroll to the right or below the article to click "FOLLOW" to get email updates as soon as a blog is uploaded.  This is a great feature to share with family and friends who are not active on social media.