Volunteers needed for Saline County Poor House Preservation Project
SALINE COUNTY, Ill. (KBSI) – Community leaders say an old building in Harrisburg Illinois could soon get new attention, thanks to preservation efforts aimed at protecting the historic structure.
Historicorps Executive Director Justin Whitehead says their nonprofit organization aims to engage volunteers in historic preservation training. The Saline County structure called The Pour House is a result of a 1839 state law requiring each county in Illinois to create an institution to care for the area’s low income and vulnerable, the Saline County Poor House served as that haven for the county built in 1877.
The building has placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. Whitehead shares, preserving buildings like these allow for us to see a glimpse into local history, providing a connection to the past. He shares that this wouldn’t be possible without volunteers.
“Almost all of our work is done by volunteers on all of our projects all over the country. This one certainly is no exception” says Whitehead. “We usually like to have volunteers come out for a whole week, and work with us pretty much from, you know, 9 to 5.”
According to documents as the state welfare system transitioned over the years the building was used as many things including an orphanage, a jail, and an insane asylum. The brick building sits on an area called The Saline County Poor House Farm, located on 1600 Feazel Road in Harrisburg, Illinois and is one of three older buildings located on the site. Whitehead shares that volunteers often camp on the sites, share meals, and learn together.
“They will help us preserve the site, allow for better education and interpretation of the site as well as make the building itself, safer and, you know, make easier access for folks who want to come and enjoy the site and learn the history.”
Those who wish to volunteer can simply go to historicorp.org and go to the volunteer tab and find the location you’d like to volunteer for. Saline County will need volunteers from the middle of April through the end of May, 2026.
For more information on the Saline County Poor House Preservation Project Saline County Poor House, IL 2026 – HistoriCorps.
