Sept. 23 lecture explores ‘Almhouses, Poorhouses and Poor Farms’

• Event set for Sunday, Sept. 23, at Rockford’s Burpee Museum

Staff Report

Dr. Rochelle Lurie, president and principal investigator of Midwest Archaeological Research Services, Inc., will discuss “Almhouses, Poorhouses and Poor Farms” in a lecture from 2 to 3 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 23, at Burpee Museum of Natural History, 737 N. Main St., Rockford.

Admission is free for museum members, free with paid admission to the museum or $5 for the lecture only.

Using examples from Cook and the surrounding counties, this presentation will trace the history of caring for the poor, elderly and mentally ill in the United States.

Almshouses, poorhouses and poor farms were seen as a way to accomplish many economic, disciplinary, rehabilitative and humanitarian objectives.

Midwest Archaeological Research Services, Inc., specializes in conducting archaeological, historical, architectural and archival investigations within the upper Midwestern United States.

For the past 14 years, Dr. Lurie has served as principal investigator for archaeological projects at the National Register Macktown Historic Site.

In the Macktown Forest Preserve in Rockton, Ill., this multi-component site is being developed as a major educational resource for the surrounding community by the Macktown Living History and Education Center, a not-for-profit, volunteer organization in conjunction with the Winnebago County Forest Preserve District. The 30-acre site contains prehistoric occupations spanning at least 8,000 years and a short-lived (1836-1851) pioneer town.

Archaeological projects at Macktown include a Phase I systematic survey of the site, Phase II excavations at an 1846 general store and residence, field school excavations at the loci of an Early Woodland shellfish processing activity area, and at several historic residences, artifact displays, educational programs for children and adults, and artifact displays.

Dr. Lurie is a former visiting assistant professor at Northwestern University (1987), and assistant research scholar/scientist in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Geography, University of West Florida (1984-85). She holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in anthropology/archeology from Northwestern University (1976 and 1982, respectively) and a bachelor’s degree in zoology and history of religion from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1962).

The lecture is part of the 70th Anniversary of Burpee Museum Lecture Series, in memory of Steve Ellis.

Ellis died Nov. 5, 2011. He was active on numerous community boards in Rockford, especially with the Burpee Museum, having served many years on the board, most recently as chairman of Governance Committee.

For more about the Sept. 23 lecture, contact Burpee Museum at (815) 965-3433 or visit www.burpee.org.

Next lecture in the series is Abigail Ross presenting “Lemurs of Madagascar: Why Are They Unique? Why Should We Care?” at 2 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 28. Dr. Joseph Peterson offers “Dinosores — Injury and Behavior in Cretaceous Dinosaurs” at 2 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 25.

From the Sept. 19-25, 2012, issue