05/28/2026
“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God."
In the spirit of sharing and understanding human misfortune and suffering, Stillwater wealthy community gave a home to the poor for more than a century, starting in the 1850s until the mid 1950s.
In the late 1970s the Poor Farm home was bought by Lee Gohlike.
The Gohlikes restored the house and created The Outing Lodge, a bed and breakfast and one of the first wedding venues in Stillwater.
Located in Pine Point Park, the Outing Lodge is today one of the oldest local businesses in the area offering a historical experience with accommodations for overnight visitors and a gorgeous garden setting for events & parties.
It's Way Back Wednesday! Did you know there was a Washington County Poor Farm? And, what is a “Poor Farm”?
Prior to nationwide programs such as welfare and social security, there were limited options for assistance in the 1800s and early 1900s. “Poor Farms” and “Poor Houses” sprung up across the country, allowing rurally located men, women, dependent children, and those experiencing mental illness to live while they found their footing.
In 1858, Washington County set aside 207 acres of land in Stillwater Township for a Poor Farm in the same area where the Outing Lodge is today. The Washington County Poor Farm was described as a “comfortable two-story frame building, affording all the necessary comforts for those who are in any way constrained to make this their home.”
Residents were encouraged to help out around the farm, maintaining the facilities, caring for the animals and helping grow crops. The farm was run by the county, but tried to be as self-sustaining as possible. There were several births on the farm, as well as some deaths recorded.
Over time, the Poor Farm (renamed the “Washington County Home” in 1937), became primarily a home for the aged. It was renamed again in 1951 as the Pine Point Nursing Home, and the facility ultimately closed in 1977.
After years of being vacant, the facility was renovated and turned into the beautiful Outing Lodge at Pine Point. Their website describes the event venue as “a turn-of-the-century European home in the countryside surrounded by lawns and gardens à la Jane Austen novels.”
Photo: Residents stand in front of the Washington County Poor Farm house on September 17, 1894, along with the overseer Mr. Charles A. Peterson (at left) and his family.
📷 This post in partnership with the Washington County Historical Society Photo courtesy of Jim Johnson, as seen in “Stillwater: The Next Generation” by Brent Peterson.
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