Compiled and shared by May MacCallum, Richmond County Historical Society.

Ralph Baldwin
has been most helpful in this project

Over time, there were two County Homes for the Poor and Infirm in Rockingham, North Carolina. For this 
material, the Homes will be referred to as County Home #1 and County Home #2. County Home #1 was located 
off County Home Road on Baldwin Road. The Home existed from 1852 until 1917. The location of County Home 
#1 and its cemetery were shared by Ralph Baldwin whose Father, W.T. Baldwin, was a superintendent of the 
early home. Today, there is no evidence of that cemetery. Without Ralph's help, much of the early informa-
tion would be lost. We are most appreciative of the knowledge and help of Ralph Baldwin and Herbert Bailey!

County Home #2 was also located off of County Home Road; this time off of Bailey Street on the right side 
of County Home Road. Without the help of Herbert Bailey, who always lived in the area, much information 
of County Home #2 and its cemetery would be lost.

Ralph Baldwin, son of William Thomas Baldwin, has been most helpful in this project of discovering the 
County Homes of the Poor and Infirm. W.T. Baldwin, while still superintendent of the 1st County Home 
bought the land from the County that had housed that 1st County Home since 1852. When the buildings 
were completed for the new County Home, W.T. Baldwin continued as superintendent at the 2nd County Home. 
Today, that land which once housed the 1st County Home with its residents, has been divided and passed

Herbert Bailey
Without his knowledge the location of Potters Field #2 would not be known.

on down to the Baldwins, including Ralph, his daughter, and other family members.

The 1940 Census listed Will Baldwin's street as "County House Improved Dirt Road and Community". This
Indicates Will Baldwin had purchased the County land and was, in 1940, living in an improved County Home, 
just as reported by Ralph Baldwin.

Unfortunately, there are no records of Will Baldwin and the residents for whom he cared on any Census. 
However, Will Baldwin sighed death certificates as superintendent from 1914 through 1920. No Photograph 
of Mr. Will Baldwin has been provided. 

Although there is no mention of a cemetery or burials for the inmates/residents, local people remember 
such events. Herbert Bailey, aged 90, well remembers the pasture from the 2nd county home extended into 
his neighborhood. He relates seeing deceased residents being brought by wagon in simple burial boxes, and 
buried in the pasture. Without those memories, we would never have known the location of County Home #2 
Cemetery. Depressions still exist on the property. However, as the cemetery is not marked, local "four-
wheelers" continue to ride over the graves of the long-lost deceased. Other residents of Herbert's 
neighborhood, support his memories. Exactly how long the pasture was used for burials is unknown. 

R. Carol McLean
who first told us about the unmarked cemeteries.

Thomas Easterling, son of Superintendent R.A. Easterling, says, "When an inmate died at the County Home 
in the summertime, you really couldn't dilly dally... Just thirty minutes before her burial, we had nailed 
the lid tight on the old woman's casket, a pine box cushioned with straw that we sold to families of the 
deceased, when they could afford it. Several coffins were stacked inside a storage building, awaiting the 
inevitable passing of elderly and infirm inmates in our small community. By the time I was 16, I knew my 
dad's funeral routine by rote. As I tossed red dirt atop the unfinished coffin lid, I remembered the woman's 
sallow face as I pressed coins upon her closed eyelids. She had lain in the County Home's central meeting 
room dressed in her Sunday best for a whole day, and a few friends had filed in to pay their respects. No 
local church came forward to conduct a service, so my father officiated, while I waited at a side door with 
the wagon. Then, after securing the casket for the bumpy ride, I slapped the rump of our plow horse and 
hauled the old woman up to High Pines Cemetery. 

A few old fellas had dug her grave to my father's specs, and after lowering the casket with plow lines onto 
2x4s at the bottom, I yanked the straps from beneath the coffin. Death and dying was a solemn affair to all 
of us at the County Home, and I learned to deal with it as if I were hoeing weeds or digging a new privy".
Source: FURROW IN THE CLOUDS The Story of Young Thomas Easterling, written by Richard Drebert 

Earl Key
He provided treasured
photographs

Local Resident, R. Carol McLean, Son of Superintendent H.G. McLean (1877-1954), was born in the second 
County Home for the Poor, and was one of the five McLean children saved from the fire. Carol has been a 
great source of genealogical material which he graciously shares. It was Carol who first told us about 
the unmarked cemeteries of the old county homes. Although he did not know exactly where it was, Carol 
knew that Ralph Baldwin knew the location of Cemetery #1. I don't think anybody alive could have known 
the location except someone who had been shown the location by family or superintendent. If Ralph's 
father had not shown him, and the fact that Ralph remembered the location, the exact location of #1 
Cemetery may never have been known. We are most appreciative of his guidance. He is an Inspiration!

The present location of this cemetery is on private property, between 126 Bailey St. and the City of 
Rockingham - Tract 4 (water tower). Visitors should remember to request permission before entering 
private property.

We especially appreciate the determined efforts of Earl Key, Nephew of "Frank" and Themla Key. 
He provided photographs to be displayed on the County Home Poster. Earl Key of Rockingham, believes his 
father was among the last superintendents, serving from the late 1930's to World War II.

 Go Next to County Home Residents Buried Potters Field
 Go Next to Wardens of County Homes
 Go Next to Fire Damages County Home
 Return to History of County Homes
 Return to What's New in Richmond County

Contact: Myrtle Bridges, NCGenWeb Coordinator for Richmond County

©Copyright January 14, 2014 by Myrtle N. Bridges