VERMONT'S POOR FARMS

Vermont author Jodi Lew-Smith explores the history of Vermont’s poor farms, historic poor relief in Cambridge, and the lives of those who depended on these institutions. Tracing the rise and decline of the poor farm system in rural New England, Lew-Smith shares the historical research behind her award-winning novel, Asa James. Set on an 1875 Vermont poor farm, the novel follows a young man who dreams of becoming the next Charles Darwin. Discover the history behind this fascinating story and how 19th-century approaches to poverty compare with modern social support systems.