The Widow’s Bargain
An elderly woman signs away her property in exchange for the county's promise to provide her care for the remainder of her life.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
A unique bargain was driven in the county commissioners' office yesterday afternoon between Mrs. Lucy Stewart of Bismarck, a widow over 70 years old, and the board of county commissioners. Mrs. Stewart has been a widow for many years and has lived year in and year out in her little cottage at Bismarck, all alone. Yesterday afternoon, she entered the commissioners' office and unfolded her little plan. The proposition was that if the commissioners would promise her support during the remainder of her life, she would deed over all her property to the county. The proposition was accepted, and the venerable old lady went away happy, assured of support for the remainder of her years.
“The proposition was that if the commissioners would promise her support during the remainder of her life, she would deed over all her property to the county.”
This story highlights the stark lack of a social safety net in 1910, where the elderly were forced to trade their property for basic survival. Today, Tacoma struggles with a different housing crisis, but the vulnerability of seniors losing their homes remains a pressing civic concern.
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