On your right you will find the historic institution for the rural poor, which is the multi-storey building with the roll-call bell. The institution for the rural poor was set up on 1 September 1877. This was where the so-called rural and local poor were housed. Unlike the persons that were made to undergo correctional measures, they were in Breitenau on a voluntary basis according to formal specifications.

During the NS period, the sick bay for men was located in the institution for the rural poor (ground floor, on the right). Since 1893, the Guxhagen-based rural doctor, who was occasionally represented by doctors from the surrounding area, had been in charge of medical care for all prisoners. The hospital doctor carried out the compulsory admission and discharge examinations of the prisoners. He also certified the "camp suitability" ("Lagerfähigkeit") of the prisoners prior to their transfer to a concentration camp. 

Only seriously ill prisoners were transferred by train to one of the surrounding hospitals.

Floor plan of the institution for the rural poor (LWV archives, map collection, no. 996)