In farming communities, livestock were everywhere, and although the law required them to be fenced in, they often got loose. Stray animals were brought to town pounds like this large stone structure, where they were impounded and cared for until claimed. Owners paid a fine to the pound keeper to recover a stray animal and were liable for any damage the beast had done. Pound keepers, as well as field drivers who rounded up stray animals, were elected by each town. Not all pounds were as substantial as this one.