The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1860-12-19
For the Lansing State Republican
R.f,rmatory EducatIOn.-No. $.

movement from tue wear A0fi ~
present time.
The wear IS4s chronicles the opening OF the
third school for the State of Massachusetts,
This School was located at Westboro, about 80
miles from Boston, within two miles from the
Railroad leading from Albany to Boston. This
School from the beginning was exclusively de
signed for boys.
As TO the objects set forth in the establishment
Of this humane institution, need but quote
few lines from the adm rable report of the Com
mssiolers appointed to locate the Institution and
construct suitable buildings. Speaking upon the
character of the Institution they were about TO
locate, they say:
This is not 20 be called Prison or Peni'
tertiary; it is School for juvenile reform. In
order. therefore, to remove as far possible, ev-
ery,hing which IS calculated to attach the dis
grace Of penitentiary punishment to those who
mas be sent there, we propose TO give to the ex-
ternal appearance Of the buildings little rs
ihaL OF prison as il consistent with entire secu-
rity of escape Again says these Commission
ers, "The leading object of this Institution
should be- and We tTus, is intended 20 be, the
entire reformation of hayward boys, thus saving
the subjects of reform from ruin and sending
them permanent blessings to their race
The first Superintendent of this School was
Wan. ii. Lincoln, ESQ, afterwards the Superin-
tenpent of the State Reform School OF Maine,
and now of the Baltimore House of Refuge
e. -,
Board Of Trustees consisting of seven members,
all of whom are appointed by His Exceency the
Governor, by and with the advice of the Council
There had, in al, enjoyed the benefits OF this
School from its opening up to the year 1851,
two thousand FIVE hundred and twenty-ninc.-
During the summer Of 1859, a most disastrous
fire occurred in the State Reform Buildings which
resulted in partial separation Of the mass OF
youthful deiiuquents who had heretofore been
congregAted in the same building
The cause of rctormatory education has ever
had a host of intelligent advocates in this liberty
loving State. The late Governor of the State,
Nathaniel j. Banks, has given an impetus to Thu;
good work WHICH entities him TO the lasting -rat,
itude of every helper of the unfortunate and
down troIieu. The present Board of Trustees
of the Wcsthor0' School are as follows: George
.. Davis. Cavvcr I.otchkiss, julius A. Palmer,
Henry Cniclerin.s, Alden Leland, george ".
Bently aud Mr. Lyman. The present Superin
tendcn, Is Wm. + Starr, Esq The School is
supported by State funds aud subscriptions CON
binsd
The u.xt yelg following the opening Of the
State Reform School of Massachusetts the
" Westera Hoase IF Refuge" located at Roch
ester, New York, was prepared for the receptio
Of its first inmates. THIS In-Iitution is located
about > miles from the R,road Depot it the
city OF Rochester, " Y. Tnc Institution !. fit
ted for the accommoilJicn of 800 boys. NJ re.
male deHuqleDts have been received ~ this la
stitutou. rHe government oi this Institution
is vested in a Board of Managers consisting Of
fifteen persons appointed by the Governor,
Lieutenant Governor, and Comptroller. The
early liberal policy adopted By It's mlnag ~ com
mcuds itself e. other State Institutions as worthy
of imitation. This policy will appear by quo
taton OF 4 single paragraph from tae Managers
Report OF 1886 The quotation is as follows
ayers determined hat 40 persona! or political con
siierations should ever be allowed 20 intlienc.
their action and that in the religious institution
to be provided for the iamItcs, the peculiarly
of Sectari1uisa should have 10 place. This pol
icy has been strictly adhered 10, and although
there are in their own body aud among the oil
GERS and employees of the Institution, aud al
ways have been men OF opposite political and re
Iigious sentiments, 40 charge or suspicion of rin
lister action or desi ~ has ever been heard Of
Up to the year 1851, eleven hundred and -ix
boys had enjoyed the reforml,ory advantages
which this school afforded.
The support OF the Western House Of Refuge
is derived wholly from the STATE. The year
1850 WAS memorable in the history If retormato
~ education. Daring this year no less that
three retorn.Jory Institutions were thrown open
for the reception Of dclmquents--one of which
We have mentioned in previous article--in the
ColoTel Department OF the Philadelphia House
of Refuge.
In the city OF Providence, as early as the year
1917. we find the first yovement made in the
direction Of Juvenile reformatory. The want of
such institution Is expressed by petition pre-
sented to the Common Council bv benevolent
association, "a follows And the Association is
also informed that quite young persons are sent
to the Providence county Jail, which is used o.
the city under severe exac'ions from the General
Assembly as a House of Correction, where they
come in contlc; with old offenders, and it is be-.
lieved their morals are not improved" In the
year 1880 this school was opened for its first pu-
pills in building previously used for HOTEL
This Institution is governed by Board of sew
en- Trustees, of whom the Mayor is " er-effcio u
Chairman the remaining six Trustees are cleo.
ted annually by the City Council in Convention Of
the two Boards. The first Superintendent OF
the School was James II. Talcott, ESQ, the pres
ent incumbent
This School is designed for both males and fe-
males. There had been received into this school
up to the year 1857, in all, 49, of whom SIS
were males and al We're females. This School
is supported by the city. This same year the
House of Refuge OF Cincinnati Ohio was OPEN
ed the movement was originated by few phi.
lanthropic persons Of Cincinnati having seen the
beneficial results of other schools in successful
operation in eastern cities. The site determined
upon the location of the school was about mile
fyNrr ., o.r fs,,.-- ID.