The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-01-02
For TN. Lansing State Republican
Reform tory Educ atlOn.-NO. ,.

Of Lancaster, Massachusetts,, situated on the
| Worcester and Nahua Railroad, 9 miles n. f. Of
Worcester, the first American Reformatory er- |
eiusireiy for girls, was opened. As yet there is
| no other school Of the same character in this
country. II is called the estate Industrial
School for Girls" The plan adopted for the
buildings possesses great similarity to the Re-
formatOry at Red Hill, near London, England.
The girls are separated in different houses, from
twenty.fve to thirty in house. The seperate
families are under the supervision of a matron,
who ell the place of mother to the girls. In
each family there is school taught certain
number of hours each day. The Superinten
dent, Rev. Bradford TX. Pierce, occupies for his
family residence, house just outside the beau
full grove where the dwellings of the inmates
are located.
On the Sabbath, these various families repair
to the beautiful church ed fee, which is also one
of the Institution buildings, for the worship Of
God. In the summer OF 1858, the writer, in
company with the Rev. Chas Barnard, of Bos-
ton. visited this Institution. At that time there
had been organized three families, but the want
There can be no doubt as TO the fact whether or
no the proper plan has been adopted for Refor
matory training by the State of Massachusetts,
at Lancaster.
The system here established is Gods system
that of the family, and it is that which will ere
long be adopted by every Institution where Re
formation and not Punishment is the end pro
posed This school has been conducted with
marked ability and success, BY our fellow laborer,
the Rev. Il. X. PIERCE, who fills snot Gully the
place OF Superintendent, but Chaplain TO the
school. This school is governed by Board of
Trustees, seven in number, who are appointed
by the Governor. by and with the advice of the
Council.
This Institution owes much to the earnest Ia
bors and untirng Zeal of Francis Il. Fay, Esq
who from the frs; has been one of its warrnest
supporters and most sympsthizng friends.
During this year (s56) second school was
opened in the State of Michigan, locate, at the
Capital lately connected by X. r. communication
with Detroit, about so miles distant from the
city Of Detroit.
| This Institution vas created 10 obvate the DIFF
ficulty OF sending criminals of tender years TO
the State Prison, to be associated with persons
who were deeply vcr, eli in criminalty
The idea at fist suggested and acted upon
was not so much with reference to Reformation
as Punishment. tt, true, youth were sent 10
the Michigan House Of Correction, 20 he rcior-
med but also with q view Of being panished.
Thus the phtas-ology employed in the original
hill suggests Juvenile prison, rather than Re
form School Two wears since the bill was amen
ded, and the name of the Institution changed to
the State Reform School Still there remains
connected with the act as it now stands, several
points which should be- stricken ont of law per.
tanning 70 Reformatorv Education, as ol ec;ion-
abl. 10 the success of such enterprise. These
objectionable features trust will to- removed
:. by the incoming Legislature, and then all legal
oh-t uctors 10 the successful wor kings a. the
school will be abolished
The first Superintendent was Theodore
Foster ESQ, who from the comm. ncemelst Of
the school until the pres Incumbent was ap
= pointed six months since, held his Office " with
* credit to himself ard 10 the s.ific'ion Of the
Board Mr. Foster was one of the Comminrcr-
'r appointed to locate the site and construct the
4 buildings.
Al first, the acting Commissioner WIS the nom
inal Superintendent, The law in relation TO the
l. merging &C one Of these Offices into the other
* I am At q loss 20 find The school is managed
i, by Board If Control consisting Of three mem
N bers on. of whom is entitled chairman, anO,he,
i IL,
III the present Report Nov. 18th, 1850 there haC
" been received into the school 20l inmates.
a This school was designed in the construction
a. of its buildings Only for boys, though the Act O
the Legislature contempates the sending of both
y sexes TO the school, which feature Of the Act W,
- trust will be amended "a, the present session o
er the Legislature
e The present Superintendent is the Rev. D. b
TX Nichols. formerly connected with the Chicago
:, Reform School The present Clerk of the Boaro
!. is James Turner, ESQ. the Chairman is Geo
tn W. Lee, Esq
a Grea: credit i due to Senator Bingham, tin
( Governor of the State at the time OF the creation
of this school, for his endcavos to secure it
I'm establishment on liberal basis
~ In :hc year 1858, three schools were opeue,
as for the reception Of inmates, in the State o.
80 80 Ohio, called the " Ohio State Reform Farm am
Il. the second institution in the State of New Hamp
shire called the House of Reformation for Ju
ou venile and Female offenders against the law /;
ii. the third in san Francisco. California, called :h
n Industrial School Department"
The first Of these schools is located within fiv
or miles of Lancaster, Ohio
IS The purchase of |, l70 acres OF land was mad
near Lancaster, the seat of justice for Fairfel
nc county. at fifteen dollars per acre.
The buildings were constructed with refercnc
~ to economy, rather than for outward show
of aud the houses, or dwellings for the inmates az
en- named after the rivers in the immediate vicinity
There were eight families reported at the last re
IN ceivcd repor. OF the school. There no pri,
h on appendages to this school. This institution
is Reproduction of the Rough House. of Han
l burg. Germany.
|e. Its early history is connected with :he activ
VI laboTs of Charles Reemelin, Esq, OF Cincinnati
!, lis first Acting Commissioner"
"A. Mr. ReemeIin has shown himself a Jealous ali
ny labOrious reformer, b. his labore connected wit
- the establishment of this school. This Institu
~ ton, we learn through the Third Annual Report