Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-06-20
Dedication Of the Reform School
at Waterbury.

Dedication Of the Reform School
At Waterbury.
The services in Inauguration Of tine Vermont
Reform School took place At Waterbury the
l4th inst. The attendance from remote parts
of the State, az well as from the vicinity, was
general, Enough the representation from the
West side OF the State was more numerous
than from the East side, owing no doubt to
the fact that the running of the trains was
more convenient for those who came from the
North and West than for those who came
from the South and East. Not having been
present until afternoon, We copy, abbreviating
somewhat, the excellent report of the Burling-
ton Free Press of much of the exercises
THE SCHOOL.
This is not one of those large and expensive
structures, on which other states have, as
they now see. wasted their money. If any
expected to see such, they were doubtless dis
appointed IN the plain, inexpensive anC home
like building, in which our Vermont Reform
School begins iss existence. These are the
homestead ard outbuildings of the old Govern
or Butler Farm, halt q mile west of Waterbury
village. 1t IL q plain but comtorabl two
story dwelling Of wood, with good sized ex-
tension to the rear. This last has been raised
| a story and a new wing has been added on the
west side. In its present shape, it affords &C
commodations Tor from tirenty-fohr TO thirty
boys. A dining room of sufficient size, a wash
. room, and the needed closets, DC, fill the low
CT story of the extension. Above, "a doze n
little bedrooms, each with its narrow window
nd II Ia hod b..H
which opens also a dormitory provided with
hunks. A single dark CELL pr perly venti
la,ed, with smooth wall. and ceiling OF wood
10 provided for purposes of discipline. The
new L.. Is devoted TO the school room light
and pleasant room, 10 be furnished with desks
OF the Boston pattern, and designed also to be
used as the chapel OF tie Institution. The
necessary outbuIldings partly surround
enclosure TO the rear, otherwise bounded by q
fence of twelve or fourteen feet in height.
This Is the only indication of restraint, out
side the buildings, for the inmates. The plan
OF the institution requires no elaborate system
OF mechanical safe guards. a night the
school tuiiting will hold the boys IN safe
keeping. During the day, they will be tor
four hours, 1.-TWO In the morning and two IN
the aiternoon) in the school room, and the
rest OF the day at work under proper and
wstchful supervision on the farm.
The farm is fine one of 81 acres, and tho
Commissioners hold bond tor the sale to
them at q reasonable prizes, of more land ad-
joining, when the Legislature shall provide the
means for Its purchase.
THE OBLIGATORY EXHRcIsKs
were held at The Congregational Church. This
was filed, at the hour set, 80 A. NJ, by Il
numerous and Intelligent audience. Govern
or Dillingham; presided with bis customary
dignity, and announced the exercises as fol-
lows:
LIST. Singing OF an Anthem, by a we'll
trained choir OF thirty voices.
ID Reading OF the Scriptures and prayer,
by Rev. ID. b. Ii kenzis OF Waterbury.
3D. Singing-ll9th Psalm, Alb part, of
WAITS collection.
4th. The address. by J. 5. Adams, Eco,
Secretary of the Vermont Board of Education.
Mr.. ADAMS ADDRESS.
MIR. Adams claimed the indulgence OF his
hearers, for coming before them with no elah-
crate discourse Weeks of inceesant sIeak-
ing, In the discharge OF his pubic duties, ana
VI forseen circumstances, ha deprived him Oi
opportunity for adequate preparation. But
he consoled himself, ID pars by the reflections
that the OCCASION WAS one which dad not de-
mand set speech much more than the return
OF the ProdIgai Son.
Narrating with touching pa;hos a recent
ecene ChIttenden County Court, where a
little boy OF twelve, with piping voice, plead
guilty 10 charge OF grand larceny, the speak
er said the question wlth the Judges was
- what Is to DC done wish case ike this '
And his ls the question which is before the
State. What shall a civilized and Christian
community do with the Juvenile offenders,
these homeless, orphaned waits thrown upon
I IL earaI Inls SchDnl " bsy IN
thank the Governor and the L gIsia ure OF
1865, who will loug live In the memory OF the
good people of the State, iOr sheIr emily htened
iIboraIlty, Ia In part the answer.
The Scnool wa demanded first by regGr1
for the sqfeiy Of the community. the increase
OF crime III the State Is fearful SIX years
ago, when conviction for murder occasloned
inquiry for q form OF order Tor execution, not
blank tor the purpose could Dc found Ia any
County IN the State, go long had 1T been since
G sentence Of deauh mad taken place Since
then seven sentences and executions for
murder have followed, and four or i've per
sons are now confinement, on capital
charges. The County janis are filled to over
howing. A surprising proportion OF the ID
mates are boys and girls OF from twelve 10
eighteen years, and IL Is found that the most
hardened offenders are those who commencing
young, have gone through an apprenticeship
of crime our County aud State prisons
Ooclety can be best protected by meeting the
OWL at Its souTce-by reclalming the youny,
wnile there Is chance for re,Urni.
Second, This school Was demanded by CON
siderations OF economy. The criminal expenses
OF many couptles In the State nave doubled
In ten years. JudIcious ex Expenditure u thou
sands, Tor refOT ndti0n, will gave tens of thou
sands expended tor The conviction and punish
ment Of crime
Ihrd, liz 10 demanded Oy benevolence, aud
the pubic sentiment which protests against
the IndlscrImInaIe mlngllBg OF Old and young
Offenders IN Ills
Fourth, justice demands it. The little es-
trays for whom this School Is provided, but
follow the examples set before them. TIE
groggery and the gam bling he'll contribute to
she education OF the people, as we'll as the
pulpit and the college. Those who have the
power TO resist such causes of Generalization
resI onsible tor the results, and IL Is but
just that the idle and prothne and lutemperat5
men OF wealth, and those who fan! to resIs,
such examples by protest and ensreaty, should
pay for the consequences which follow close
the heels OF such
With thanks tor the kind attention of his
audience. Mir. Adams closed his address.
Though familiar and informal, it was per
tinent, earnest and excellent discourse, and
was received with unmistak able interest and
approval
Mr.. T. b. Sanborn, Of Boston, Secretary of
the Massachusett Board of State Charities,
was next introduced by Governor Dillingham;
MIR. Sanborn congratulated Vermont on
condition of society which had permitted them
to delay till now a school OF Reform. Forty
years ago such an institution had existed IN
Boston, established by the city. Twenty years
ago the State took up the subject and estab-
lished a State Reform School Two others