The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-01-30

DCScflpIlOli VI IIlc OutO 1lClOEHi
Farm and School.
The Ohio Reform School is To-
Gated upon farm of ITO acres,
six miles south of Lancaster,
Fairfield county, Ohio. The
farm is situated on what is called
the blocking Hills"--being five
or six hundred feet above the level
of the Hooking Valley. The eli
mate at this elevation is delightful
and hcalthfnl, and the scenery and
surroundings are beautiful. The
soil is thin and unproductive, be-
ing composed of clay and sand,
and underlaid at a depth of from
two to eight feet with sand rock.
The timber consists mostly of o
small growth OF pine, oak and
chestnut. About one.tourth of the
farm is sufficiently level 10 admit
of cultivation with the plow-the
balance being composed Of slopes
and ravines, u part of which may
at some time be proftably convert,
cd into vineyards. There are now
about 400 acres Of land cleared, the
balance being set with growth Of
underbrush and small timber. The
farm seems to be very well adapted
to the growth of many kinds Of
fruit, especially the peach. In
consequence of the pure dry atmOs-
phere, grapes of superior quality
can also be produced. The Or
cbards, including the vineyards
and small fruits, now cover about
l5O acros-thctremainder of the
cleared portion being devoted to
gardening and the raising OF farm
products and pasturage, Fruit
growing, gardening, and the rails
ing OF nursery trees, if not always
remuneratiye pccuniarily, has been
found very profitable employment
for the elevation Of the minds ol
wayward boys.
Shop labor is carried on suffi.
ciently to manufacture the shoes
and clothing for tho Institution
also TO do tho blaoksmithing and
carpenter work needed.
The buildings arc located near
the southern line Of tho farm, and
including yards, lawns and play
grounds, occupy ten acres Of
ground. The lawns are tastelully
laid out, and ornamcnted with
evergreens, shrubs and flowers.
The buildings lnclude-one main
building, eight family buildings
three bathing houses, two shop
buildings, two large barns, a wood
house, bake house, lookup, wash
house, ice house, dry house, corr
house and tool house, together with
several out buildings. The main
building is l54 feet long, y fco'
wide with 40 feet width Of wing
and is two stories high above the
basement. In the basement arC
two furnace rooms, an ironing
room, q store room, and four large
cellar rooms. On the first hool
are the Office, reception room, par
lor, five dining rooms, kitchen, TIVE
store rooms, vestibule TO chapel
two halls and one sleeping room
for domestics.
On tho second floor are the chap
ol, reading and lecture room, hos
pital, Acting Commissioners fami
ly rooms, two guest rooms, ant
rooms for teachers and employees.
Tho new family buildings ar
81 feet long by So wide, and ar
; two stories high above the base
meut. The basement contains
E furnace room, tank room, and
large wash room, which is also use
, for u play room in stormy weather
On the first floor are two rooms 70
the Elder Brother and his family
and u large school loom. Th
school room is also used as boy
sitting room, and for evening an
devotional exercises.
, The second story contains th
boys dormitory, a small sleepin
room for the Assistant Elder Brotl
J er, a room for the boys Sonda
clothing, and night closet. Thes
buildings are plainly but neatl
= finished and furnished, and make
very comfortable and pleasant hon
for a family of fifty boys.
: The first ten boys were receive