The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1869-02-11
Description of the Ohio Reform
Farm and School.


The Ohio Reform School is located
upon farm Of 1,17O acres, six miles
south of Lancaster, Fairfield county
I0hiO. The farm is situated on what
lare called the "Hocking Hills" being
five or six hundred feet above the
level Of the Hooking Valley. The
climate at this elevation is delightful
land healthful, and the scenery and
surroundings are beautiful. The soil
is thin and -unproductive, being com
posed Of clay and sand, and underlaid
at a depth Of from two to eight feet
with sand rock. Tho timber consists
mostly Of small growth of pine, oak
I and chestnut, About one-fourth Of
the farm is sufficiently level to admit
Of cultivation with the plow-the
balance being composed Of slopes and
ravines, a part of which may at some
time be proftably converted into
4 vineyards. There are now about
four hundred acres of land cleared, the
balance being set with thick 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 atmosphere, grapes of
superior quality can also be produced.
The orchards, including the vine
yards and small fruits, now cover
about $50 acres-the remainder of
the cleared portion being devoted to
gardening, the raising of farm pro-
ducts and Pasturage. Fruit growing,
gardening, and the raising of nursery
trees, if not always remunerative pc
cuniarily, has been found very profit
able employment for the elevation of
the minds Of wayward boys.
Shop labor is carried on sufficiently
to manufacture the shoes and clothing
for the Institution; also to do the
blaeksmithing and carpenter work
needed.
/ The buildings are located near the
southern line of the farm, and includ-
ing yards, lawns and Fairgrounds,
occupy ten acres of ground. The
lawns are tastefully laid out, and or
namented with evergreens, shrubs
and flowers.
The buildings. include one man
building, six family buildings, three
bathing houses, three shop buildings,
two large barns, wood house, bake
house, lookup, wash l.ouse, together
with several out-buildings. The main
building is 1914 feet long, q feet wide
with 40 feet width of wing, and is two
stories high above the basement. In
the basement are two furnace rooms,
an ironing room, a store room, and
four large cellar rooms. On the first
floor are the Office, reception room,
parlor, five dining rooms, kitchen,
two store rooms, vestibule to chapel,
two halls, and one sleeping room for
domestics.
+ On the second floor are the chapel,
reading and lecture room, hospital,
Acting Commissioners family rooms,
two guest rooms, and rooms for teach
ers and employees.
The new family buildings are 81
feet long by 36 wide, and are two sto-
ries high above the basement. The
basement contains a furnace room,
tank room, and a large wash room,
which is also used as a play room in
stormy weather. On the first floor
are two rooms for the Elder Brother
and his family, and large school
room. The school room is also used
as a boys sitting room, and for even
ing and devotional exercises.
The second story contains a boys
dormitory, small sleeping room for
the Assistant Elder Brother, a room
for the boys Sunday clothing and a
night closet. These buildings are
plainly but neatly finished and fur
nished, and make a very comfortable
and pleasant home for family of ff-
ty boys. SO
The first ten boys were received
into the Institution from the Cincin-
natl House of Refuge, January 80,
1858. Since that date 1,O46 boys
have been received, of which number
3O5 now remain. The boys are class
ed in families, and are cared for by
officers called Elder Brothers. Each
family contains fifty boys, and is un-
der the supervisor IN of an Elder Broth
er, and female teacher.
No high fences, walls, bolts or
bars are used to restrain the boys, or
prevent them from escaping. By
kind treatment and judicions manage
ment, at least three-fourths Of the
boys, at all times, can be trusted to
go to any part of the farm, or even to
town on business without supervision,
and without any danger Of their es-
Gaping.
There is talk of purchasing a new
farm for the reformation Of boys, and
using the present one as q Reform
School for girls.