Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-12-14
Ohio Reform and Industrial School for
Girls.

A lady in Warren having written to
Rev. John Nichols, Superintendent OF
the State Reform School for Girls, at
White Sulphur Springs, for information
concerning the institution, received, a
few days ago, letter from Mr., Y. Civ
ing some facts which may interest q por-
ton, if not all of our readers. We are
indebted to the kindness of the lady re-
ceiving the letter for an opportunity to
make the following extracts:
'The friends Of humanity, including
the wayward, the erring and the unpro-
tected, stimulated no doubt, by the sue
cess Of the Massachusetts school, and
still more by our own Reform School for
BOYS, had long felt the need of such an
institution in our own State, rs link in
the golden chain of our public charities
and after many delays, and much opPo-
sition, on the 5th day OF May, leosi tne
Legislature passed the act creating the
ohio estate Reform and Industrial
School for Girls" 4" authorizing the Trus-
tees when appointed and duly qualified
to purchase the o. W. S. property for the
uses and purposes OF said institution.
Gov. Hayes, as was made his duty by
the law, apppointed as Trustees, Rev. +.
Merrick, b. D., and Abraham Thomson,
Esq, Delaware, Col. Stanley Mathews,
Cincinnati, Clark WaggOner, ESQ.,, OF
Toledo, and Gen. NJ. ID. Leggett, OF
| Evansville. This Board met and organ
l lied and after some delay, occasioned by
| investigations necessary 70 legally per-
| fecting the title to the premises, proceed
| ed to secure a Superintendent and Mat
ron and August 3lst, 1863, they called
I Jno. Nichols and Mary 2. Nichols to oc-
cupy those respective positions, having
I previously visited them by a sub-cOm-
/ mittee, Or. Merrick and Judge Mathews.
D Sept "A and 25 the Board met and on call
/ Of the President adopted By Laws pre-
I pared by their committee, Judge Math-
/ eWs and Gen. Leggett, and made selec-
| ton Of furniture suitable for present use.
/ Miss Sarah p. Clark was elected Assist
ant Matron for the ensuing year. On
l the first day of October the Superintend-
ent aud family took possession OF the
/ premises, and the prescribed circular
| announcing the opening Of the Institu-
/ ton for inmates on the 18th inst, was
4 issued, and Nov. 4th, 1859, the first pupil
was received, a girl from Wayne county,
| others followed slowly, averaging ore
/ per week for the first year.
| March lIth, 1870, the Trustees, at their
| adjourned meeting at Columbus, in adj
dillon to other business, elected Miss
Carrie Yeend, Of Claridon, Geaugs cOun-
/ ty, teacher for one year-duties and sal
ary the same as Assistant MatrOn. Owing
to delays incident to action of the Legis-
! lature affecting our institution, Miss Y.
did not enter upon the discharge Of her
duties till April 4th. The action of the
/ legislature, before referred to, was q
great detriment to our wOrk-disgusting
our trustees and disheartening us great
| ly. After being notified by the Board ol
| Managers Of the s. and S. Orphans tC
Weld to them possession of the premises
our trustees referred the questions Ol
ttheir rights and duties in the premises
TO Gov. Hayes, who committed the same
70 the Attorney General. His decision
retained us in possession OF the premises
till the present time, awaiting the action
Of the legislature at their next meeting
Trusting that a kind Providence will mo-
forsake the needy and erring children
gathered here we leave their future in
His hands.
We have entered on our record fifty
names, while our present number il
forty-eieht. No. one having been re
turned to her friends at their request
and number fifty, after but few days
residence with us, was sent to her friends
for sepulture. Death came for the frs
time among us, and when we looked no
for him, taking for his victim one fol
whom we hoped to labor, and whom We
hoped TO return to anxious, loving par
euts, their comfort, solace and joy, bu
our Heavenly Father, who is too wise t
err and too good to be unkind, saw 9th
erwise. Though His ways are now darl
and inscrutable, nevertheless ''He doett
all things WELL" Excuse this hasty
sketch, and believe me
Very respectfully yours,
JNo. NICHOLS.