The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-01-12
From the Milwaukee Sentinel.

WAUKEsHA, Wis, Dec. 81, 1870.
The Legislative Visiting Committee
arrived here this morning by the early
train from Milwaukee. They were ac
companied by the Hon. Edward ONell,
President of the Board of Trustees. They
were met at the depot by the Hon. A. II.
Elmore and Hon. G. r. Gibbs, OF the
Board of Trustees. The party were I'M,
mediately driven to the Reform School,
where they were cordially welcomed by
SUPERINTENDENT Hendrickson and his ex-
cellent lady. The morning was brisk and
cold, and, after thorough warming, the
party were conducted through the work
Shops, schools, and dormitories.
The first visited was the knitting
school, where forty of the smaller boys
are occupied for an hour and a halt IN
the morning and for the same length or
time in the afternoon in knitting stock
ings and suspenders. They supply all
these articles used at the institution
During the last year the product OF this
school was 80 pairs of stockings and 2333
suspenders During the summer months
these boys are occupied in pulling up
weeds in the gardens and similar out
door work, in lieu of Knitting
From the knitting school we passed to
the tailor shop, where all the clothes
worn by the boys are made and repaired.
The little fellows are adopts at their
work, and although they might not be
able to finish a broadcloth coat in the
most approved style, they do good, sub
stantial, plain sewing. The shoe shop
is occupied by about twenty boys VINO
make all the boots and shoes used,and 90
all of the repairing. They make line cali
boots, ladies brogans, and coarse boots
for the boys,
In the broom shop class Of boys are
kept making brooms, and turn out
good article. The product last year
amounted to $40 dozen.
In the willow shop large number OF
BOYS are at work making baskets, chairs
and all kinds of willow-work. There IS
a large stock of chairs and baskets now
on hand. The boys work very attentive
", and acquire considerable skill IN their
several branches Of industry. The lead
inc principle of the school is, that every
boy shall be occupied by some business,
shall be kept at work or at study except
during the hours of recreation, when
they are under the charge Of some one OF
the overseers.
The shops are in the new buildings,
which have been put up under the I'M
mediate direction of the Trustees IN the
most thorough and substantial manner
They are well lighted and have been
made fire proof. -
There is connected with the institution
a farm, of which about $50 acres are
under the pillow, producing corn Wheat
broom. corn and willow. There is a strlE
of forty three acres which the ofncers O
the institution are anxious to acquire, a.
it lies between the different parts. OF Tx
farm, which are connected oDty py
narrow lane. More land is absolutel.
needed, ard the purchase ought 10 DC
made u ae
In one Of the new buildings arrange
ments have been made for laundry
. store rooms, {. new school room, an
apartments Tor storing fuel. These wer
hadly needed. The laundry will be
model of convenience. Under this build
inc. is a cellar for groceries, admlrabl
adapted to its purpose.
From the new buildings we pas5et
through the family buildings The boy
are divided into families of trom thlrE.
tn ffty in number, and each family Is Ply
into a SEPARATE building, where they ca
sleen. and live, except when IN school 9
at work If cleanliness is next to godl
ness then are some of the means take
to train the boys well adapted to promls
thair re formation. Vice is ineyltabl
associated with dirt and filth. Enterln
one Of the family buildings, IN the pass
ment we were ushered into q lars
playroom, where the boys take thei
sport when kept in by the. weather sc
Joining this is a large washr ON. contain
inc bath basin, in hich EACH BOY mus
wash at stated times during the wees
During the summer they battle IN III
river near, Five times daily they mus
wash face and hands They must keel
clean. Upon the next floor is founu III
dining room, the matron's room, closets
etc. Above are the dormitories, whef
the boys are put in beds one above tn
other two bows 70 each bedstead Ih'
beds are neat, clean and hard. AdJaceh
TO the dormitories is the officers room
and a room where the boys must undrcs'
upon retiring, leaving their clothes there
in The room is then locked up, and i
during the night any boy wishes to escape
he must go not exactly dressed Tor com