The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-10-31
THE REFORM SCHOOL.
visit by the General Assembly.

MONTPELIER, Oct. 90, 1874.
Pursuant to a joint resolution to that ef-
feet, both houses adjourned on Wednesday
afternoon for the purpose of visiting the
Reform school at Waterbury. A special
train OF ten cars was provided for the pur-
pose by the managers of the Vermont Cen
trail railroad, under the immediate super
vision of Superintendent Hobart, assisted
by Division Superintendent Arnold. The
cars were not all filled, but nearly all the
members of the General Ass ,mbly availed
themselves of the opportunity to visit this
institution, which is to-day monument to
the wisdom of its projectors and the fore
sight of the legislatures that have so NUM-
ficiently provided for its establishment.
To no one man is the state so much in
debted for the success of this school as to the
late Hon. Charles Reed, of whom the trus-
tees of the school in their report say "He
was a practical philanthrophst and aimed
to improve not only the head but the heart
and life. His conception of the aims and
objects of the school were eminently Just
and proper, and in his own language, so
just, he insisted 'that the institution had
been and was school and not prison. 1"
And such certainly the legislature found it
on their visit on Wednesday afternoon.
Many of the members have their wives
and daughters with them at the capital the
present week, and they mostly awaited
themselves of the opportunity afforded
them to accompany the representatives,
thus adding much to their own enjoyment
as well as to that of the entire party.
Upon reaching Waterbury the train was
run down opposite the school buildings,
some quarter of mile below the depot,
TO enable the party to alight at point the
most accessible thereto.
The buildings themselves have heretofore
been fully described in your columns, and
that description need not now be repeated
1t is sufficient at this time to say that the
main building consists of centre building
of four stories and basement, with two
wings of three stories and basement OF
either side, and in the rear of these wing
are two other wings of two stories, ant
basement under one of them, with cour
between them which opens into and form
part of the large and convenient play
ground for the boys. In front of til,
building is a spacious lawn and flower gar
den appropriately laid out in walks ant
drives, and fountains altogether forming
one of the most delightful spots in Contra
Vermont. The buildings-barns and shed
arc equally spacious and commodious
and with such additions to the tillage Liant
as it is now in the power of the state t,
purchase on favorable terms, there is tn
foundation for what must very soon becom
the model farm of Vermont as well as tn
model reform school of the country.
The visitors were escorted through tn
various departments of the building by tn
superintendent, Mr.. VIM. G. Fairbanks
the assistants and teachers in their variou
departments kindly answering the thou
sand-and-one interrogatories which were pu
to them us the procession" marched along
Entering the main door, we filed to tn
right through the reception room into tn
Office of the superintendent, which room !
! also used as library, and, on this occasion