The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-01-15
Special Report of thc Trustees Of the
Vermont Reform school 1875.


Special Report of the trustees Of the
Vermont Reform school 1875.
TO His Ercellency AsadeL i'cci, Goconoy
Of Vermont!
In the early morning of the 18th Of De.
cember, 1874, the entire brick building of
the Vermont reform school, at Waterbury,
erected in part in the year 1868, but main
" in the year 1871, with all its contents of
every description, save the scanty covering
of its escaping inmates, was totally de-
stroycd by fire. The fire originated in the
gas-r room, situate IN the basement OF the
building, solely from accident, without
fault on the part of any person. and the
circumstances of its Origin Hcrc in the
main correctly stated ~ nearly all the
newspapers in the state.
The boys, one hundred aud fDrty-eight
in number, were quickly aroused 10y the
officers in charge of them, dressed in their
everyday suits which they had laid
off when they retired for the night, and
quickly and in an orderly manner con-
Quoted to the yard. There they were
briefly addressed by Asss liant Superin-
tendent Healey, and warned against dong
anything in the midst of the excitement in
cluenI 10 SUCH IL llIC NIlltl tutl MOulU DOl
do in their calmer moments, and were then
turned loose. Although their opportuDi-
ties for escape were ample, they all acted
upon their honor, and never betrayed the
trust reposed in them, in attempting 10
escape, or otherwise but in every way
acted in the most honorable and manly
manner, and we are glad to state that up to
the present time they have continued to do
do, and have earned the commentator of
the trustees and officers of the institution.
While the fire was yet burning, they were
taken to the Waterbury Hotel, that being
the only place where they could convenient
ly be kept together, cared for and fed The
large hall of the hotel was secured for their
use, and served az their home during the
day and their lodging room during the
night Upon our application to him for
that purpose, Quartermaster General
Kingsley promptly loaned us three hun
dred double army blankets from the state
arsenal, which were seasonably received
and used as beds and covering for the boys
on the night of the day of the fire.
Superintendent Fairbanli, who was alb
sent, by the advice of the trustees to asccr-
tam the state of the market for chair seats,
was summoned by a telegram, and arrived
home during the same day
The trustees and superintendent were to-
gether on the 18th, 14th, 18th aud 10Th
days of December caring for the boys, and
arranging for the accommodations for
the school until such time as per-
manent buildings could probably be
erected. We could not calculate upon
the completion of such buildings at any
time short of a year Meantime the school
must be kept together or be utterly ruined,
and in order to keep it together it was alb
solutely necessary to erect temporary
buildings of sufficient capacity to carry on
the school, and keep its organization and
| discipline as perfect as inconvenient ac-
commodations would permit We accord
ingly contracted with Messrs. Fairbank &
Smith, owners of the large chair-shop near
| ly opposite the reform school grounds, for
the use of the entire attic room of said
shop, which is 100 feet long and 40 feet in
breadth, well iloored and lighted, and
warmed by steam, to be occupied
as workshop and chapel also for
a room in the west end of the second story
45x30, to be useh as dining hall, which
is also well lighted, and warmed in the
same manner. Adjoining these rooms at
the west end of said shop was smaller
frame building, which we have rented with
the privilege OF making second story by
raising the roof and still west of this, on
land owned by the same parties, we have
erected temporary structure, connected
| with the one last mentioned, which we
found it necessary to have, and which,
| when we are through using it, we have the
right to remove. In these we have com
Portable sleeping-hall, school room, kitchen,
bathroom and officers quarters. Messrs.
f. e. s. contract to furnish a full supply of
water for all necessary purposes in these
buildings, by pumping the same into a tank
in the attic. They also furnish the steam
necessary for warming all our rooms, and
all that will be needed for laundry and
culinary purposes The piping used we
have taken from the ruins of the old build
ing, and the same will be fit for use in the
new buildings when erected.
For the rooms we have rented. the land
on which we have erected our temporary
structure, the steam for heating, culinary
and laundry purposes, and the supply of
water for the use of the school, all for one
veal, the state is to pay Messrs. Fairbani
& Smith the sum of two thousand dollars,
payable in quarterly instalments, deduct
ing thercfrom the wages OF those boys who
may be employed by them in their shop.
Superintendent Fairbank has been indie
fatigable in his labors to prepare the new
house working day and night, and has
exceeded our expectations in the rapidity
and success of his efforts. On the fifteenth
day after the fire the boys were all III then
new quarters, where they have been kept
lodged and fed ever since, and the officers
and teachers are now there also.
No one of the lady officers of the msti
tuition was fortunate enough to save n full
suit of clothing nor have they since the
fire had opportunity to do any sewing fol
themselves. The ladies of Waterbury,
however, have done ii for them, and by
: means of this kindness, the ladies of The
institution have been able to make full
supply of bed-ticks, sheets and shirts fol
the boys, who are now in very ccmforta
BILE condition Too much praise cannot be
, given the officers of the institution, both
male and female, for the self-sacrifcne
spirit which tVey have manifested in caring
for the comfort of the boys and in protect
3 ing the interests of the state and school.
For sufficient sum OF money to cove
, the expenses of our temporary structure
beds, sheets, pillows, towels, clothing fol
the boys, crockery, tables, bunk frames
. &C., we ask special appropriation, and w
, hope to be able to make correct estimat,
of the amount needed by the time the leg
islature is assembled.
D Our duties 10 the school and the stat,
compelled us to adopt the course we hav,
indicated. In all we have done, we hay,
have had In view true economy, and al
: that has been provided for use in our tenn