The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-10-07
The Vermont Reform school


reveals much Of interest, in the plans
adopted by the state for the reformation
Of her juvenile offenders, and also shows
wherein she is behind many Of her sister
states. The special features Of the
school, for which the superintendent is
responsible, within tho restrictions placed
upon him as to expenditures and other
limitations, are worthy of careful study
by every one who feels an interest in the
reformation Of youthful offenders against
law aud good morals.
-. THE BUILDINGS.
|. The school was in readiness and was
occupied a year ago October 9, 1875,
The property belonging to it consists Of
the old state arsenal property, and about
106 acres purchased from the old Gap.
tain Sherman farm" adjoining, the whole
being on slope rising from the Otter
creek. Tho largest building is new
wooden structure forty by sixty feet and
three stories high This is tho boys
home where they eat and sleep. The
reception rooms are at the front of the
lower floor. The dining.rooms, OF which
there are two, larger and smaller
one, occupy most Of the remainder of the
floor. The second story contains the
private rooms of the officers, in the front
part, while the rear is finished of as O
nice little chapel The top story is be
boys dormitory, whose floor is nearly all
occupied by the 1.-TWO story" berths usu,
ally provided for such institutions.
To one side Of this building, apd connect
ed with it by covered way,is long mar
row building, one and one half stories
high. set upon high walls. Part of it i,
used for bakery, and laundry, a part i,
occupied by tho steam boilers, and the
rest forms large gymnasium and bath
ing room. The whole building is warmed
by steam. apd both hot and cold water
are had wherever needed.
The old stone arsenal, which is three
stories high, is finished off in the two up
per stories. The second story is work
room, where the principal business i,
seating chairs, which forms the occupa
ton Of most of the boys for half OF eact
day. In the upper story are two very
elegant school rooms with foliiog door,
between, The basement is not Finished
off it contains the heating apparatus fol
the upper part.
The old "officers quarters hos beef
altered over, and now forms a comforta
BILE home for the six girls thus far re
ceived at the Reform school. 1t will ac
commodate in all about fifteen girls
has kit,hen, work.room, school room ant
dormitory, besides rooms for the matroI
in charge, and the other help.
Every room in these buildings is KEEP
faultlessly neat aud clean, and is as at
traotivo as the means of the school vii
allow. All the inmates, boys as well o
girls, have thus before them the example
and behind them the authority, to enforc
this principle which is next to goodness
THE GROUNDS.
The grounds are fne, and will, 10 few
years, be made picture OF rural beauty
From the road there is gradual slop,
downward to level stretch upon whicI
tho main building is placed, and beyond
that is sleeper descent to the banks o
the Otter creek. At the beginning o
the old arsenal grounds as one approach
es from Vcrgennes is handsome grove
and another one occupies the slope from
the main building to the creek Ia tbi
latter is deep ravine, through whicl
flows small brook, across which the su
perintendent has had built dam, form
ing quite little pond, where tho boy
enjoy themselves swimming in the sum
mer they also anticipate fun in the win
ter when Jack Frost converts thei
"swimming hole" into a skating rink
The river flows slowly past the grounds
completing view which is not easily sur
passed when one lakes il in from thu
right point.
INMATES OF THE SCHOOL.
There are in tho institution at pres
cnt about one hundred and fifteen boys
and in the girls department there are sill
girls. BY far the most Of these wcr,
committed for larceny, though mani
other offences figure among the causes o
commitment, such as breach of the peace
vagrancy. arson, assault, disobedleuce
disturbing school, unmanageableness, etc
Their ages vary from six to seventeen
years. Every county in the state is rep
resented among the boys, some of them
as Chitteuden. Franklin and Rutland
quito largely. Three Of the girls ar,
from Addison county.
THE GIRLS.
The girls department was established
at the beginning of the present year
The inmates occupy building separat,
from the boys, but the girls and boys arr
not entirely secluded from each others
company, it being belief of tho super
intendent, and very rational one, tina
1.-THE true way to reform a vicious boy Of
girl, is not to take them wholly out o.
temptations way. but to give them sucl
aids as shall enable them to endure il
temptation, and in time, if the germ o
virtue and life DO not wholly extinct they
will develop into true manhood"
THE WORK OF THE SCHOOL.
Both sexes are required to labor siS
hours each day, and to be in the schoo
four hours, Tho boys work at chat,
seating, shoemakipg, baking, washing, aud
laundrying, and perform the multifariou,
labors of the farm. The girls do house.
work, cook and sew it is the intention
we believe, if their pumbers inoreas,