Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-11-19
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THE FERRIS REFORM SCHOOL.
Probably Heiidy for the Reception OF
Inmates by OccsinNer 1ss--aaoH fn-
| cOrrigiblo tiUys ARE tv BIZ Committed
to the SelOol-rram - to t6 Years,
The Ferris Reform School is being
| rapidly gotten ready to be put to practi-
| cal use. Work has been going oil at the
| Woodside property ever since the corpor-
alton became organized and the board of
managers was named. The work has
been under the direction of the COM
mittee on buildings and grounds, consist
| ing of Alfred Gawthrop, Joseph L. Car
penter, Jr., and William q. Lodge. 1t
has been under the personal supervision
| of William ID. Pickles, who has been
| selected as superintendent of the institu-
| ton by the board of managers When the
property came into the hands of the cor
poration it contained the old mansion and
| q tenant farm house, with the customary
stables, barns and outbuildings. There
are 1876 acres in the farm. The mansion
has been considerably altered in the in
terror to suit the new purpose to which it
is to be put. Several of the old parti-
| tions have been taken out, and the rooms
enlarged according to plans and spec
| ifications drawn by W. II. Farrell,
the architect. The enlarged rooms are to
| be used as school halls, dining room and
| dormitories. The portion of the house
which is to be occupied by the superin-
| tendent and his family has also been re-
modelled and presents changed appear
| ance. The work on this building will be
completed in about week, the painters
and paper hangers being engaged in put
ting on the finishing work. MIR. Pickles
will move in during the last week in this
month.
The old farmhouse has been also
rejuyenated and an addition was built to
it, SO that it is now comfortable and
altogether desirable place. Eugene
Stroup, who is at present farming the
ground, has moved in and is now occupy
ing the house. A new building is in
course of erection, designed by Architect
Farrell, and intended as bakery, wash
house and laundry. 1t is of capacious
size and is being put up by Contractor
William G. Pierce. 1t will also be COM
pleted in week or two. The property
is located ON the Brandywine Springs
road 81 miles due west from Wilmington.
1t is expected to be reopened for the re-
ception of inmates by the LIST of Deoem-
Der. The officers of the institution ut
the beginning will be the superintendent,
matron, teacher and farmer, and these
will be added to as inmates multiply and
the needs of the school increase
The reform school will be open for boys
| only. The only means of getting incor-
| rigibles into the institution will be on
commitments by the court of jail delivery.
| the municipal court or a justice of the
peace for New Castle county. When
1 placed in the school the board of man
| ayers becomes the guardian of the boys
/ for the time specified in the commitment,
| or if no time is specified, until they be.
come of age. The lowest limit of age for
boys is 8 years. When received at
the school the boys will be put to
work at such arts, trades or occupations
as may be introduced, in making and
mending clothes and shoes for the use of
the inmates, in the kitchen, cleaning and
housework, and out in the open air, on
the farm. The introduction of labor into
the school is to be regarded principally
with reference to the moral benefits
to be derived from it, and pre-
ference is to be given to those trades
and occupations the knowledge of
which may enable the delinquents to earn
their subsistence ON their discharge from
the school. In addition to the training
in the way of labor, school will be pro-
vided in which the rudimentary branches
of learning will be taught by competent
teachers. After boy has been at the
school long enough to show signs
of trustworthi ess, applications
will be considered from farmers
or others wishing to hire any
of the boys as apprentices. An assistant
superintendent is to be employed when
the proper time arrives whose special
duty it will be to attend to this branch of
J the schools work, visit the boys who are
thus indentured, and keep informed of the
behavior and condition of the hired boys
with the view of promoting their
reformation and welfare and preventing
? abuse on the part of masters. In case a
boy manifests strong disposition to re-
turn to his waywardness when thus in
: dentured he is to be returned to the in
stitution for discipline and more rigorous
treatment.
1t is believed that but little time will
g pass before there will be fair number Of
4 inmates in the new institution. The
Board of Managers will receive boys, moi
over 16 nor under 8 years, who are com
!. mitted to its custody by the courts OF
= magistrates for vagrancy or other crimina
= offense, or upon the acquittal of such boy
4 if the court or magistrate, upon the testi
= mony, shall consider him proper object
4 for the school. 1t will not be
in the discretion of the managers tt
reject any such boy, except for the
offenses of homicide, arson or rape. A
minor charged with any offense except
= ing the above may be committed to the
U school on the Recommendation of the
grand jury without IN Indictment. Boys
can also be committed without o. clsrgt
being preferred against them, on com
. plant and proof by parent, guardian
or next friend before the courts
3 or magistrates that by reason
of vicious conduct he can not control the
lad and regards it necessary for his
. morals and future welfare that he should
be placed in the institution. Minors will
u also be received when committed on the
: charge of incorrigible conduct, and be.
cause from moral depravity or otherwise
the parent, guardian or other person
: having custody of the boy is incapable oil
: unwilling to exercise the proper care and
discipline over him.
Since the board of managers organized
! in April last there have been two deaths
8 among its members-those of Samuel M
8 Pussy and Allen Gawthrop. These vacant
! places were supplied by the election o.
/ George S. Capelle and Alfred Gawthrop
respectively. The managers of whom
Il DIR. Caleb Harlan ispresident, meet regu
: larly on the second Thursday of eacl
9 month in this city. The last meeting
was held last Thursday.