The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-07-03
The States Juvenile Reformatory.
Institution Long Needed is Now in
Operation.

Just about month ago the buildings
of the long-needed and much-deslrec
State Reformatory for youthful con-
.yicts were completed and the boys
heretofore confined in the State peni-
tentiary were removed from that lnsti.
tuition nd contact with the older and
hardened criminals and placed in the
new reformatory all by themselves.
The new institution is located upon
the States Lexington farm, about five
miles from the city in the Dutch
Fork near the banks Of the Broad
river. While the building is not a
costly one it is most conveniently ar
ranged, and the boys are more COM
Portable there than they would be in
the State prison itself. The surround
ings are far-more conducive of real re-
formation.
a representative Of The State yester-
day afternoon visited the farm and re-
formatory in company with the Capt.
Adams Of the guard.
The farm is one containing 400 acres
and its location is excellent. The crops
thereon despite the unfavorable wealth
er are in very good condition-ln much
better shape indeed than those of sur
rounding farms. A new gin house is
being built.
The farm and the reformatory are in
charge of Sergt. S. III. Miller, very
capable and experienced officer and
farmer who knows his business. He
lives with his family in neat cottage
not far from the reformatory build
ings. Just now he is blue about the
weather, but is proud Of the fine gar
den he has near the reformatory, from
which all kinds of vegetables are
taken for feeding the prisoners.
At present the heavy work of the
farm is done by a force of l6 grown
conyicts who are kept in a stout TIM
Der long-bolted stockade entirely sepa-
rated from the reformatory premises.
These fellows are chiefly good prison
ers and are even allowed banjos within
the quarters. The guards quarters
adjoin. All are equipped with neat
iron bedsteads.
The kitchen is in charge of an old
negro convict. large range, ovens,
etc, are filled therein.
AS to the new juvenile reformatoTy.
It is two story wooden building
we'll constructed, with barred win
dows, thoroughly ceiled, and having
closet arrangements. The main floor
is divided. The guard room is in the
centre. From this room opens stlee
door leading into the room about BOX
80 feet in which are the sleeping quar-
tiers of the negro boys. There are 18
single IRON bedsteads, each equipped
with clean sheet, pillows and pillow
cases and blankets. Provision is made
for heating
The corresponding room for the
white bows is entered IN the same way
and equipped in like manner.
There are no white boys confined
there now and the room is used as a
bath room for the present prisoners,
each being required 30 bathe every
evening
Each of the boys is supplied with a
clean night shirt at night.
Thera are now only Is Of these juve.
nile convicts In the institution and
they seem we'll contented.
On the wing OF the same floor IS the
dining room where the boEs are given
good wholesome food
Up stairs is chapel where religious
services are conducted every Sunday
afternoon by the chaplain, the Rev.
j. C.. Abney, and adjoining. over the
dining room, is the hospital, which
is cool and comfortable.
There Is a splendid sell OF water
on the place, and tho prisoners are
we'll supplied With fresh and pure
water.
-Four guards are kept at the farm
all careful and experienced men.
Mr.. Abnev conducted Sunday
school service and later preached to
the boys and the older conyicts on the
farm, each squad being kept separate
He gave good advice drawn from the
ext. Come unto me, all ye that are
heavy laden, and I Will give you rest
Mr.. Abney says the boys all know the
commandments and take great IN
terest In the services Since they
have been taken to the reformatory
ne. has been careful to instruct them,
and he says their moral tone has been
considerably elevated already 1t is
worth the ride to the reformatory to
hear the little fellows, assisted in the
chorus by their elders, sing the hyms.
They throw their whole soul into
the music, seem to enjoy it, and sing
with wonderful blending of yolces-an
without music Of any kind.-The
State, July l.