The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-08-02
TO ABANDON HARTFORD.
Decision Of the Soldiers Orphan
School Commission Is Not
Hailed with JOY.

The announcement that the Soldiers
Orphan school commission has decided
to recommend the abandonment of the
Hartford school was received with great
surprise and much regret throughout
Northeastern Pennsylvania, whore this
institution has occupied an unique po-
sition among educational institutions.
The school has been the object OF great
care and solicitude since its earliest
days.
1t was founded in 1864 and was among
the earliest established for the orphans
of men who fought in the Civil war.
The place was already historic as the
old Richardson academy, one of the
most celebrated schools of high grade
i'm the state and from whose halls have
come many men who have achieved
wide distinction in various walks of
life. Nesting among the lovely hills
of Susquehanna county, the cluster Of
buildings devoted to the moral. phys-
cal and mental well-being of boys and
girls whose young lives have been ham
pered from the outset. have been the
center of the hopes and affectionate
care of veterans and civilians alike.
During these years thousands Of stu
dents have been graduated from the
institution with ,heir plans and aims
lifted to a higher plane, with their
energies so well directed that they
have gone forth into the world nobly
equipped for lfe's struggles.
The property at Hartford is not owned
by the state, but is leased annually
and the idea of economy is probably
what has actuated the commission in
the serious step just taken, as the
present buildings are old and dilapi-
dated to some degree. Yet consider
able sums have recently been expended
on repairs and improvements, which
would have indicated that such a
change was not long contemplated. AL
| though the shelter has been humble
and unpretentious. the surroundings
and the beautiful home life have been
| more than reCOmpense for mere ap-
pearances.
The commission Of Soldiers Orphan
| schools was created in 1889. Among the
| early members were Governor r. r..
| Pattison, General j. p. S. Goblin, Sena-
tor Jacob Grouse, Hon. William +.
| Stewart q. w. Skinner, Michael b.
Lemon. Thomas G. Sample. Ezra II.
| Ripple. George G. Boyer, G.. Harry Da-
| Wis. Thomas j. Stewart. Previous to
! that period there was state superin-
| tendent of soldiers orphans. No COM
pensation is allowed the members of
| the commission save actual expenses
and no member is allowed to be in
| terested financially in any school or
| institution having such children in
| charge.
The children are admitted at the
| age of 10 and even younger, and they
remain until Is. when they are dis
! charged with a certificate showing their
mental attainments and their moral
| and industrial standing. In 1890 about
| ! $40 children were in the care of the
state. The number has not been de-
pleted to any great degree. owing to
the war in Cuba and the Philippines.
In the school at Hartford about $50
students were enrolled this year. The
problem OF crowding them into the
already over-crowded orphan schools
| in other parts of the state appeals to
the thinking residents of this section,
and it will be against the vigorous
expressions of dissatisfaction that the
! spot will he abandoned
The school has for some years been
under the management of James Mat
/ thews, whose wise and capable direc-
! tion has oCCasloned much favorable
comment throughout the state.
Locally our people have been deeply
interested in the progress Of the in
| stitution because Of the ardent efforts
Of Colonel +. IL. Ripple who has long
been a patron saint in the eyes of the
students and who has assisted in the
support and the advancement of the
| inmates by many large gifts.
The wonderful home life evident even
where military discipline prevails is
something which always appeals 20 the
visitor at the Hartford school. To see
it abandoned will be to remove a source
of great pride from this region.