The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-01-07

| GLdlE 1AEAOl44 0CnOOAs
Two miles outside of the town Of
Jamesburg, MiddIessex county, there is an
institution that is wel worth visiting. II
is the State Reform School for boys All
the people of this state lsRve undoubtedly
heard of the place, but coAparatively few
have visited it. On Friday aAparty from
Burlington county made Up to the
school They were ex-Sherif ley, ex-
Surrogate Howell. Collector PoV So
licitor Chambers and J. G. KingdoE The
party were the guests of Walter E. Borden.
Mr.. Borden has been at Jamesburg for
long time engaged in surveying proper
ty belonging to the Buckalew estate The
names of Buckalew and Jamesburg are
synonymous, as the major portion of the
property in that vicinity is owned by thu
estate. The work on which Mr. Borden
has been engaged is in connection~With
property left by James Buckslew father
of the late Isaac Buckalew, VITO was the
superintendent of the Amboy Division of
the Pennsylvania railroad. James Buck.
alew died in 1859.
The visitors made their headquarters at
the Jamesburg hotel, and they were SO
royalty treated by landlord Cruger that
they came near giving up the trip to the
school for the pleasure of staying at the
hotel. However, at nine O'Clock a car
rage from the school drove up and the
no ri onfo bo
met by John Wildes son of ex- Assembly
man George Wildes. The former is as
sistant superintendent. He. was greatly
pleased at meeting so many of~his ac-
quaintances from Burlington county and
the welcome was most cordial
1t was Trustees day and inside the
building was Hon. Nathaniel Rue. He
has been a member of the board for 81
years, and has seldom missed meeting
Mr.. Rue seems to consider it one of the
aims of his life to look after the matters
connected with the school, and his own
personal affairs are not more carefully
guarded than the public trusts Nothing
gives him more pleasure than to welcome
visitors to the school.
Superintendent Wildes piloted the
party around the place. What they saw
was very pleasing. To see the boys at
work, with looks ofcontentment, warmly
clad and showing signs of being well fed
and kindly treated, one could hardly realize
that these wards of the state were little
Fa11 81
were beyond the control of their parents
or guardians All were at work at the
different branches of employment laid
out for them. Carpenters, masons, black
smiths, electricians, tailors and many
other trades were represented. In the
kitchen, neat and clean as half dozen
boys with scrubbing brushes and soap
could make it, were several of the youths
engaged in preparing the midday meal.
Near by was the bakery, and in another
room a boy about Is years of age ex-
planned the creamery with the air of
veteran dairyman.
The sound of footing horns caused an
inquiry, and the information was given
school has band A visit to
the band room showed half, dozen little
fellows with horns almost as large-ss each
boy. The band master said these were
beginners, and if the gentlemen would
care to hear an effort he would allow
them to make it. This was agreed to and
the boys at once began. If the one or
two lessons they had taken produced the
results shown at this trial, these lads will
become musicians of no mean order
A new chapel has recently been built as
well as hospital The fact that there
are but two patients in the latter building
speaks well for the attention paid to the
health of the inmates of the school. One
place that was quite interesting to at
least one of the visitors was the printing
office. 1t is in charge of an old news
paper man, John Babcock, formerly o
the New Brunswick Fredonion. A paper
called The Ad00nce is issued from this
Office, and the other printing of the insti-
tuition is done there.
The buildings are handsome and sub
stantial. There is an entire absence of
anything that will suggest legal restraint
of the inmates There are no high walls
or anything of that nature. The boys are
all dressed alike in neat gray clothing
which while quite respectable in appear
ance, at once gives notice to an outsider
where the wearer belongs The boys are
given tasks and those who complete them
within given time are allowed holiday
Several were enjoying this privilege on
Friday. The day is theirs to spend as
they please within prescribed ground
limits Skating, reading ball playing and
other amusements occupied their attention.
The school is all right and the youthful
wards of the state are in good hands and
receiving careful attention that will be to
their benefit.