The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1914-07-02

IL 81 anniversary, the result.
IL This school has done remarkable
IA3I work and has set the pace for all in
stitutions of like nature which have
been established in various parts of the country.
The first meeting to effect Organization for this
school was held March 21, 1914. Boston was then
but town. In it were boys bereft by death of
or both parents, and outside Of the work carried
on by the various charitable organizations no ade-
Quate relief available sa
In the beginning the management provided prlnci-
"pally shelter and food An asylum established
IN the West end. BoyI>Irom five to twelve years Of
age were gathered there and were sent to the pub
lie schools for education. Six years later larger
quarters secured at the North end In the for
mer residence Of the colonial governor, Sir William
Phipps ,..,t.
AS soon after the age of twelve as was possible
the boys, following the custom of the day. were ap-
prenticed to farmers tradesmen in other parts Of
the state and there the responsibility of the school
for the time ended.
Meanwhile another institution was organized
which conceived its object to be something more
than providing shelter 1t felt the boy to attain
better results in manhood should receive industrial
training. That was the Boston Farm school, which
In 1882 secured charter. In a few months the sum
of $4,000 raised in Boston for the school and
Thompsons island containing 157 acres, was bought
for $4,000.
Two years later the asylum at the North end sold
Its property there, and making union with the
Boston Farm school, removed to Thompsons island
For nearly three-quarters of century the name was
the Boston Asylum and Farm school, and agrcul
ture formed the basis of the educational system.
With isolation that made conditions almost
ideal for carrying out its purpose little attention
vas attracted to the school, and It quietly pursued
its unique work private school for worthy bows
of limited means.
About ten years ago. truly to describe its
present functions, the name was changed by the
Legislature to the Farm and Trades school,
Thn 10 tod hy oDdnvu kVj
tion fees and subscriptions. It's vested funds
amount to nearly $250,000 but the income from
this source and tuition leaves a deficit of nearly
100000 year, which is made up by subScrip-
tions. Tuition fees amount to about $4,000
year. The annual expenses are about $4,000.
Provision is made for 100 boys, whose eligibi
ity for admission requires them to be between
ten and fourteen years of age of good moral
character in fair physical condition and who are
not lower than the sixth grade in grammar school,
Recommendations are required from the family
physician, clergyman and from three four
persons of recognized standing in the community
Admissions are made four times year. Only
boys whose recommendations are satisfactory are
admitted and If on trial, boy proves to be un-
fitted for the school, he Is not allowed to remain
After admission the school furnishes everything
needed for the boy-clothing shelter subsistence,
medical attendance and trade opportunities and
moral discipline.
The school aims to fit the boy for higher pur-
SulISS ANU upon COmpl0IlHB Iuo COuES0 at SGHOOI,
to place him either in higher school or in a
position for which he seems adapted. e}
AS the general farm work necessarily In
cluded some instructions in certain trades, and
as carpentering and painting and the island loca-
ton permitted practical instruction In the use
and management Of boats. the first enrichment Of
the curriculum occurred IN 1857 when brass D
band was organized and has been in existence
since. -, Z" f@
It is said to be the Oldest boys band in the
a.
the school, ~.
In 1882 the educational system was greatly
broadened by the erection and equipment of
Gardner hail. which contained printing office, f.
manual training outfits and woodworking lathes.
Here the first sloyd lessons were given, so far
as known in this country.
Interest In these several branches was greatly
stimulated and the school course was SO changed
as to permit almost daily lessons in carpentry
and printing, while, ordinary school work still
continued
Today instruction is given the following sub.
jects: Preparation of the soil, planting Of seed,
cultivation, harvesting and rotation Of crops, cuL
tivation of fruits and Of orchard setting out
and caring for trees and shrubs, testing and Sc
lecting seed mixing of chemicals for fertilizers,
meteorology, vocal and instrumental music, soyd,
mechanical drawing, cabinet work, wood turning,
carpentry blacksmithing machine work in metal
printing and binding, painting cobbling, Office
work, the handling Of boats and the whole realm
of household duties.