Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1914-07-10

III b anniversary was the result.
IL - This school has done remarkable
III work and has set the pace for all in
situations Of like nature which have
been established in various parts of the country.
The first meeting to effect an organization for this
school was held on March 81 1914. Boston was then
but town. In it were boys bereft by death Of one
or both parents, and outside of the work carried
on by the various charitable organizations, no ade
Quate relief available.
In the beginning the management provided princt
paly shelter and food An asylum was established
in the West end. Boys from five to twelve years Of
age were gathered there, and 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.
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. It felt the boy, to attain
better results in manhood should receive industrial
training That the Boston Farm school which
in 1882 secured a charter In few months the sum
OF $4,000 raised in Boston for the school and
Thompson's island. containing 1877 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 Thompson's island
For nearly three-quarers OF century the name was
the Boston Asylum and Farm school, and agricul.
ture formed the basis Of the educational system
With isolation that made conditions almost
Ideal fore carrying out It's purpose little attention
was attracted to the school, and 1t quietly pursued
its unique work private school for worthy bows
of limited means.
About ten years ago, more truly to describe its
present functions, the name was changed by the
Legislature to the Farm and Trades school,
The school Is supported by endoWments tui.
tion fees and subscriptions. It's vested funds
amount to nearly $250O00 but the income from
this source and tuition leaves deficit of nearly
100000 year, which is made up by subscrip.
tons. Tuition fees amount to about $4,000
year. The annual expenses are about $4,000
Provision is made for 100 boys, whose egibi
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 required from the family
physician clergyman and from three or four
persons of recognized standing in the community.
Admissions are made four times year. Only
boys whose recommendations satisfactory are
admitted and, If on trial, boy proves to be IN
fitted for the school, he is not allowed to remain.
After admission the school furnishes everything
needed for the boy-cothing shelter, subsistence,
medical attendance and trade opportunities and
moral discipline.
The school aims to fit the boy for higher pur-
suits, and, upon completing the course at school,
to place him either in a higher school or in
position for which he adapted
Il. AS the general farm work necessarily in
cluded instructions in certain trades and
Is 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 a brass
band organized and has been in existence
since
1t is said to be the oldest boys band In the
country, and is of the distinctive features of
the school.
In 1882 the educational system was greatly
broadened by the erection and equipment Of
Gardner hall, which contained a printing Office,
. manual training outfits and woodworking lathes.
Here the first sloyd lessons 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
Ncultivaton harvesting and rotation of crops, cu-
'tivation Of fruits and Of orchard setting out
and caring for trees and shrubs testing and Sc
llecting seed mixing Of chemicals for fertilizers
Ineteorology, vocal and instrumental music, soyd
mechanical drawing, cabinet work, wood turning
carpentry blacksmthing machine work in metal
printing and binding, painting cobbling, Office
work the handling Of boats and the whole realm
Of household duties.