The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1914-06-25


] !
to deal with the complex hoy
III ii problem" and to solve II WAS made in
IL Boston. The Farm and Trades school
IL on Thompsons island. Boston harbor
IL which recently celebrated its centennial
IL anniversary. was the result.
This school has done remarkable,
hII work and has set the pace for all In.
stitutions Of . like nature which have
been established In various parts Of the country
The nrst meeting to effect organization for this
school was held 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 was available.
In the beginning the management provided princi.
pally shelter and food. An asylum was established
In the West end Boys from five twelve Year, of
age were gathered there and sent to the pub
lie schools for education. Six years later larger
quarters were 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-
prentced to farmers tradesmen in other parts OF
the state. and there the responsibility of the school
for the time ended
Meanwhile another institution WAS or1an,voa
which conceived its object to be something mora
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 was raised In Roston for the scboo, ana
Thompson's island containing 157 acres was bought
for $4,000 ~ e"'
Two years later the asylum at the North end cold
us property there and making union with the
boston Farm school, removed to Thompson's Island
For nearly threequarters of century the name was
the Boston Asylum and Farm school and apr,cuI
ture formed the basis of the educational system
with an isolation that made conditions aImost
idea for carrying out it's purpose little attention
was attracted to the school, 1t quietly pursued
Ns UNIQUE work as private school for worthy bovs
of limited means '
fru1y 70
present functions the name was changed bv the
legislature to the Farm and Trades school
Inc school is supported by endowments tui.
tion fees and subscriptions Its vested funds
amount to nearly $2500OO but the income from
tnls source and tuition leaves a deficit of nearly
sZo'ooo year. which is made up by subscrip
uohs Iuftion fees amount to about $4,000 a
year. The annual expenses about $36 900
Provision is made for 100 boys whose elpihi,
Ny Tor 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 or recognized standing In the community
Aomissions are made four times year, Only
ooss whose recommendations satisfactory are
admitted and, II on trial. a boy proves, to he nm
ntted for the school, he is not allowed to remain
After admission the school furnishes everything
needed for the boy-clothng, shelter subsistence,
"edicai 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
10 place him either In higher school or in a
position for which he seems adapted
AS the general farm work necessarily in
ciuded some instructions in certain trades and
as carpenterfng 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
band was organized and has been in existence
since.
1t is said to be the Oldest boys band in the
country. and is one OF the distinctive features of
the school.
In 1882 the educational system was greatly
oroadened by the erection and equipment OF
Gardner hail. which contained a printing ONCE
manual training outfits and woodw working lathes
here the first sloyd lessons were given al far
as known. in this country
Interest In these several branches vas preat,v
stimulated. and the school course was 90 changed
~ TO permit almost daily lessons in carnenfrv
ana printing while ordinary school work still
continued
Today instruction is given on the following sub
3ects: Preparation Of the soil planting Of seed
cultivation, harvesting ana roteesan Of crons c,I
tvation Of fruits and art u orchard setting out
and caring for trees and shrubs testing and se
Electing seed, mixing Of chemicals for fertilizers
meteorolosy. vocal and instrumental music sloyd
mechanical drawing cabinet work. wood turning
carpentry, blacksmithing. machine work In metal
printing and binding, painting. cobbling, ONCE
work. the handling Of boats and the whole realm
OF household duties.