Evening journal., 1915-01-02
NEW INDUSTRIAL
Institution soon
Girls Reformatory at Clay
mont Will be Ready
This Year
HISTORY OF THE
SCHOOL REVIEWED

The two new buildings Of the Della
ware Industrial School for Girls now /
being erected near Claymont are .
nearing completion and upon inquir-
ing OF Mrs Charles NJ Curtis. the
president of the corporation, some in
teresting information was obtained
about the school and the buildings.
/ About twenty-five years ago the IN
stitution began its work in small
way, TO meet an urgent need OF a
4 place for the care of wayward girls.
/ AS the work grew the school moved 10
! larger quarters, until il was estab-
! lished on a block Of land at twenty
ffth and Market streets, bought by
an interested benefactor for the use
of the institution. A building costing
about $25 600 was erected by private
contributions and was intended 10
house about 80 girls and teachers
I Being overcrOwdod by population
of about GO, the managers FOLLOWING
the example of others and upon the
advice and with the approval OF the
Levy Court OF New Castle county ana
committee of the last Legislature,
decided TO move out of the city ana
so bought IS acres of land near Gay
mont very well suited for the purpose.
They also decided to CLASSIFY the
girls according to ages and conduct
by having at least two buildings.
Preliminary plans and an estimate
of cost were obtained for two build
ings and the whole matter. including
the cost Of the two buildings and the
accessories was laid before the last
session Of the Legislature in 1913
showing that an appropriation by the
state of $4,000 was necessary. lhe
resources of the state at that time
did not justify larger appropriation
than $4,000 but it was expected that
, il would be duplicated at the next
: session i'm 1915, so the managers with
: This endorsement proceeded to carry
out the project.
The buildings are alike IN the main.
, except that in the basement OF one
, is q gymnasium and of the other the
laundry. They are built OF stone
uuarrled ON the premises at sub
stantial saving of expense, and arc
low. homc-like and shapely architec-
tualiy. i'm one building will be the
sowing and laundry classes and IN
~ the other the school. Each building
has its own kitchen and diningrOom
for much attention is given TO train
inG the girls To cook and serve meals
In locating the buildings regard has
been had to future extensions of the
work Water is pumped from the
+. creek by "a ram to reservoir, ano
" whence il flows by gravity through q
filter to one OF the buildings and i:
pumped into a large tank under pres
sure. and from fhere delivered by all
y pressure to both buildings. A med
y, em sewage disposal plant has beer
)" built which takes care of all drainage
except from the roofs without injur,
to the stream Both water and sewei
system is planned TO serve a muci
y larger population
= Each girl has a separate room ant
y all but a few of them are on the sec
z ond floor Provision is made for Z
= hospital ward and there arc accom-
modations for the superintendent ant
the teachers In each cottage ther,
will he q community or home life fol
J. IL is the aim of the school to brighter
c as we'll as elevate the girls who ar
D committed TO the custody OF tn
school The exterior of the building
arc covered with a weather prOOfni
s. white material.
l. The two buildings complete. ant
the water supply and sewage disposa
K plants and the roadway will cos
le SS5 600 A. S. Reed & Bro. arc tn
general contractors. B. f. Shaw Co
le furnished the steam heating system
&c The Morris Electric Co has tn
m contract for the electric lighting
and some OF the sub-contrac
r tors were of Wilmington. Savery
st Sheetz and Savery, were the archi
ly tects. Herbert c. Hatton. of tn
ST city designed the water and sewag
systems and they were both built b.
D. him. at a cost of about $500
re Since the institution was starte
ne about 275 girls have been committe
of there. and of them about 6S per cen
I'd were from Wilmington. 10 per cen
ly from rural New Castle county. 10 pc
lg cent. from Kent county and II pc
OF cent. from Sussex county. At presen
n. there are about GO in the school.
)u II is a noteworthy fact that IN
w percentage of success in dealing wit
the girls is nearly 75 per cent. Unde
the management of Mrs. Henry n
jackson the school. though a reform
atcry to which girls come only upo
- commitment by a court or magistrat
after hearing on a charge of mis-
conduct or dangerous environment,
in fact a home, and Mrs. Jackson
the mother spirit of it. She is calle
Mother Jackson" and to her tn
n girls while out as well as in th
. school turn for help and mora
u strength when they need it.
Mrs. Curtis referred to the yer
70 capable board of managers. represent
- ing various religious bodies. Protes
" ant and Roman Catholic and the
y keen and actual interest in the Va
N. rious departments. All their energie
- will be needed for the new work
p, the country. for outdoor life will the
be a feature of the school, both fc
rG work and play. The possibilities ,
truck farming. poultry raising. flow
ers and athletic sports are very a
Turing and interesting. But all Of tn
will be begun gradually.
ry Inasmuch as the State has approve
10 of the new project and by its law
w imposes a duty on the school to tal
FL charge of, restrain. feed. clothe an
educate to useful occupations thes
wayward girls. the managers cont
IDENTIFY expect further aid not only (,
the buildings but for maintainance.
re committee of the last Legislatul
after visiting the school reported
n high praise of the work. commende
the move TO the country and sam fbi.