The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1917-06-30
UPLIFTING BOYS
IN OLD VIRGINIA
Reformatory Association Put
on Firm Basis.
AFFORDS SAFE PROTECTION

HFORDS SAFE PROIECllUN
Purpose Of an Institution Founded by
the Late John Il. smyth Near Han
over Court House, va-smaIi Army
Of Youngsters Cultivate Large Farm
and Also Learn Trades.
BY THOMAS j. EDWARDS.
The founding of the Negro Reforma.
tory association, for the saving of de-
linquent boys of, the state Of Virginia.
was an idea conceived by DR.. John HI
Smyth In 1893. Most Of our people In
Virginia must be undoubtedly acQuaiut1
ed with the history Of Mr.. Smyth, who
was a lawyer by profession, but was
better publicly, known as minister to
Liberia. The last great act Of his
dramatic life was played in the estab-
fishing Of this institution, commonly
called the Negro reformatory. The or
ganization accredited as the first in the
south, was named the Negro Reforma-
tory association Of Virginia, and DR..
Smyth was it's first president and so
remained until his death.
It was in 1897, after Mr.. Coils p.
Huntington had become interested in
DR.. Smyth's idea and had purchased
1,4OO acres Of river bottom land, which
he turned over to the management of
this organization, that the institution
was placed on more permanent basis
and atcharter was obtained. This tract
Of land is bordered on the northeast
by the Pamunkey river and is located
about two and half miles east Of
Hanover county courthouse, Va.
In the struggle Of the institution to
its present standing 1t has year by year
gradually received support in the form
Of % cents per diem compensation from
the state Of Virginia, and some dona-
ttons from time to time have come from
both white and colored friends interest
ed by the activities Of the members Of
the board of trustees. The one factor
which is not only giving. work and
health to a large number of our boys
throughout the year, but which has
contributed largely to over One-third of
the support of the institution. has been
the farm.
The object and purpose of the institu-
tion, as set forth in its charter, are to
provide a home for the reformation of
male and female children and youths
of the Negro race of Virginia, but the
institution has confined it's efforts to
the males by teaching them good NOR
ais, the habits of work and the dignity
of labor by being engaged in some use
ful employment or trade and at the
same time acquire a comprehensive
knowledge Of reading, writing and
arithmetic.
It Is needless to say that in the at
tempt to make suitable home for
these delinquent boys the difficulty has
been in getting a sympathetic public
ear, in changing the idea that the in
stitution is for punishment, but is in
tended to give unfortunate boys of the
state a chance to begin life all over
again.
To be morN specific, the fundamental
Grated as to keep the boys physically
and mentally employed that they may
forget the evil tendencies Of the past.
The management is attempting this in
the following effective ways. First, the
farm furnishes to our boys the kind Of
work which all boys should know
something about, regardless of what
may afterward be their pursuit in life,
and offers the chance for boy to be-
come self supporting citizen.
The farm furnishes employment to
from 75 to 125 boys. Besides doing the
direct work connected with the cult
walton Of the farm over one-third of
the boys mentioned are employed in
caring for the farm buildings. teams,
cows, sheep, hogs. On the TOO acres of
tllable land were grown for the year
1915 1900 bushels Of corn, 500 bushels
Of wheat, 500 bushels Of peas. 70 tons
Of mixed hay and 5000 pounds Of
meat. For the year 1915 we harvested
1900 bushels of corn lover 1000 bush.
els Of corn were lost by the overflow
of'the' Pamunkey river, sos bushels Of
wheat, about the same amount Of hay
made in 1915. about 5000 pounds of
meat and 400 bushels Of peas.
The returns from the garden for 1915
were as follows: Seven hundred bush
els Of white potatoes, $50 bushels of
sweet potatoes. 100 bushels Of string
beans, 2S0 dozen ears Of corn. 80 bush
els Of lima beans, none Of these being
included In our canned fruit and vege-
tables, which amounted to about 5000
cans. In 1915 our white potato crop
was 300 bushels. sweet potatoes 400.
Corn, lima beans, squash and toma-
toes were mostly put up in cans, which
amounted to 1881. This enumeration
Of the returns Of the farm and garden
Is somewhat an answer as to whether
the farm will ever become self support