The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-09-29
School For
Feeble Minded
New State Institution at Clinton
Formally Opened

columbia, Sept 26---G, Croft Will
| liams, secretary of the state board Of
public welfare, announced yesterday
that the state training school for the
feeble minded had been opened and
that 1t has seven boys enrolled, all of
whom seemed to- be contented
Mr.. Williams said: After long
period of working and waiting, the
state training school for the feeble
minded has at. last opened it's doors
for persons that are mentally retarded
The grave danger Of feeble mindedness
was first brought to the states atten-
ton through the efforts Of the state
board Of charities and corrections,
Winthrop college, the Federation Of
,Women's clubs and other social agen-
cies. The legislature of South Caro-
lima in 1918 reflected the interest of
the people of the state by estab-
fishing the state training school to
care Of and educate, as far as they
might be able to receive instruction.
the mental detectives of South Caro-
lima. 1t was estimated that there
were at least 5000 of such persons
within our borders, and this estimate
seems to be very conservative after
the disclosures of the mental tests
made at Camp Jackson.
This school was placed under the
board Of regents Of the state hospital
and an appropriation of $50. 900 was
| made for it's erection. DR.. B. O. Whit
| ten, who had gained marked success
by his management OF the branch Of
the state hospital that is at State
Park. was, elected superintepdent of
the training school. DR.. Whitten took
up residence at Clinton and has
worked indefatigably in fostering and
directing the erection of the buildings
for the state training school.
| THE school now has one cottage
completed and another nearing com
| pletion. The completed cottage is now
open for inmates, which must be
| either men or boys. 1t has two wards,
one for men, who may be of some
help in caring for the grounds and
the other for boys of a trainabIe type.
The other cottage will be for women
and girls. 1t is expected to open
about the middle of November.
These cottages are of brick and
concrete" Mr.. Williams said, "and
are fire proof. They have electric
lights, with power furnished from
Clinton, and water supplied from wells
on the schools grounds.
BESIDES the two cottages, there is
| frame building that serves for the
dining room and kitchen, and another
| frame building that houses several OF
the workers and contains the superin-
| ttendent's office.
THE training school is situated in
the midst OF tract Of land that con-
tainS about 1900 acres that are brok-
en- into hills and dcpressions A part
of this land is under cultivation and q
part is in forest. This domain is very
picturesque and is an ideal site for the
institution that wa have there. This
excellent piece of property was ac-
quircd mainly through the interest and
generosity Of the citizens Of Clinton.
AT the last meeting Of the general
assembly that body relieved the re-
gents OF the hospital of the RESPONSE
bility of the training school for the
feeble minded and gave it's manage
ment to the state board Of public
welfare, TO whose care all of the state
Juvenile institutions for delinuuents
and detectives were committed. ANY,
one interested in having boy com
mittCd or admitted to the school ad-
dress Dr. B. O. Whitten, superin-
tendent of the state training school
for tho feeble minded. Clinton