The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1928-06-07

When a first visit is made to the
Home School for Girls, Sank Cen
tire, one experiences variety of
sensations establishment up
ermost, until one grasps the mo-
tive which permeates the whole in
stitution.
The school is situated in the
City limits of Sank Centre, the
modern cottage type buildings are
grouped together in the midst of
its $40 acres of farm land. The
drive from the city to the home
takes one through the farm past
broad fields of gardens, fruit
trees, a modern dairy barn,
Holstein herd of dairy cattle that
are among the finest in the State;
the merry voices of the girls at
work and at play furnish an en-
tracing environment as one sweeps
up the driveway to Morse Hall, the
administration building, where
the matron, Mrs. Mary Stewart,
graciously welcomes you.
The Minnesota Legislature Of
1907 passed bill authorizing the
segregation of the delinquent boys
and girls of the state. Up to this
time both were placed in the in
stitution at Red Wing.
Under the bill the Board of
Control were authorized to decide
on a location for the new institu-
ton. Sank Centre entered the list
of competitors to secure the new
institution. A beautiful site, on
the shore of Sank Lake, consisting
of 160 acres, was offered the State
without cost.
The Board of Control visited
Sank Centre, visioned the possibil-
tiles, and eventually this city was
selected as the location for the
new institution over IA other cities
in various sections of the State.
Mrs. Fannie French Morse, well
known in the east for her ability
to successfully cope with the de.
1inquent girl, was selected to have
charge of the institution. When
Mrs. Morse was selected she was
engaged in similar work in the
State institution in Massachusetts.
Mrs. Morse came to Sank Centre
the early part of 1910. In May
bids were asked for the construc-
ton of the first group of four
cottages. The girls were moved
from Red Wing to the new in
stitution, 1911. Mrs. Morse re-
manned with the School until
July 1922. When she left Sank
Centre she took charge of a SINH
lar institution in Washington, D.
C.. She remained there about a
year and a half. Since she had
been located at Hudson, N. Y,
where she is the head of the State |
institution for girls.
For several years under Mrs.
Morse's regime selected list of |
girls from the institution attended |
the public school. There was al |
ways slumbering opposition to
this plan which eventually boke in
to furry. The School Board de-
cided to bat the entire proposition |
up to the voters of the district with |
the result that the citizens by an /
overwhelming vote went on record |
against allowing girls from the in !
stitution to continue attending the
Public Schools. This was about
1921.
DR.. Lena Beach of Rockwell !
City, Iowa, succeeded Mrs. Morse
as superintendent. She remained
about two years.
Three years ago Mrs. Mary
Stewart, of st. Cloud was named
by the Board of Control as the |
head of the Home School for Girls. |
This was a very wise selection |
as time has proven. Mrs. Stewart |
was very familiar with the School,
its aims, and what it had accom-
plished.. The legislature had au.
thorized the appointment of
Board of Women Visitors, whose |
duty it was to keep in close touch |
with institutions where women and
girls were kept. Mrs. Stewart was
a member of the first board. The
board first visited the School in
1911. She spent much time at