State Reform School
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[[Image:State Reform School2.jpg|400px|right|thumb]] | [[Image:State Reform School2.jpg|400px|right|thumb]] | ||
[[Image:State Reform School Boys Bldg.jpg|400px|right|thumb]] | [[Image:State Reform School Boys Bldg.jpg|400px|right|thumb]] | ||
| + | [[Image:ReformSchool_c1908.jpg|400px|right|thumb|c. 1908]] | ||
The '''State Reform School''' in [[Miles City, Montana]] has been Montana'a only juvenile detention facility for boys (also girls at first) and still operates as "Pine Hills Youth Correctional Facility", although for most of its latter existence was called the "Pine Hill School for Boys". | The '''State Reform School''' in [[Miles City, Montana]] has been Montana'a only juvenile detention facility for boys (also girls at first) and still operates as "Pine Hills Youth Correctional Facility", although for most of its latter existence was called the "Pine Hill School for Boys". | ||
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Meanwhile, [[G. M. Miles]], [[C. H. Loud]] and [[William Courtney]] were invited by the board to help decide which parcel of land the city should donate to the institution. Under consideration were lands owned by Miles, [[W. E. Savage]], [[John Kimes]], Dr. [[E. F. Fish]], the [[Frederick Billings]] estate and the Northern Pacific. Wiley was instructed to secure options on as many of these as possible for 30 days. At the [[24 Apr 1893]] meeting, Wiley reported success on the lands of Fish, Miles and Savage. After examining the various pros and cons, the Fish property was selected because of the fertility of the land, nearness to the irrigation ditch (which still exists), gradual slope to the Yellowstone River and location from town. | Meanwhile, [[G. M. Miles]], [[C. H. Loud]] and [[William Courtney]] were invited by the board to help decide which parcel of land the city should donate to the institution. Under consideration were lands owned by Miles, [[W. E. Savage]], [[John Kimes]], Dr. [[E. F. Fish]], the [[Frederick Billings]] estate and the Northern Pacific. Wiley was instructed to secure options on as many of these as possible for 30 days. At the [[24 Apr 1893]] meeting, Wiley reported success on the lands of Fish, Miles and Savage. After examining the various pros and cons, the Fish property was selected because of the fertility of the land, nearness to the irrigation ditch (which still exists), gradual slope to the Yellowstone River and location from town. | ||
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| + | [[6 May 1893]] Meeting held Saturday afternoon at the court house about selecting a site for the town to purchase for the new [[State Reform School]]. The recommendation was to buy 40 acres owned by Dr. E. F. Fish, directly south of Tom Savage's place. It was decided to solicit subscriptions to raise the funds. Dr. Fish has already pledged $100 if his property is selected. | ||
The [[Chamber of Commerce]] quickly raised the funds to buy the land (40 acres; S 1/2 of the N 1/2 of the NW 1/4 of Section 35) from Edmund F. Fish and wife and transfer the deed to the state of Montana. | The [[Chamber of Commerce]] quickly raised the funds to buy the land (40 acres; S 1/2 of the N 1/2 of the NW 1/4 of Section 35) from Edmund F. Fish and wife and transfer the deed to the state of Montana. | ||
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On [[April 15, 1894]], the first student arrived at the school. It was expected, according to the 1900 Superintendent's report, that the school have no unactive boys and girls because it was felt "The old adage was never more true than now, 'Satan finds some mischief still for idle hands to do.'" It was also noted in the report that the school supplied "for the boys' and girls' tireless energy, a proper channel for it's development and use." To accomplish this goal, the students were employed in various duties to help with the management of the farm, caring for the buildings and grounds, and the "domestic labor" of the school. A large portion of the boys were kept busy during the spring and summer months planting, hoeing, and caring for the crops; also handling and caring for livestock. The boys also got practical work in laundry, boiler house, and kitchen. | On [[April 15, 1894]], the first student arrived at the school. It was expected, according to the 1900 Superintendent's report, that the school have no unactive boys and girls because it was felt "The old adage was never more true than now, 'Satan finds some mischief still for idle hands to do.'" It was also noted in the report that the school supplied "for the boys' and girls' tireless energy, a proper channel for it's development and use." To accomplish this goal, the students were employed in various duties to help with the management of the farm, caring for the buildings and grounds, and the "domestic labor" of the school. A large portion of the boys were kept busy during the spring and summer months planting, hoeing, and caring for the crops; also handling and caring for livestock. The boys also got practical work in laundry, boiler house, and kitchen. | ||
| − | The Great Falls weekly Tribune reported on the 20th of April that a [[William Edwards]] had been found guilty of altering a check from $4 to $14 and sentenced to the Reform School. The May 10 issue of the Philipsburg Mail reports that 20 years old Joseph D. Shelton was committed to the school for forgery and 18 year old John E. J. Ney was committed for grand larceny. May 26th, two "hoboes" in Billings were convicted of burglarizing [[J. J. Nickey]]'s home, the younger, 19 year old John McCarthy, sentenced to the Reform School. Butte sheriff Reynolds delivered his second youth ([[John Hanley]]) to the Reform School in June. His bill to the state for delivering the first youth was $164. The Omaha Daily Bee reported [[23 Jun 1894]] that the Reform School had 13 inmates. [[24 Jun 1894]] Great Falls sent Frank McCay, who stole a bolt of cloth from [[J. L. Gelsthorpe]]. [[30 Jun 1894]] two escapees, 20 year old [[George Shields]] and 18 year old [[Charles Robinson]], on the run for a week, were caught at [[Mingusville]], arrested by [[C. B. Towers]] and [[Charles O'Neal]] and transported to Glendive by team to await return to Miles City. [[5 Aug 1894]] 14 year old [[Claude Stork]] was sentenced. He had turned himself in, having accidently caused a huge grass fire, after receiving a probation for grand larceny and running away from the family farm and returning. He said that he dropped a match while trying to light his pipe while driving a team. He | + | The Great Falls weekly Tribune reported on the 20th of April that a [[William Edwards]] had been found guilty of altering a check from $4 to $14 and sentenced to the Reform School. The May 10 issue of the Philipsburg Mail reports that 20 years old Joseph D. Shelton was committed to the school for forgery and 18 year old John E. J. Ney was committed for grand larceny. May 26th, two "hoboes" in Billings were convicted of burglarizing [[J. J. Nickey]]'s home, the younger, 19 year old John McCarthy, sentenced to the Reform School. Butte sheriff Reynolds delivered his second youth ([[John Hanley]]) to the Reform School in June. His bill to the state for delivering the first youth was $164. The Omaha Daily Bee reported [[23 Jun 1894]] that the Reform School had 13 inmates. [[24 Jun 1894]] Great Falls sent Frank McCay, who stole a bolt of cloth from [[J. L. Gelsthorpe]]. [[30 Jun 1894]] two escapees, 20 year old [[George Shields]] and 18 year old [[Charles Robinson]], on the run for a week, were caught at [[Mingusville]], arrested by [[C. B. Towers]] and [[Charles O'Neal]] and transported to Glendive by team to await return to Miles City. [[5 Aug 1894]] 14 year old [[Claude Stork]] was sentenced. He had turned himself in, having accidently caused a huge grass fire, after receiving a probation for grand larceny and running away from the family farm and returning. He said that he dropped a match while trying to light his pipe while driving a team. Fearing the wrath of his father and their neighbors, he fled to be jailed in Great Falls. He unhitched one horse, rode it to Great Falls, turned it lose, and walked the final stage into town. In August, George Peabody, an "incorrigible kid" was sentenced. |
At its inaugeration, the planned schedule was: | At its inaugeration, the planned schedule was: | ||
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* play (weather permitting) until bedtime | * play (weather permitting) until bedtime | ||
* 7:30 pm, bed | * 7:30 pm, bed | ||
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| + | [[12 May 1894]] Besides the Hyltons, staff included [[Mr. Holloway]] and [[Mr. Pherson]]. One inmate was added today, bringing the total to 12 (9 boys, 3 girls). It is implied that the 3 girls are more orphans than delinquents. A team broke its single-tree yesterday and became frightened and ran away. They were soon stopped, but one of the horses received quite severe injuries. | ||
==The main building== | ==The main building== | ||
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==Later years== | ==Later years== | ||
A Christmas program was performed by all 35 inmates [[25 Dec 1894]] as reported in the [http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86075022/1894-12-27/ed-1/seq-3/#date1=1836&index=1&date2=1922&searchType=advanced&language=&sequence=0&words=A+Hylton+J&proxdistance=50&state=&rows=20&ortext=&proxtext=&phrasetext=a.+j.+hylton&andtext=&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1 Yellowstone Journal]. | A Christmas program was performed by all 35 inmates [[25 Dec 1894]] as reported in the [http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86075022/1894-12-27/ed-1/seq-3/#date1=1836&index=1&date2=1922&searchType=advanced&language=&sequence=0&words=A+Hylton+J&proxdistance=50&state=&rows=20&ortext=&proxtext=&phrasetext=a.+j.+hylton&andtext=&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1 Yellowstone Journal]. | ||
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| + | By late 1896, reports reached Helena unfavorable towards the Hyltons. Excessive corporal punishment, and general criticism of their management were alleged. In a summary report by the governor in [[30 March 1897]], based upon personal investigation conducted [[20 March 1897]] he found that money had been well spent. He found that charges of cruelty were overstated, but that corporal punishment had been too severe and non-discriminating, and non-conducive to reforming children, calling it "unjust and cruel". He found the children reasonably fed, healthy and clean, although better sewage was still needed. He felt that education had not been stressed as much as it should. Whipping at times were too severe and other punishments not described were characterized as worth disapproval by everyone. He found that the couple were "domineering and petulant and directed matters without any prescribed rules or regulated periods". He found that no employees were willing to commend the couple and noted that there had been a high rate of employee turnover. He felt that the Trustees had taken the Director's version of events a little too much, carefully couching it in terms of it being understandable to favor the top in the interest of maintaining discipline in a tough situation. | ||
[[Frank J. Cass]] was a teacher at The Reform School from 1900- about 1905. | [[Frank J. Cass]] was a teacher at The Reform School from 1900- about 1905. | ||
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About 1908, notorious arsenist, killer, rapist and burglar Carl Panzram was arrested in Butte, Montana, for burglary and received a sentence of one year in the Montana State Reform School at Miles City . His stay was relatively short, murdering another inmate shortly after his arrival and escaping within the year. | About 1908, notorious arsenist, killer, rapist and burglar Carl Panzram was arrested in Butte, Montana, for burglary and received a sentence of one year in the Montana State Reform School at Miles City . His stay was relatively short, murdering another inmate shortly after his arrival and escaping within the year. | ||
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| + | The name was changed by the state legislature to "Montana State Industrial School" on [[15 March 1915]], 21 years into its existance. | ||
In 1935, Henry Zorn was executed for killing an employee of Pine Hills. | In 1935, Henry Zorn was executed for killing an employee of Pine Hills. | ||
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== Directors == | == Directors == | ||
| − | * 1894-1897 [[A. J. Hylton]] (wife [[Helen R. Hylton]] was matron) resigned after committee of state legislature accused him of abuses | + | * 1894-1897 [[A. J. Hylton]] (wife [[Helen R. Hylton]] was matron) resigned after committee of state legislature accused him of abuses and the governor confirmed them to a degree. |
* 1897-1899+ [[B. C. White]] (wife was matron) | * 1897-1899+ [[B. C. White]] (wife was matron) | ||
| + | * - 1904 + [[J. B. Hawkins]] director, [[Mrs. F. M. Kreidler]] matron | ||
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== Trustees == | == Trustees == | ||
On April 1, 1893 the trustees took their offices, and filed a bond of $10,000 each for performance of their duties. | On April 1, 1893 the trustees took their offices, and filed a bond of $10,000 each for performance of their duties. | ||
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* [[State Reform School, 1900 Report]] | * [[State Reform School, 1900 Report]] | ||
* [[State Reform School, 1902 Report]] | * [[State Reform School, 1902 Report]] | ||
| + | * [http://books.google.com/books?id=HhpOAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA312&lpg=PA312&dq=director+of+miles+city+state+reform+school&source=bl&ots=7WAA1wCiBW&sig=73kXNNmxYQ_Ow2b7KCnqzoYnvlQ&hl=en&sa=X&ei=2sXAUvLqO-eo2gWUi4CACg&ved=0CFcQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=director%20of%20miles%20city%20state%20reform%20school&f=false 1904 Auditor's Report] | ||
