State Reform School
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The '''State Reform School''' was established in March of 1893 with the signing of House Bill #184 (Senate Bill 4) by the Governor of Montana, the Honorable [[J.E. Rickards]]. The State Reform School was the first building and institution built under the newly formed State of Montana. A man from Lewis and Clark county had introduced the bill providing for the State Reform School; but he was so careless in writing it that he forgot to mention a place for it's existence. There were very few sites proposed for the Reform School because most towns were more interested in institutions such as the agricultural college. Miles City representatives put up quite a fight for the agricultural college too, but the other representatives felt that the Miles City area was not suitable for growing anything. This theory was to be disputed not only by farmers of the area, but also by the school itself. The [[Yellowstone Journal]] noted in it's [[March 15, 1894]] issue that the Miles City representatives wanted a state institution so badly, that "...a spasm of generosity swept over the house, and its members, counseling among themselves, said 'Let us throw this Reform School bone to the Miles City dog, who is growling at our heels, and so shut his mouth." Upon passing of the bill giving the Reform School to Miles City, a $25,000 appropriation was passed to allow for the start of the school. In a bit of payback, although Miles City got the least wanted institution, because it was appropriated separately and first, when the general bill was passed for the other institutions, there wasn't any money left in the budget to build them, so those towns had to wait to build, while Miles City started right away. | The '''State Reform School''' was established in March of 1893 with the signing of House Bill #184 (Senate Bill 4) by the Governor of Montana, the Honorable [[J.E. Rickards]]. The State Reform School was the first building and institution built under the newly formed State of Montana. A man from Lewis and Clark county had introduced the bill providing for the State Reform School; but he was so careless in writing it that he forgot to mention a place for it's existence. There were very few sites proposed for the Reform School because most towns were more interested in institutions such as the agricultural college. Miles City representatives put up quite a fight for the agricultural college too, but the other representatives felt that the Miles City area was not suitable for growing anything. This theory was to be disputed not only by farmers of the area, but also by the school itself. The [[Yellowstone Journal]] noted in it's [[March 15, 1894]] issue that the Miles City representatives wanted a state institution so badly, that "...a spasm of generosity swept over the house, and its members, counseling among themselves, said 'Let us throw this Reform School bone to the Miles City dog, who is growling at our heels, and so shut his mouth." Upon passing of the bill giving the Reform School to Miles City, a $25,000 appropriation was passed to allow for the start of the school. In a bit of payback, although Miles City got the least wanted institution, because it was appropriated separately and first, when the general bill was passed for the other institutions, there wasn't any money left in the budget to build them, so those towns had to wait to build, while Miles City started right away. | ||
| − | On [[1 Mar 1893]], the Governor signed Senate Bill No. 4, commonly known as the Reform School Law, and in four weeks appointed Miles citizens [[J.W. Strevell]], [[C.R. Middleton]], and [[H.B. Wiley]] as the first set of trustees of the school. On [[1 Apr 1893]], the trustees took their offices, and filed a bond of $10,000 each for performance of their duties. Quite a hefty sum for those days. On [[6 Apr 1893]], the trustees held their first meeting at the offices of [[Strevell and Porter]], drew lots for the mandated staggered terms (Strevell got 2 years, Middleton 3 years and Wiley 4 years). They elected Strevell as president and Wiley as secretary. After reviewing the law and its provisions, they opted to nail down financing first. Middleton went to Helena and found there was no ready cash available until at least the first of the next year. Private parties declined to take up the warrants. He met with Gov. [[Rickards]], who by this time had determined that the school fund (presumably funded by lease and sale of lands | + | On [[1 Mar 1893]], the Governor signed Senate Bill No. 4, commonly known as the Reform School Law, and in four weeks appointed Miles citizens [[J.W. Strevell]], [[C.R. Middleton]], and [[H.B. Wiley]] as the first set of trustees of the school. On [[1 Apr 1893]], the trustees took their offices, and filed a bond of $10,000 each for performance of their duties. Quite a hefty sum for those days. On [[6 Apr 1893]], the trustees held their first meeting at the offices of [[Strevell and Porter]], drew lots for the mandated staggered terms (Strevell got 2 years, Middleton 3 years and Wiley 4 years). They elected Strevell as president and Wiley as secretary. After reviewing the law and its provisions, they opted to nail down financing first. Middleton went to Helena and found there was no ready cash available until at least the first of the next year. Private parties declined to take up the warrants. He met with Gov. [[Rickards]], who by this time had determined that the school fund (presumably funded by lease and sale of lands granted to the state by the federal government - some 40-50,000 acres for the Reform School alone) could be used to buy up the warrants and make the entire $25,000 appropriation immediately available. |
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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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. | ||
| − | The architect [[E. T. Carr]] prepared two plans for a building. No decision came until [[26 Jun 1893]] when it was decided to build two buildings, a larger one at first for boys and girls, and a smaller one for girls later, the larger one using the freed space for growth. Carr was chosen as supervising architect, [[Bennett & Peck Heating and Ventilating]] of Cincinnatti was awarded a contract for supplying a hot air system for the building. Wiley was instructed to advertise for construction bids. | + | The architect [[E. T. Carr]] prepared two plans for a building. No decision came until [[26 Jun 1893]] when it was decided to build two buildings, a larger one at first for boys and girls, and a smaller one for girls later, the larger one using the freed space for growth. Carr was chosen as supervising architect, [[Bennett & Peck Heating and Ventilating]] of Cincinnatti was awarded a contract for supplying a hot air system for the building. Wiley was instructed to advertise for construction bids, which appeared in the [[28 Jun 1893]] issue of the [[Yellowstone Journal]]. By [[8 Jul 1893]] Wiley began advertising for bids to supply "150,000-500,000 brick at the kiln; 200-600 perch of good quality building stone, delivered; 1000-2000 cu ft of dimension rock during the months of August, September or October." Bids were due [[20 Jul 1893]]. |
The next day ([[27 Jun 1893]]), they met and decided to hire [[O. C. Beck]] to drill an artesian well. Beck had the equipment to do so and his offer of a good flow at the cost of $1.25 per foot was accepted. | The next day ([[27 Jun 1893]]), they met and decided to hire [[O. C. Beck]] to drill an artesian well. Beck had the equipment to do so and his offer of a good flow at the cost of $1.25 per foot was accepted. | ||
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*[[W. S. D. Smith]], Helena, MT | *[[W. S. D. Smith]], Helena, MT | ||
*[[F. G. Kraege]], Waukesha, WI | *[[F. G. Kraege]], Waukesha, WI | ||
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| + | In mid-December, area newspapers reported that the school would be ready to receive inmates no later than [[1 Feb 1894}]. | ||
On [[12 Jan 1894]], Gov. Rickards came to town and met with the board. They inspected the completed building, tested the heating. He was given a financial statement, showing that $20,000 had been spent, another $2,000 was owed, another $2,000 would be needed for furnishings, leaving only $1,000 of the original appropriation. They needed an additional $10,000 to $12,000 to maintain the school until another appropriation could be made, so they agreed to borrow the money, 1/4 from [[First National Bank of Miles City]] (of which Strevell and Wiley were directors) and the rest from Helena Banks. The Governor took the deed to the land with him and the board insured the building for $18,000. | On [[12 Jan 1894]], Gov. Rickards came to town and met with the board. They inspected the completed building, tested the heating. He was given a financial statement, showing that $20,000 had been spent, another $2,000 was owed, another $2,000 would be needed for furnishings, leaving only $1,000 of the original appropriation. They needed an additional $10,000 to $12,000 to maintain the school until another appropriation could be made, so they agreed to borrow the money, 1/4 from [[First National Bank of Miles City]] (of which Strevell and Wiley were directors) and the rest from Helena Banks. The Governor took the deed to the land with him and the board insured the building for $18,000. | ||
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The board inspected the building on [[24 Jan 1894]] and accepted the work. They then commissioned the same builder to erect an ice house for $270 and another outbuilding for $248, both of frame construction. The ice house ended up being 18'x24' with a capacity of 100 tons of ice. | The board inspected the building on [[24 Jan 1894]] and accepted the work. They then commissioned the same builder to erect an ice house for $270 and another outbuilding for $248, both of frame construction. The ice house ended up being 18'x24' with a capacity of 100 tons of ice. | ||
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| + | On [[26 Jan 1894]], area newspapers reported that the school would be ready to receive inmates about [[1 Mar 1894}]. | ||
After Hylton arrived, he helped select and order the furniture. | After Hylton arrived, he helped select and order the furniture. | ||
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* 120,000 feet of lumber (in 12 cars) | * 120,000 feet of lumber (in 12 cars) | ||
* 435 perch of stone | * 435 perch of stone | ||
| − | * 3 cars of Ashler trimming stone from [[Billings]] | + | * 3 cars of Ashler trimming stone from [[Billings]] (probably stone quarried by the new prison being built in Biilings) |
* 4 cars of lime | * 4 cars of lime | ||
* 85 windows | * 85 windows | ||
