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]] | ||
| − | The '''Reform School''' | + | 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". |
| − | + | Established in 1893, the school was some one to two miles east of [[Miles City, Montana]]. Now Miles City has grown to include the school as part of it's eastern edge. The school began as the Montana State Reform School, so named because it was believed that the duty of the school was to "reform" the juveniles sent there. The Superintendent's report to the Governor for the year 1900 notes that "We realize that this institution is not maintained for punishment, restraint, or limitation of privileges; but for reformation and the cultivation and development of the good lying dormant in the boys' and girls' natures." | |
| − | 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 | + | ==Creation== |
| + | 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 | + | 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 given to the state by the federal government 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. | |
| − | + | 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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| + | 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. | ||
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| + | 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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| + | The next day ([[28 Jun 1893]]), they met on the site and determined locations for the main building, a barn and the well. | ||
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| + | In July the well boring began and when they finished at 544 feet, a good supply filled a 4 inch pipe. | ||
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| + | A couple of details meetings were held in July, but nothing major occurred with the board until the [[28 Jul 1893]] when the sealed construction bids were opened as follows: | ||
| + | {| | ||
| + | |[[M. J. McCune]]|$19,100 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | |[[J. W. Shackleton]]|$18,747 | ||
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| + | |[[Donovan & Son]]|$18,503 | ||
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| + | |[[Guy & White]]|$17,500 | ||
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| + | |[[Larsen & Smith]]|$17,010 | ||
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| + | |[[Maples & Stuart]]|$15,765 (but board had to furnish brick, rough rock and electric wiring) | ||
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| + | |} | ||
| + | On 3 Aug 1893]], the bid was awarded to Larsen & Smith, the board reserving the right to not finish the third floor (a right not exercised), with the proviso that the contractor could be paid monthly up to 85% of each month's completed work (as estimated by the architect). | ||
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| + | On [[6 Oct 1893]] the subcontractor [[John Leonard]] broke ground and began removing 4000 cu. yards of dirt, creating 50x100 foot 11 foot deep hole. (They would later have trouble keeping water out of the completed basement after irrigation began.) [[O. F. Rogers]] then brought in masons who built a two foot thick foundation wall of stone. Using brick from [[Samuel Stone]] and [[William McMahon]], the outer walls went up. Carpenters added the rest of the structure. By the time cold weather arrived, it was 55 feet higher than the basement floor, the tin shingle roof was done, the doors and windows were in and the heating plant was operational, allowing the plasterers to work. In 90 days, by [[6 Jan 1894]], all but a few finishing touches were done. | ||
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| + | On [[18 Oct 1893]] Larsen & Smith received an additional contract to build the barn (brick, 20x24 feet, with 14 foot walls) for $700. It was later reported to be 18x30'. Strevell was directed to enter into an irrigation contract with the ditch company. | ||
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| + | A few days later, they determined to make a contract with the [[Miles City Water and Electric Company]] to furnish 100 incandescent lights with wiring. | ||
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| + | In November, 11 people had applied for the director's position. Selection was deferred to allow time to investigate their qualifications. | ||
| + | *[[J. C. Van Etten]], Elmire, NY | ||
| + | *[[B. A. Davis]], Red Wing, MN | ||
| + | *[[David Heap]], San Jose, CA | ||
| + | *[[T. H. Benton]], Springfield, MA | ||
| + | *[[A. J. Hylton]], Plainfield, IL | ||
| + | *[[G. A. Merrill]], San Francisco, CA | ||
| + | *[[B. F. Moore]], Boston, MA | ||
| + | *[[C. W. Seyde]], Miles City, MT | ||
| + | *[[Austin Dilts]], Clear Creek, MT | ||
| + | *[[W. S. D. Smith]], Helena, MT | ||
| + | *[[F. G. Kraege]], Waukesha, WI | ||
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| + | 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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| + | On [[22 Jan 1894]], A. J. Hylton (assistant superintendent the Plainfield, IN reformatory) was selected as director due to his endorsements and he telegraphed back that he would report in ten days, which he did ([[2 Feb 1894]]). | ||
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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. | ||
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| + | After Hylton arrived, he helped select and order the furniture. | ||
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| + | On opening day [[15 Mar 1894]], Larsen and Smith were about to finish the 12'x20', 8' high outhouse. (Why didn't they build this first?!) | ||
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| + | Upon completion, the following materials were used. | ||
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| + | * 418,000 bricks | ||
| + | * 120,000 feet of lumber (in 12 cars) | ||
| + | * 435 perch of stone | ||
| + | * 3 cars of Ashler trimming stone from [[Billings]] | ||
| + | * 4 cars of lime | ||
| + | * 85 windows | ||
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| + | With the additions buildings and some minor changes from the original plans, the final cost went from $17,010 to $19,500. | ||
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| + | According to the Yellowstone Journal, the building was drawing attention from passers by, and "People began to point with pride to Montana's first state building..." noting "It (was) not fancy in design, but (was) built for durability, comfort, and convenience, being ornamented only enough to relieve monotony." | ||
The governor signed his proclamation formally declaring the Montana Reform School open for inmates on [[March 14, 1894]]. And on March 15, the State Reform School was dedicated to the people of the state in grand fashion. The [[Miles City Chamber of Commerce]] planned the event, which included such important speakers as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Mr. J.W. Strevell, and the Governor himself. Even though the day was anything but nice; having the typical Eastern Montana winter of rain, snow, and mud, about 260 people arrived to take in such talents as the [[Fort Keogh]] fourteen piece band and the [[Billings male quartet]]. The dedication was well received, and the Journal noted that "[[Prof. Reichardt]]'s orchestra amused them with dancing until the roosters began to crow - a fitting end to the greatest of Miles City's events." | The governor signed his proclamation formally declaring the Montana Reform School open for inmates on [[March 14, 1894]]. And on March 15, the State Reform School was dedicated to the people of the state in grand fashion. The [[Miles City Chamber of Commerce]] planned the event, which included such important speakers as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Mr. J.W. Strevell, and the Governor himself. Even though the day was anything but nice; having the typical Eastern Montana winter of rain, snow, and mud, about 260 people arrived to take in such talents as the [[Fort Keogh]] fourteen piece band and the [[Billings male quartet]]. The dedication was well received, and the Journal noted that "[[Prof. Reichardt]]'s orchestra amused them with dancing until the roosters began to crow - a fitting end to the greatest of Miles City's events." | ||
