CHAPTER XXVIII.
state: reform school.
the Connecticut State Reform School, situated in Meriden, New Haven County, was authorized by the Legislature of 1851, and an appropriation of ten thousand dollars made for it on the condition that the people of the State donate an equal sum to establish and build the same. The location of the school was fixed in Meriden in 1852, and the building erected in 1853. The amount of land purchased was about 150 acres, of various parties, but principally of Salmon Merriam. The buildings are situated on a commanding eminence, one half mile north from the depot in Meriden, in full view of the Hartford and New Haven rail-road, overlooking the city and the surrounding country, and presenting one of the finest landscape views to be seen in the vicinity. In tHe front lies Mount Lamentation, with its precipitous caps and peaks, stretching in a lower range to the south below Black Pond, and gradually terminating in a succession of bluffs near Long Island Sound.
In the rear are the Cold Spring and the Hanging Hills Peaks. Between these, or in the interval, lies the farm,
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delightfully situated, highly cultivated, and the pride and admiration of all who behold it.
The administration of the school on the part of the State is vested in a board of eight Trustees, one from each county in the state, elected for four years. Two of them are retired each year and their places are filled by the Senate in executive session. The Trustees elect Superintendent and other officers. The first Superintendent was Philemon Hoaclley, elected in 1853. The second, Roswell Hawley, M. D., elected 1855; the next and present one, E. W. Hatch, M. D. The long continuance of Dr. Hatch in the position, is proof conclusive that the people of the state are satisfied with his administration; in effective management, economy, and progress, the institution ranks second to none in the country.
Mr. Saxton B. Little was elected Assistant Superintendent in 1854, and was the first elected to that office, and still holds the position. He has proved himself one of the most successful educators of the age. With the class of boys that he has had no one could have done better, and the teachers are rare that could have done so well. Mr. Lucitis P. Chamberlain was appointed farmer in 1857, and right well has he filled the position. He believes in progress, and acts up to his belief in his practice. He is one of the neatest, best, and most successful farmers in the state. His work on the state farm shows it, and any one can have an ocular demonstration of the fact, by visiting the farm. Mr. John B. Porter as an officer has been connected with the school for the last thirteen years, and has proved himself a valuable assistant and a good efficient worker in the cause of reform. The above are worthy of mention as having held their positions
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for a long time, and discharged their duties faithfully. The other officers are capable and efficient, and doing a noble work for the State.
The first boys were received in 1854; and up to April 1, 1870, 1515 had been received. They are many of them filling situations now as valuable citizens in almost every State of the union. The boys are taught in all of the branches usually taught in the common schools. The classes will compare favorably with the classes in any of the schools of the State.
The citizens of the State may well be proud of this noble Institution. It is one of its noblest charities; no effort which the State can make in the right direction to improve its citizens can be wasted; and to take vicious boys and educate them to be good citizens, is worthy the best efforts of the State.