Our readers will remember that the last legislature made an appropriation of $20,000 for the erection of a larger and more suitable building for the accommodation of the constantly increasing number of boys who need the discipline and restraint of such a school. …The new building is now fairly under headway, and by the terms of the various contracts for the work, will be ready for occupation early in November next. It is 75 x 55 feet on the ground, and will be three stories in height. Under the whole is a basement, which will be divided into rooms for a cellar, bake room, laundry, wash-room for the boys, and also a cistern capable of holding 1,000 barrels of water. The first floor will contain a dining room 48 x 47 feet, large enough to seat 200 boys, a kitchen, pantry, store room and hall. The second floor will be divided into a school room the same size of the dining room, a sick room or hospital, a hat room, and two bed rooms for attaches of the institution. The third floor will contain a dormitory, a guard room for the confinement of refractory scholars, a bath room and three bed rooms. The bath rooms will be supplied with water from the cistern by means of a force pump. The building is to have a hip roof, and surmounted by a cupola, which will have an elevation of 90 feet above the ground. The basement walls are of stone, but the building will be built of brick, will cost when completed the full amount of the $20,000 appropriated. The plans were drawn by Mr. Radcliffe, architect, of this city and the entire work is being done in the most substantial manner. Messrs. Baxter and Thomas, of Minneapolis, have the contract for the mason work. Mr. Wheaton, of the same city, does the carpenter work. Daniel Cullen, of this city, does the plastering, while Messrs. Wilson & Worley, of this city, have the contract for the heating and plumbing apparatus. The building will be warmed by means of two furnaces in the basement. The whole work as it progresses is carefully overlooked by the Superintendent, Rev. Mr. (J. G.) Riheldaffer, and President (D. W.) Ingersoll, who makes the school a daily visit, and takes great interest in all that pertains to the welfare of the institution. This building is very much needed, even more during the warm weather. There are at present 43 boys in the school, and they have had as high as 51. Their present quarters are very much crowded, and should any epidemic or contagious disease break out among them, it would be simply impossible to give them needed care. In regard to the management of the school, it is not necessary to go into detail, as we have heretofore given the particulars. We will simply state that the boys are divided into two classes, one half attend the school in the forenoon, and the other half are employed in work upon the thirty acres of land under cultivation belonging to the school, and then the change in the afternoon. The thirty acres referred to are every inch cultivated. They have ten acres of strawberries, some four or five acres in a garden, and the balance in oats and corn. All the crops look finely, and are carefully cultivated by the boys alone. Mr. Riheldaffer informed us that they had picked sixty bushels of strawberries this season, most of which were sold, and further, that they would raise sufficient of everything except wheat to supply the institution with eatables for the year. He says, and we endorse his views fully, that the State should have at least double the amount of land for cultivation, and thus make the labor of the boys available for their support. The schools are under the immediate charge of Prof. Shumway, with Miss Osgood as assistant, and from all we could learn, no more competent or faithful teachers could be desired. The boys are contented and happy, and take great interest in their studies, and their appearance yesterday greatly pleased President Ingersoll and Geo. L. Otis, two members of the board, and the other visitors present. Professor Shumway has commenced a military drill of the boys each day, an exercise in which they take great interest and make a creditable display. (Minneapolis Daily Tribune, Saturday, July 17, 1869, Page 4)
The new building for the State Reform School, below St. Anthony, is up. It is pronounced a splendid edifice. (The Minneapolis Tribune, Saturday, September 25, 1869, Page 3)
The new State Reform School building between Minneapolis and St. Paul, on the old stage road, is being rapidly pushed forward to completion. The brick work is completed, and roofed in, and workmen are now at work on the interior. It is built of our beautiful Minneapolis brick, which are hauled down by teams. The lumber and other materials are also hauled down by teams from Minneapolis and St. Anthony. It is a fine large structure, and when completed will be a credit to the State. (The Minneapolis Daily Tribune, Tuesday, September 28, 1869, Page 4)
Yesterday at the invitation of the Rev. J. G. Riheldaffer, superintendent of the State Reform School, the members of the State board, Gov. Marshall, Governor Horace Austin, the State officers, several members of the legislature and the members of the press of St. Paul and Minneapolis were present at the formal occupation of the large and handsome new edifice just completed for the use of the school. The building is located on a beautiful tract of ground, between Minneapolis and St. Paul, and can readily be seen from observatories in either city. It is a large three story building 75 x 52 with basement, surmounted with a lofty cupola, and is built of our beautiful Minneapolis brick. It was designed by A. M. Radcliff, formerly of this city, and has been constructed in every respect, with regard to comfort, convenience and economy. …The State Reform School is one of the youngest of our State institutions, having been established only about two years, but during that time it has done a good and noble work. Sixty boys have been taken in charge, 50 of whom still remain, the others having been reformed, discharged or returned to parents. Its object is to gather up and reform the youth of our State who are inclined to be vicious and wayward, instead of sending them to the penitentiary, thus restoring them in time to friends and society, and making of them useful and honorable citizens. …Upon the establishment of the school in January, 1867, a tract of thirty acres of land, with a large two story stone dwelling, embracing a portion of the Larpenteur farm, on the road between Minneapolis and St. Paul, was purchased. This building was remodeled and improved, and has been in use up to the present time. Another small frame building was also repaired, and used as a school room for the boys, and with these poor accommodations they have managed to get along with until yesterday, when they were introduced to their new quarters. The boys seemed delighted to get into their new building, and are in fact as comfortably provided for as a large majority of the boys of the country. The average age of the boys now at the school is fourteen years, although some are much younger. None are admitted older than 16 years. They are admitted from any county in the State, and can be sent there by any police justice or District Judge. During the past year they have grubbed six acres of grub land, cultivated twelve acres of potatoes, four acres of beans, five acres of corn, twelve acres of oats, three acres as a garden, and planted 4,000 strawberry plants, 3,000 raspberry bushes, besides building 500 feet of fence, and with the assistance of the sempstress (seamstress) have made for their own use one hundred and fifty pairs of pants, 60 coats, 200 shirts, and mended all their own clothes. In addition to the above, they assist in cooking, washing, dishes, and other chores, as well as sawing all the wood required for the use of the building. They are neatly clothed with gray pants and vests with brass buttons, and hair closely cut, and present a very cleanly and tidy appearance. (The Minneapolis Daily Tribune, Saturday, December 18, 1869, Page 4)
