USA > Ohio > Richland County > History of Richland County, Ohio, from 1808 to 1908, Vol. I > Part 31
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The proposition to establish the Intermediate Penitentiary of Ohio began to take tangible shape April 14, 1884, when the law was passed by the Legis- lature creating the institution. In pursuance of this act Governor George Hoadly appointed the first board of managers, which consisted of Ex-Congress- man John Q. Smith, of Clinton county, Ex-Judge John M. Pugh, of Colum- bus, and Frank M. Marriott, of Delaware. This board first took up the question of location and spent more than a year in examining sites. There * was an animated contest among a number of cities to secure the location of the new institution.
May 9, 1885, the board examined the site offered by Mansfield, and May 20, a delegation consisting of Hiram R. Smith, M. D. Harter, S. N. Ford, and M. B. Bushnell met with the board at Columbus and presented Mansfield's claims. The board visited Mansfield again May 23, and presented to the local committee a proposition looking to the location of the institution at Mans- field. The terms of this proposition were that the citizens of Richland county should give to the state thirty acres of land on which the Intermediate Peniten- tiary was to be located, and secure for the state an option on one hundred and fifty acres adjoining the thirty acres. This proposition was accepted by the
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local committee and a number of other citizens at a meeting held the evening of the same day at the office of the Mansfield Water Works. A general meet- ing of the citizens of Mansfield was held the evening of May 25, in the probate court room for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of the agreement. The necessary committees were appointed. In a few days the finance committee raised the $10.000 necessary for the purchase of the thirty acres to be donated to the state.
It was June 2, 1885, that the Intermediate Penitentiary was finally lo- cated at Mansfield. On that day the board of managers met at Columbus and took definite action fixing the location, although it had been well under- stood for some days prior to the date that the institution would go to Mans- field. The board closed its option on the one hundred and fifty acres addi- tional land at $20,000, and the long contest for the location was ended in Mansfield's victory.
Preparations were immediately begun for the erection of the buildings. George S. Innes, of Columbus, secretary of the board, was appointed surveyor of the grounds. July 13, 1885, F. F. Schnitzer. of Delaware, now a resident of Mansfield, was appointed superintendent of construction. At the same meeting the first contract was let by the board to Cohen & McCabe. of Colum- bus, for grading the ground. The first work was done July 21, 1885, being the commencement of grading. Levi T. Scofield, of Cleveland, was appointed architect of the building. June 9, 1886. the first construction contract was let to Hancock & Dow, of Mansfield, and actual work on the building was begun soon thereafter. Work on the foundation proceeded during the season of 1886.
November 4, 1886, was one of the great days in Mansfield's history. On that day the official corner-stone laying of the Intermediate Penitentiary took place with imposing ceremonies and in the presence of a vast number of people, including many distinguished visitors. It was a beautiful autumn day and the city was finely decorated in honor of the occasion. Senator John Sherman was president of the day and General Thomas T. Dill was grand marshal of the procession from the city to the grounds. The assembly was called to order by General R. Brinkerhoff; prayer by Rev. Dr. S. A. Bronson. rector of Grace Episcopal church: address of welcome by George A. Clugston. mayor of the city; presentation of President of the Day John Sherman, by General Brinkerhoff; address by Hon. John Q. Smith, president of the board of managers; Masonic ceremonies of laying the corner stone, by Grand Lodge of the Ohio F. & A. M., S. Stacker Williams, of Newark, officiating; address by Governor J. B. Foraker; address by Ex-Governor R. B. Hayes : benediction by Rev. Dr. II. L. Wiles, pastor of First Lutheran church of Mansfield.
The corner-stone laying was supplemented with a meeting in the evening of the same day in the Congregational church, at which Ex-Governor R. B. Hayes presided, and at which addresses were made by Hon. G. G. Washburn, of Elyria, afterwards a member of the board of managers of the Mansfield institution ; Rev. John C. Milligan, chaplain of the Allegheny (Pa.) Peniten- tiary; Hon. James Massie, warden of the Central Prison, Toronto, Canada; W. D. Patterson. warden of the Cleveland workhouse: General C. H. Berry.
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of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Hon. Levi L. Barbour, member of the state board of charities of Michigan; Hon. George A. Kelly, president of the board of managers of the Western Pennsylvania penitentiary; and Hon. F. M. Green, of Akron. Many other prominent persons, including members of the Legislature and newspaper men, attended the corner-stone laying.
Work on the building proceeded by slow stages owing to the inadequate appropriations made by the Legislature. The state was in hard financial straits during the years succeeding the beginning of the work, and with appropriations of only from $40,000 to $60,000 each year progress was neces- sarily slow. In the years 1888 and 1889 no appropriations were made. Work was suspended during these two years and the state was on the point of aban- doning the enterprise. A crisis in the life of the Intermediate Penitentiary was reached during the legislative session of 1890. A majority of the House, as well as a majority of the finance committee of that body, were opposed to expending any more money on it and wanted to sell the property or convert it into an insane asylum or do anything to get rid of it. The idea of a reformatory prison for the purpose of reclaiming young men from a life of crime did not appeal to the law-makers. They regarded it as an unnecessary and expensive experiment. Hon. C. M. Gaumer, the then member of the House of Representatives from Richland county, took hold of the situation with energy and perseverance and finally won a majority of the House in favor of an appro- priation of $50,000, which was sufficient to keep the project alive for another year. Hon. W. S. Kerr, state senator from this district, piloted the appropria- tion safely through the Senate, and thus the crisis was passed and the institu- tion saved, at least for that year.
Fearing further difficulty in securing an appropriation at the next session of the Legislature, at the suggestion of Representative Gaumer, the citizens of Mansfield invited the entire Legislature to become their guests on a trip to Elmira, New York, to inspect the New York State Reformatory, after which the Ohio institution was modeled. The legislators were accompanied on this trip by General R. Brinkerhoff, Captain A. C. Cummins, H. R. Smith, J. M. Waugh, E. H. Keiser, F. F. Schnitzer, R. G. Hancock, and Hon. J. E. Howard, of Bellville. The legislators were so favorably impressed by the Elmira Reformatory that there was no further opposition to going forward with the work at Mansfield. An appropriation of $180,000 was granted that year, and from that time on the question whether there should be an Ohio State Reformatory was settled for all time. Larger appropriations were made from year to year, as the state's finances became easier, until now, after twenty- four years from the time of its inception, Mansfield has, substantially com- pleted, the most magnificent and useful institution of the kind in the United States, if not in the world. Considerably more than a million dollars has been expended by the state in establishing this place for the reformation of the wayward young men of Ohio.
At the legislative session of 1890 the number of the board of managers was increased from three to five, and Governor Campbell appointed Hon. G. G. Washburn, of Elyria, and E. H. Keiser, of Mansfield, the additional mem- bers. Only two of the citizens of Richland county have been permitted to
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serve on the board of managers. These were Colonel B. F. Crawford and E. H. Keiser. There can now be no resident managers because of a law passed some years ago prohibiting any resident of a county where a state institution is located from being appointed a trustee or manager of such institution.
Among the many public-spirited citizens of Mansfield who deserve special mention for their energetic and untiring efforts in securing this splendid institution for Mansfield and Richland county are, General R. Brinkerhoff, Captain A. C. Cummins, Judge Eckels McCoy, Colonel B. F. Crawford, Hon. M. D. Harter, Hiram R. Smith, and John W. Wagner. Hon. James E. Howard, of Bellville, and Hon. John T. McCray, of Ashland, who were mem- bers of the Legislature from 1886 to 1890, are also entitled to much credit for their good work in behalf of the institution during the early and strenuous days of its existence. And in giving credit to those to whom credit is due, it would be improper to close without a word of commendation for Mr. James A. Leonard, the present able and efficient superintendent, whose intelligent management for more than seven years past has contributed so much to the success of the Ohio State Reformatory. It is the universal sentiment of all who are acquainted with the operation of this institution that it would be difficult to find a man so well adapted to the work as Superintendent Leonard has proven himself to be.
April 24, 1891, a law was enacted by the Legislature changing the name of the Intermediate Penitentiary to the Ohio State Reformatory, increasing the board of managers from five to six members, making the board non-partisan, and providing for the organization and government of the institution. This law was prepared by General R. Brinkerhoff and introduced in the Senate by Senator Perry M. Adams, of Tiffin, the president pro tem of that body.
On September the 15th, 1896, the institution heretofore known as the Intermediate Penitentiary, was formally opened as the Ohio State Reformatory under the superintendency of W. D. Patterson, of Cleveland, Ohio. On Sep- tember 16, 1896, one hundred and fifty prisoners were transferred by special train from the Ohio Penitentiary, and this group constituted the first prison population of the Reformatory.
It was found to be extremely difficult to inaugurate reformatory methods under the peculiar conditions brought about by the transfer of Ohio Peniten- tiary prisoners, and the lack of equipment of the school of letters and trade schools, and want of sufficient funds for the necessary equipment for an ideal reformatory. The inmates were diligently employed, however, in improving the grounds and premises, but it was found necessary in order to have em- ployment in winter, to secure temporarily a contract under which the men could secure factory employment. After one year's service Mr. W. D. Pat- terson was succeeded by W. E. Sefton, of Canton, Ohio.
The passage of the indeterminate sentence law caused the population of the Reformatory to rapidly increase, and after the original population which had been transferred from the Penitentiary had disappeared from the insti- tution it was possible to put into effect a system of rules and regulations in harmony with the indeterminate sentence and to grade the inmates in accord- ance with their conduct while in the institution.
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Schools of letters were organized, but little was accomplished in the way of industrial training, as the Legislature was slow to make appropriation for this purpose. But the inmates were employed to good purpose in the im- provement of farm property, putting in sewage system, building roads, and other improvement work incident to the creation of a great institution.
In February, 1901, Mr. W. E. Sefton was succeeded as superintendent by the present incumbent, Mr. J. A. Leonard, of Youngstown, Ohio.
In the year following, the Reformatory laws were revised in many important particulars, which rendered the administration of the institution is a true reformatory less difficult. The Legislature authorized the expendi- ture of not to exceed fifty per cent of the earnings of the inmates for the pur- pose of industrial training. Under this provision of law industrial schools were first established in the line of building trades. Inmates were instructed in bricklaying, stone cutting, carpentry, painting and in iron work. Since the inauguration of this policy no construction work has been given by con- tract. Six large brick buildnigs have been erected with inmate labor exclu- sively. A large block of steel cells, much structural iron work, the extension of the heating and lighting plant are among the most important enterprises undertaken by the trade school classes in iron work.
It is found that the expense of these important improvements. because of the employment of inmate labor, was but forty-seven per cent of the prob- able cost, if given out by contract. The expense of the trade school, however, is not alone an economical saving, but has its highest value in the skill and habits of industry that come to the young men therein employed.
Under the provisions of law, the contract system is being superseded by what is known as the State Use System. The Reformatory inmates now manufacture all the shoes required for all other state institutions; also all the brooms. Under the provisions of what is known as the Wertz bill this State Use System will be rapidly extended until the industrial trade schools of the Reformatory will manufacture a wide range of articles for state use; furniture. vehicles, harness, tools, implements, clothing. shoes, brooms, brushes -in short. whatever is required in large quantities for use in state institutions or state offices.
The present policy of the Reformatory management contemplates the diligent employment of all inmates during a half of each day in some form of manual labor, the other half day being devoted to the school of letters and to physical training. the chief feature of which is a thorough military training, this being found to be the most interesting and effective general system for physical exercise.
The Ohio State Reformatory, while it is a prison and always must remain so, is something more: It is a school of letters in which every inmate must acquire a common school education before he is eligible to parole; it is a sani- tarium in which inmates are cleansed of the results of excesses and dissipation and restored to good sound physical health, as a prime requisite for moral regeneration; it is an industrial training institution in which the plan con- templated gives all inmates a certain degree of skill in the use of tools, affords a great many a degree of skill that will enable them to enter upon their
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chosen callings upon leaving the institution as advanced apprentices, and not a few go from the institution thorough journeymen in their respective trades.
The Reformatory is, moreover, an institution for moral instruction. In addition to the customary agencies, such as the regular chapel service, Catholic service, the prayer meeting, and Sunday school. the young men have the benefit of a course of lectures and systematic instruction in civie duties ; and last, but not least, there is maintained under wise and competent direction. a school of ethics in which are taken up all sorts of hypothetical questions of a practical everyday character and thoroughly discussed from an ethical point of view.
The Reformatory library would be a credit to any institution, and the inmates are encouraged to subscribe for the best reading matter as represented by the best weekly and monthly periodicals. At the present time there are in the institution a thousand young men. and of these six hundred subscribe for one or more high-class magazines.
The rules of the institution provide for a system of promotion through three grades, in order to secure eligibility for parole. The degree of restraint upon an inmate depends entirely upon his character and conduct. A large number are employed at all times outside of the institution enclosure under what is known as the "institutional parole." Those enjoying the privilege of working on the farm or on the institution premises, free from the restraint of armed guard, are under an Honor Bond, which they give to the assistant superintendent, the general superintendent becoming their surety. In the last report of the superintendent he states that he has become surety on more than eight hundred bonds, and only four of that number have been dishonored.
All information available tends to show that at least three out of every four young men who leave the institution go out to lead honest. industrious lives, and the private records of the institution reveal much interesting in- formation as to the high degree of success attending many of the young men who have had a course in the Ohio State Reformatory.
The management of the reformatory has striven a long time for a proba- tion feature as a part of the reformatory system. This probation feature is now in successful operation. Those in the custody of the reformatory management at the present time consist of one thousand inmates actually incarcerated, four hundred on parole and twenty-five on probation : the number on probation is small, but will rapidly increase. Those on parole or probation are closely looked after in a friendly, helpful, but thorough-going manner by two field officer -. who aim to see each man on parole or probation at least once a month.
The general spirit of the administration of the Ohio State Reformator, is best set forth in the words of a report made by the general superintendent to the board of managers and presented by them to the governor as a part of their annual report.
Reformatory methods and processes within the institution should not be the round of transcendental nonsense that unwise advocates and partially in- formed opponents of the system have represented it to be. But. on the con- trary, it consists, or should consist, of the most practical and commonsense methods. It should be characterized by a thorough. firm discipline. This
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discipline should not be of a character to destroy, distort or demean the per- sonality of the young criminal. It should be rather of the character of strong greatest and most hope-inspiring fact as to frail humanity is its "improvable- better or the best. must ever remain a divine art that no man or group of men as that of Mansfield. Ohio, and Elmira, New York.
Reformatory administration and treatment, while avoiding the windy waste of speculation as to "defectives." "innate criminals," "degenerates," etc., aims through the scientific study of heredity, environment, physical and psychical peculiarities of each individual, and by prudent experimentation, to arrive at a degree of scientific precision in classificaton and methods.
The young criminal may be awakened to a new intellectual day by the educational processes of the reformatory school. He may be quickened to a new spiritual life by the inspiration of moral or religious truth ; but he stands secure only when his feet rest upon the rock of economic independence. "Labor stands on golden feet" is a proverb, the truth of which can be realized by the reformatory inmate only after industrial training has given creative vision to his eye and constructive skill to his hands.
To this end, the state laws should be so amended as to make it possible to employ young criminals in productive industries, skilled and unskilled. It is not possible to train such large numbers of young men as are found in re- formatory institutions in mere non-productive practice work in manual train- ing and trade school classes. Output in quantity and quality are the most wholesome incentives.
A wholesome moral atmosphere is fundamental to successful work in reformatory institutions. It should not be tainted by anything questionable in business methods, official appointments or the character or conduct of any person connected with the institution. It should be so electric with manly vigor as to quicken into life the latent manliness that is supposed to sleep in the soul of even the worst criminal. It should be so genial and warm with honest human sympathy as to be a balm for the hurt mind and a gentle stim- ulant to the dormant sensibilities of those who are at all responsive.
Permit me to say in closing this, my sixth annual report, that a retrospect of the six years' experience in dealing with the young men com- mitted to our care does not weaken or destroy my faith in the reformatory methods of dealing with the youthful criminal. John Fiske said that the greatest and most hope-inspiring fact as to frail humanity is its "improvable- ness." The Pharisee who is so good that he cannot, and the criminal who is so bad that he will not, avail himself of this comforting truth represent, let us hope and believe, the exceptions and not the rule among men.
The exceptions, however, are sufficient to measurably justify the conten- tion of the pessimist and to sober the zeal of the optimist. The latter has, however, upon the whole, the larger truth, and is best able to distinguish between the substance and the shadow, be that shadow ever so dark.
I am inclined to believe that it is better-more wholesome-for us who are charged with the practical administration of a reformatory to lean to the optimistic ; otherwise, we might be disposed to minimize our efforts by absolving ourselves from responsibility by attributing our failures to the total depravity
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of the offenders rather than to find the explanation largely in our own limita- tions, as to means and methods, the want of resourcefulness, or lack of ex- perience, knowledge or wisdom.
Truly, the winning of these young men from a likeness or weakness for wrongdoing justifies the employment of the best scientific means and pro- cesses available. But the winning of men from bad to good, and from good to better or the best, must ever remain a divine art that no man or group of men can hope to fully master. The degree of success attending our efforts thus far justifies the existence of the institution, and the failures should not discourage but stimulate to more strenuous and more wisely directed effort.
The standing of the Ohio State Reformatory is second to no institution of its kind. Commissioners from the German government, after visiting the Ohio State Reformatory, have published in English and German very complimen- tary statements, and the German reformers who are endeavoring to introduce reformatory methods into German prisons have taken the Ohio State Reform- atory as a model.
A Canadian parliamentary commission visited the reformatory within a year, and after making an exhaustive study of the whole matter of reformatory prisons and the indeterminate sentence, accorded the Ohio State Reformatory first rank in the following statement :
"The reformatory idea originated nearly a century ago in Europe, but made little progress until quite recently. On this continent the new plan of treating the unfortunate moral weaklings of the community has found its highest development in the United States, particularly in such reformatories as that of Mansfield, Ohio, and Elmira, New York."
THE RICHLAND COUNTY INFIRMARY.
The Richland county infirmary is situated six miles northeast of Mans- field, on the Olivesburg road, in Weller township.
In descending the Pittenger hill a good view of the institution is presented. The building is on the east side of the valley upon an upland, with the big hill as a background, making a beautiful picture-the green valley, the wooded hillside. The inmates are treading the declining path of life, with the shadows lengthening and darkening. We hope the light spoken of by the prophet may be theirs in this, the eventide of their lives, and that happiness and peace may be found when they cross the "divide."
The infirmary farm contains about 160 acres of valuable land. A brook of living water runs through the place and empties into Brewbaker creek, a half mile to the northwest.
The inmates now number 120, and those who are able work-the men on the farm, the women in the buildings. While the minds of nearly all the inmates are more or less affected-from the maniac down to those who are simply childish from old age.
The space allotted to this sketch will not admit of going into details, and can only say that the farm and buildings seem to be complete in their appoint- ments and arrangements. The farm is well stocked, the institution is supplied
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with pure water brought in pipes from the hill, the building is warmed by radiators from a furnace, the rooms look tidy and the beds clean, showing the excellent management of Mr. and Mrs. Imhoff.
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