Part V. State Institutions
- Wisconsin State Reformatory
[pp. 732-733]
OFFICERS.
CHAS. W. BOWRON .............................................................................................
General Superintendent and Steward
O. E. BICKFORD .......................................................................................................................
Assistant Superintendent
T. J. BAST ...............................................................................................................................................................
Clerk
The legislature of 1897, under authority of chapter 246,
instructed the Board of Control to purchase at its lowest cash
price, not more than 200 acres of land and to proceed to
construct and organize a state reformatory for criminal first
offenders, between the ages of sixteen to thirty years, appropriating
$75,000 to start the work.
In accordance therewith the Board purchased a tract of 198
acres lying east of Fox river, and just mid-way between
Green Bay and De Pere, paying $15,000 therefor.
A. C. Clas of Milwaukee and John Charles of Menomonie were
selected as architects and plans were prepared as
directed by the law, for an institution to contain six hundred
inmates.
In April 1898, James E. Heg was appointed superintendent,
with instructions to proceed with the work of construction
such portion of the buildings as was possible with the remaining
amount of the appropriation. On August 31st of the same year,
the institution was opened in temporary quarters, with twenty-four
prisoners transferred from the state prison at Waupun. These
men were used in construction work of various kinds, such as
making sewers, roads, side walks, grading and other necessary
building operations in preparing the cell room for occupancy.
A portion of the north cell room, containing one hundred and
four cells was finished for occupancy March 1st, 1899. This is
about one-third of the cell room on that side. When completed
the cell room will be one of the best in the country. The buildings
are of cream brick, except the front, which is of gray granite
from Amberg, Wis. The cells are five feet eight inches by nine
feet and seven feet six inches high, the front of each cell being
composed of heavy iron gratings. The institution has all modern
improvements as regards sanitation, light, heat and security.
The object of the Reformatory is to return to society, in
the shortest time possible such young men who through
ignorance, bad environments, poor training or naturally vicious
habits, have committed some offense against the law. The Reformatory
is organized with the design to give every one within it a chance,
by good conduct and his own efforts, to shorten his stay therein;
to give proper schooling; to teach industrious and honest habits;
and, by all available means, to advance his material, mental
and moral interests. The training is compulsory and the discipline
strict. The individual capacity of each man is studied and he
is required to reach the standard set for him. When, by good
behavior, diligence in work and progress in school, he shall
have reached this point, he is eligible for parole. A position
is found for him for a specified term with some approved person.
He is given a complete outfit of new clothing, sufficient money
to pay his expenses until his first pay day and is started on
his new life with every encouragement and incentive to be an
honest citizen. The hand of the Reformatory is still over him,
either to help or punish as may be needed. He reports once a
month, in detail, his work and actions during the month, which
report is verified by his employer and by others when necessary.
He is braced and steadied until he can walk alone, when he is
given his full liberty. The number of parole breakers is very
small and violation generally consists in leaving their place
of work, going with loose company, visiting saloons and the like.
The legislature of 1899 appropriated a further sum of $150,000
to continue the erection and furnishing of buildings.
From this appropriation four cottages were built for officers
during the years 1900 and 1901 at a cost of about $7,000. The
early part of the year 1901 James E. Heg resigned as superintendent
and was succeeded by C. W. Bowron of Oshkosh. During the year
1902 an addition was built to the north cell wing at a cost of
about $80,000. This addition gives the institution a capacity
of about three hundred inmates. Many of the inmates of the institution
are employed in making overalls and jackets under a contract
with Milton F. Goodman of Chicago, and the revenues derived therefrom
by the state for the year ending June 30, 1906, were $42,486.97.
The rest of the inmates are employed in making brooms, brick,
working in engine room, cabinet shop and on the farm.
The total number of prisoners received since the opening
of the institution up to June 30, 1906, was 980. The number returned
after violating parole or escaping, 45. There remained in the
institution on June 30, 1906, 283. The average population during
the year ending June 30, 1905, was 295, and the current expenses
for that year were $40,340.80. The average population during
the year ending June 30, 1906, was 283, and the current expenses
for that year were $36,348.43.