The Wisconsin Industrial School for Boys is situated about three- fourths of a mile west of the railroad depots in the village of Waukesha, the county seat of Waukesha county.

It was organized as a house of refuge and opened in 1860. The name was afterward changed to "State Reform School," and again to "Wisconsin Industrial School for Boys," its present title. The buildings are located on the southern bank of Fox river, in view of the trains as they pass to and from Milwaukee and Madison, presenting an attractive sight to the traveling public and furnishing good evidence of the parental care of the State authorities for the juvenile wards within its borders.

The buildings include a main central edifice, three stories high, used for the residence of the superintendent's family, office, chapel, school rooms, reading room and library, officers' kitchen, dining and lodging rooms, furnace room and cellar. On March 26, 1898, the factory building with all its contents, was destroyed by fire, the loss being about $40,000.00. The Governor, Attorney General and Secretary of State authorized an indebtedness of $40,000.00, and a new building was built during the summer of 1898.

On the east of the main central building are three family buildings, three stories high, each with a dining hall, play room, bath room, dressing room, hospital room, officers' rooms, dormitory and store room.

On the west of the main central buildings are four family buildings like those on the east in all respects, with the exception of the building at the west end of this line, which is a wooden building with a stone basement.

In the rear of this line of buildings is the shop building, 38x258 feet, three stories high, which embraces boot factory, sock and knitting factory, tailor shop, carpenter shop, engine room, laundry and steam drying room, bath rooms, store, store rooms, bakery and cellar, and three family buildings with room for fifty boys each.

There is on the farm, which consists of 404 acres of land, a comfortable house, a stone carriage and horse barn, two stories high, built in the most substantial manner, three convenient wooden barns, with sheds for cattle, wagons and farm machinery, and cellars for roots.

The total amount paid from the State Treasury up to Oct. 1, 1900, for real estate, buildings, improvements, repairs, and current expenses is $2,111,793.25. The whole number of enrollments since the opening of the school, August 3, 1860, is 4,702, of whom 328 were present September 30, 1900.

The average number of boys the past year was 324, as against 301 the previous year, and the current expenses were $61,060.54, as against $65,135.51.

The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin. Complied and published under the direction of Wm. H. Froehlich, Secretary of State. 1901. page 519 - 520

• Industrial School for Boys Waukesha, Waukesha County Wisconsin

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