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 constructing such portion of the buildings as was possible with the amount remaining 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 lst, 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 is 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 to 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.

During the past two years, ending Sept. 30, 1900, there were 149 prisoners sentenced to the institution by the courts, 37 were transferred from the State Prison, including the original 24, and 8 were transferred from the Industrial School for Boys. The discharges on parole or by expiration of sentence were 79, leaving 115 on hand Sept. 30, 1900, which number was increased to 135 by Dec. 1st, 1900.

The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin. Complied and published under the direction of Wm. H. Froehlich, Secretary of State. 1901. page 524 - 525

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