Girls'+School

Early in 1920 a need was felt in Wyoming for an institution which would receive and care for any Wyoming girl who, in the opinion of the courts, needed some form of rehabilitation so as to learn a more acceptable form of behavior. Before this time, about fifteen girls a year were sent to the Good Shepherd School in Denver, Colorado.
 * Wyoming Girls' School **

It was thought by many citizens that Wyoming was neglecting an obligation to its citizens by this system, so in 1923 the establishment of the Girls' Industrial Institute, to be located in Sheridan County, was voted on and became law. In 1935, the name was changed to Wyoming Girls' School.

Under the supervision of the Board of Charities and Reform, an estate owned by Verner Z. Reed was purchased for the purpose of a home for delinquent girls. This estate included a fine dwelling house, a cottage, a garage with living quarters, similar outbuildings, and twenty-seven acres of land. However, as the school program expanded more land was required, and gradually the state purchased 380 acres.

For the first time, September 15, 1925, the Wyoming Girls' School began to receive delinquent girls. The home of the Reed family was turned into a dormitory with Mrs. Minnie Martin as its first director. She made it clear from the beginning that this place was not a penal institution but a home for neglected girls. She felt strongly about offering programs which would help the girls grow and develop into the kind of a person who could accept herself and responsibilities after leaving the school.

Later on, another dormitory was added to the grounds and named after Katharine A. Morton, Superintendent of Schools in Wyoming from 1919 to 1932. Both dormitories are substantial, red brick buildings and are furnished in the manner of a comfortable home. IN 1966, construction of Mountain View dormitory began. This has comfortable bedrooms, large living room with fireplace, and a well planned kitchen and dining area.

At the beginning many of the girls were from rural families and small towns. Operation of the grounds was done by the ranch foreman with seasonal hired help, but it was felt that the girls should lean something about farming and ranching as well as duties in the dormitories. Also, the Wyoming Girls' School should be as self-supporting as possible. Work details included working in the garden; tending to the raising of the chickens, turkeys, and ducks; and helping with the milking of the cows. Milk was then carried to the milk room and separated and distributed to the dormitories.

Except in the winter months all care ot the barn was done by the girls. Hogs and horses were also kept and cared for. In her records, Mrs. Martin was quoted as saying )When a girl leaves the school, she knows how to work." Most days began at six with kitchen crews preparing breakfast and ended with family prayers and lights out at nine o'clock.

An educational program was also maintained. A grade school under the super vision of the County Superintendent of Schools was operated much like a standard school. A full four-year high school program was offered under the supervision of the Department of Correspondence of the University of Wyoming. Tests were given to each new girl to determine where she belonged in school. All were encouraged to attend school during their entire term of residence.

In 1948, under the direction of Edna B. Stolt, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, construction of a new school building and gymnasium was begun. Some staff members served in double capacity, as matrons who supervised work details, and as teachers. Classes began at one in the afternoon and continued until five.

The girls needed academic training before being released to their communities, so an accredited school with professional teachers was started, and regular school hours were maintained. School was made as much like a normal school as possible. There was a graduation exercise at the end of each year; class rings were ordered for each girl graduate, senior sneak day was held; and the junior-senior prom was an occasion that everyone looked forward to.

As is true today, the objective toward which every girl works is parole, and an earnest effort was made to train the girls and place them at the earliest possible date. Most girls remained as inmates of the Wyoming Girls' School for a period of three years, during which time they had to abide by certain rules. The administration felt that if such rules were obeyed day after day, they would tend to become habitual and that behavior patterns acceptable to society would be formed.

During the years that Mrs. Minnie Martin was superintendent, more than five hundred girls made the Wyoming Girls' School their home. Some of the girls returned for their weddings, and records show that a number of them went on to college and became successful in professional work while others married and led happy, normal lives.

As in everything,many programs with each new superintendent were instituted, some kept and others discarded to follow modern trends of society. The farm program and lands were eventually done away with as patterns of living went from rural to urban and most girls sent to the institute were from the cities of Wyoming. Lands were lased and no longer was there any type of farming done except for the large garden and orchards that are still maintained.

It is hoped that the changes continuing to be made at the Wyoming Girls' School will make it possible for each girl to become the best person that she can possible be. That is the purpose of the school.