Why an Industrial School?

[IgorStrav]

I have been researching, with a relative, the Barwell family in the US (this follows up a previous message on the subject, when I got some great help from this board in tracking the family down).

In the 1931 Census, John Thomas Barwell is living in Framingham, MA in one house in the street, with his children (William)Henry (21), Anna (16) and John (, whilst just down the road, his wife is living with two other of their children, Arthur (16) and Ada (7).

There is also other evidence that the couple had separated, and then divorced.

However, I've just been contacted by a descendent of another child of the family, Daisy Barwell (aged 18 in 1931) who instead of being with the family in Framingham was in a Girls' Industrial School in Bolton, Worcester, MA.  The School was the Lancaster State Industrial School for Girls.

The questions I'd like to ask are:

What reasons do you think a daughter would be sent away to an Industrial School ?  What were these schools for?  What did they train girls for?
Might it be possible to find records from the school, and if so, where do you think we should look?

Any suggestions very much appreciated.


 

[IgorStrav]

Just to note, child John was 8.  Why it's typed a smile is beyond me!! 

[Berlin-Bob]

There is some information here about Industrial Schools in Britain:

Missing Ancestors : http://www.missing-ancestors.com/

This site contains information, on INDUSTRIAL/REFORMATORY SCHOOLS & the like in England and Wales during the 19th and early 20th century
Including Orphan Homes, Refuges, Ragged Schools, Missions, Scattered Homes

I don't know if this also applied to american industrial schools.

regards,
Bob


ps.
Some character combinations will be automatically interpreted as smileys
http://www.rootschat.com/help/posting.php#smileys

Use '8 )' with a space between 8 and ) 

Bob

 

[Ohio Susan]

Google "Lancaster State Industrial School for Girls"

many hits - here is one

http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/pwwmh/ma43.htm

[IgorStrav]

Thank you Bob and Susan.

Susan, I did google Lancaster Industrial Schools and will follow up some of the links. 

I was wondering if any Rootschatters had relatives who had been sent to these sort of schools, and if so what were their "offences".

Given that we know that some people were unfortunate enough to be incarcerated in Asylums for what would have been treatable illnesses these days, I thought that whatever Daisy's crime was, it was possibly not particularly serious.   

[bigjon]

The girls Industrial schools mostly trained them to go into service. They were not necessarily guilty of any crime, sometimes runaways or homeless and were placed for their own protection.

bigjon

[IgorStrav]

Perhaps Daisy fell out with her parents - there were six children in all, and she was the eldest daughter.

Maybe she wanted her own life a little too early than was comfortable for her mother and father.  We probably won't ever know.

[Viktoria]

It sometimes  happened when a parent could not look after their children, insufficient money etc.

I know of one family who after  the accidental death of their father were sent to an industrial school after their mother went to live with a violent drunkard

 
They learnt trades and were taught to keep house so the boys could be apprenticed and the girls enter domestic service.
This was in Manchester  late 1800`/early 1900`s, the father had worked at the nearby glassworks in Ancoats. I can`t remember what the book was called but a very good informative read.
                                                                                               Viktoria.

[jorose]

I have one who went into an Industrial School in Bristol in the 1890s - both parents were living but he was one of many children and the family weren't well off.  When they caught him out truant they sent him there and then on to Canada. The notes on his admission are sparse but it seems like he was known to the authorities, probably just for being a bit of a tearaway (he was 12, I think, and 15 when he was sent to Canada). The rest of the children stayed with the family, and the parents stayed together until his father's death some years later.

You could try contacting the MA archives to see if they hold any info or know where it might be, it does seem they have some info on state institutions including reform schools.
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ARC/arcgen/genidx.htm