Livingston county history
STATE TRAINING SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
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- LIVINGSTON COUNTY MEMORIAL LIBRARY
STATE TRAINING SCHOOL FOR GIRLSThe State Industrial Home for Girls was established by an act of the General Assembly in March of 1887. In July of that year the commissioners, appointed by the Governor accepted a donation of $5,000 from the Chillicothe Board of Trade. The first cottage was built in 1888 known as Marmaduke Cottage. Succeeding cottages were known as Missouri, 1895, Slack, 1901 and Folk, 1907. The first girl was sent to Chillicothe in 1889. By 1910 more than seven hundred girls had lived in the institution. The first superintendent was Miss Emma Gilbert. In the early days of the Home, industrial work was emphasized such as: cooking, bakery, laundry, and sewing. The Home had its own dairy, garden, laundry and bakery. A power plant was added in 1910, and in 1922, a steam laundry and Hyde School were built. In the 1930’s Park Cottage was built and Stark Cottage was built as an infirmary. In the 1920’s and 1930’s elaborate May Day fete’s were held, the school had an orchestra and a peak enrollment of more than three hundred girls. The sewing department of the school at one time made all of the clothing worn by the girls and stressed needlework. A beauty shop was started and training was given to the girls so they could pass their State Board of Cosmetology Examinations. Mrs. Kitty Shepherd Griesser was superintendent for a number of years in the 1930’s and early 1940’s. Stella Hall Thompson was superintendent in’the early 1940’s. She was followed by Lena Ruddy Smithson. During her superintendency Marmaduke Cottage was torn down, and Donnelly was built. The Board of Training Schools was set up in 1945. Dorothy Forest Roberts was superintendent for a brief time and was followed by Florence Dennis. A nursing course was added during her superintendency and in 1956 Negro girls were moved from Tipton to Chillicothe. Myrtle Weber was superintendent in 1960 and 61. During her superintendency Blair Cottage was built. Girls started working as aides at Peter Pan School during this time. She was followed by Mary Jane Gokbora. Vocational certificates were issued for pre-vocational training and a Class AA school with 34 and one half units of credit was maintained at this time. Janet Van Walraven was the next superintendent. An Intensive Care unit was established in 1969 to provide intensive individual help to meet the increase in number of seriously disturbed, impulse ridden girls. She was followed by Margaret Jones as superintendent. In 1975 the Division of Youth Services came into being, and the overall treatment program includes both academic and remedial education and pre-vocational courses along with group therapy. Jerry D. Wilmath is at present superintendent of the school. LIVINGSTON COUNTY MEMORIAL LIBRARYThe Livingston County Memorial Library owes its beginning (1920) and early years to the dedicated efforts of the members of the City Federation of Women’s Clubs. In 1920, inspired by the State Legislature’s offer of a matching $1000 contribution to a memorial honoring First World War Servicemen, the clubs with community help raised the $1,000; the project was the Livingston County Memorial Library. The library opened August 1921 in 2 rooms of a house on the corner of Calhoun and Washington; Miss Ann Broadclus was the first librarian. In 1923 the library moved to a room in the courthouse, and from there in 1936, to a house at 813 Calhoun purchased by the Library Association. The book collection had increased to over 8,000. Funding during these years had been mainly by regular drives, special donations and many hours of dedicated service. By the 1940’s it was evident a tax base was needed. With the additional effort of the County Extension Clubs a library district was voted in 1947 and a one mill tax for the library. The library then moved into the building on the corner of Washington and Jackson, which the Library Association had purchased, selling the Calhoun building and using those funds for remodeling. The building and operation of the library were turned over to the newly organized county library districts voted by the taxpayers. In the early 50’s the library made great strides, becoming one of Missouri’s progressive pioneer county libraries with a professional librarian, Katherine Devereaux. Adding a bookmobile the services were extended throughout the county and provided rural schools with their first real library service. Frances Elliott came as librarian in 1952. In the 60’s the library took another forward stride; Elizabeth Coffman, a native Livingston Countian had become librarian after receiving her Masters’ degree in 1964. Through tremendous effort and support the acquiring and remodeling of the old Federal Building at Clay and Locust was accomplished and opened in 1966. By 1967 the inadequacy of the one mill tax was evident and again through the dedicated efforts of the librarian, board and many organizations and individuals, the tax was increased to 2 mills. In the 70’s the library continued to grow in books and services. The collection of books reached the 50,000 mark. The reference department had expanded including the cataloging of the valuable Somerville Missouri history collection and the addition of the popular genealogy section. Lillian DesMarias came as librarian in 1970 and in 1972 Anitra Steele was added as a professional children’s librarian. The continued growth of the library is promised in the youth and vitality of the new (1980) librarian, Janet Hartline, and the children’s librarian, Judith Shoot. Guiding the growth and success of the library over these many years since 1921 has been the dedication and determination of the many board members; all made their contribution. Mrs. Raymond Russell represents her fellow members in the 48 years she served - 38 of those years as president. Others included: Ronald Somerville, Mrs. Jean Miquelon, Mrs. I. W. Waffle, H. R. Rickenbrode, Miss Grace Stone, H. W. Leech and Mrs. Ray Douglas. Present board members are: Mrs. Oscar Cooke, Dr. James Eden, Mrs. James Baker, Mrs. Lena Bowen and Ben Wood Jones. Directory: History History -> Developed for the Ontario Curriculum History -> A chronology 1660-1832 The Restoration Settlement History -> History and Social Science Standards of Learning Enhanced Scope and Sequence History -> Evolution of the National Weather Service History -> Chronological documentation for the period through 1842 Copyright Bruce Seymour blio, Cadet Papers of Patrick Craigie History -> History of the 14 History -> History of the ports in Georgia History -> That Broad and Beckoning Highway: The Santa Fe Trail and the Rush for Gold in California and Colorado History -> Capitol Reef National Park List of Fruit and Nut Varieties, Including Heirlooms Prepared for the National Park Service through the Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit by Kanin Routson and Gary Paul Nabhan, Center for Sustainable Download 1.01 Mb. Share with your friends:
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