672
HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
Harvey and Charles Henrotin, and Judge Frank Annis, Matthew Henneberry and William Prentiss, and their successors, a body corporate under the name of "State Guardians for Girls," and authorized them to establish a "State Home for Juvenile Female Offenders." The same act authorized the purchase of not less than 20 nor more than 120 acres of land, and the erection thereon of suitable buildings and appropriated $75,000 to carry its provisions into effect. The law authorized the commitment of girls thereto between the ages of ten and sixteen years, by courts of record, for "not less than one year nor beyond their minority;" and by Justices and Magistrates, for "not less than three months, nor beyond their minority." By subsequent legislation the limit has been extended to 21 years of age. "No imbecile or idiotic girl shall be committed or received into the Home. Girls may be discharged at any time by the Governor or by the Trustees whenever, in their judgment, the good of the girl or of the Home will thereby be promoted." "The Superintendent and other officers at the Home shall be women." The Trustees are given the exclusive custody, care and guardianship of such girls as are committed to the Home, and are authorized to appoint one or more suitable persons to serve without compensation in each county to aid them. They are required to instruct the girls "in such branches of useful knowledge as may be suited to their years and capacities," in domestic vocations, such as housekeeping in all its departments. "Any girl may be placed in the Home of any good citizen, upon such terms, and for such purposes and time, as may be agreed upon; or she may be given to any suitable person of good character who will adopt her; or she may be bound to any reputable citizen to learn any trade; or as a servant to follow any employment which, in the judgment of the Trustees, will be for her advantage." But if she is cruelly treated or neglected, or the terms agreed upon are not observed, the Trustees shall take and receive her again to the protection of the Home. For good behavior each girl is to be credited five days each month of the first year; six days monthly in the second year; seven days the third; eight days the fourth; and thereafter nine days in each month-while for any misconduct or violation of rules, she is liable to forfeit five days per month. The balance of good days to her credit brings so much nearer
the date of her discharge by the Superintenddent.
The Home was first opened November 17, 1893, in rented quarters at 3,Ill Indiana Avenue, Chicago. Subsequently, and largely at the instance of Mrs. Julia Plato Harvey, fifty-one acres of land lying on the north half of Sections 10 and 11, just southeast of the city of Geneva, were purchased for $7,000 and, later forty acres additional were purchased at a cost of $4,000. Three buildings costing $127,850 have been erected thereon, designated as the Administration Building, and the "Wallace" and the "Harvey Cottages." Two additional cottages are now in course of construction. A fine school building, a heat and power house, and a suitable barn have been provided. The residence buildings are beautiful and very substantial structures of rock-faced and pressed brick, with cut-stone trimmings, carefully protected against fire and, of course, fully equipped with every appliance for comfort, security and convenience. They front toward the west and command a magnificent view of the wooded play-ground and park, sloping quite sharply down to the river, the fine city with its stately county buildings and elegant homes, and the many fertile, highly cultivated and improved farms, stretching away to the western horizon. It is a lofty, commanding situation.
The grounds about the buildings are neatly cultivated in gardens, flower-beds and lawns, and are kept in complete order by the girls under the supervision of a woman gardener. Within, the scrupulous neatness and quiet comfort of a refined private home seems to prevail. The entire absence of walls, guards and barred doors, and of apparent forced restraint or confinement of the inmates astonishes the visitor. Alternating each midday, one-half the girls are at school and the other half at work throughout the buildings and grounds, under firm, yet kind and competent instructors, acquiring by practice the varied habits and information essential to good womanhood. Save in the uniformity of neat dress, there is no visible indication among these bright girls of their being in public custody; and everything, from kitchen to parlor, is sweet, clean and tasteful enough to suit the most fastidious housekeeper. There are now 226 girls in the Home and 100 on parole in private families. It certainly must require the most firm and vigilant discipline to
