State Reform School for Boys
| State Reform School for Boys | |
|---|---|
As seen from 1848 to 1852 | |
Westborough Location of State Reform School | |
| General information | |
| Status | Closed |
| Type | Institutional |
| Location | Westborough, Massachusetts, United States |
| Coordinates | 42°18′03″N 71°36′32″W / 42.300698°N 71.608960°W |
| Construction started | July 1847 |
| Opened | November 1, 1848 |
| Inaugurated | December 7, 1848 |
| Relocated | April 1884 |
| Renovated | 1853 / 1877 |
| Closed | April 1884 |
| Cost | $52,000 ($1,479,000 in 2015 dollars) |
| Renovation cost | $50,000 / $90,000 |
| Owner | State of Massachusetts |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Foundation-Stone, Exterior-Brick, Roof-Slate |
| Design and construction | |
| Architects | Elias Carter of Springfield, James Savage of Southborough |
| Main contractor | Mr. Daniel Davies of Boston |
| Known for | First publicly funded reform school in the US |
The State Reform School for Boys was a juvenile reformatory in Westborough, Massachusetts, operated by the Commonwealth from 1848 to 1884. It was the first publicly funded reform school for boys in the United States. Established to train juvenile offenders, the school emphasized education, labor, and discipline.
During its operation, the school expanded and operated different institutional models, including cottage-style housing and a nautical training program. Following criticism and legislative investigation, it was reorganized in 1884 as the Lyman School for Boys, and the site was later used as the Westborough State Hospital.