Rhode Island injury attorney tells the story of the establishment of The Boys Training School in Cranston RI and the beneficial changes in the treatment of the poor and the mentally ill.

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One of the most influential pieces of history in Cranston is The Boys Training School or Howard Reservation at Sockanosset. The creation of the school demonstrates not only a change in Cranston but also what was going on in American society at that time.

The development of The Boys Training School was the first effort by Rhode Island to provide social services. The services would be publicly supported and administered. This was a huge change in the handling of the mentally ill, criminal, and poor.

American Revolution And A New Philosophy

For the first 150 years of history in America, prime, poverty, and mental illness were seen as natural parts of society. Those who were poor and those who were seen as not belonging were not welcome in town.

Those who did manage to live in towns were publicly humiliated or imprisoned. Once the American Revolution had taken place, we saw a change in morals and a new viewpoint emerged.

This new philosophy was that abnormality and poverty were just the outcome of a poor environment. The idea was to help the poor by bringing them to an atmosphere that would separate them from the chaos, tensions, and negative treatment by society.

The solution was established in 1866. A state board of Charities and Corrections was constructed to create a state farm that would include a house of correction, a state asylum for the incurably insane, and a state almshouse or shelter for the poor.

They also acquired two adjacent farms that would hopefully provide a much different environment than the urban, chaotic scene of the 19th century.

Rhode Island Injury Attorney | Developing New Skills

By teaching different skills, they would create an organized, controlled, and more beneficial area. The inmates could be well-ordered so that they would develop more healthy habits while being away from the lures of society.

As a Rhode Island injury attorney I can see how these new skills and habits would prepare them for honest, more productive lifestyles. There was a carpenter shop, a mason shop, a printing shop, a blacksmith shop, and a machine shop.

The boys also helped build the buildings on the complex, which symbolized the philosophy of honest labor that the school stood for. Even the living areas were beneficial for the boys lives.

They were housed in cottages that gave them a sense of organized and structured home life. The gymnasium provided recreational activities for the boys and the chapel and infirmary gave the necessary physical and spiritual healing to the boys. The chapel is built of stone and is one of the most appealing buildings on the complex.

Closing Comments

Although it was out of despair, the creation of the Howard complex says a lot about our society and helping others. Prior to The Boys Training School these people were wrongly treated but the people of Cranston made the necessary changes to end this treatment and improve the lives of the poor and mentally ill.

Anyone can come back from a tough time with the help of others, and the Boys Training School provided the necessities for developing a normal life.

In your injury case I can help you get back to a more normal life after something as traumatic as an injury.

I can help you with all of the stress that comes along with having an injury.

I know your rights and I know the Rhode Island court systems.

Contact us and let us bring you back from your injury.