Approximately 500 residents were living in the with around 300 white residents and 200 black residents.
One interesting and important fact was the average age, 14-years-old, with inmates ranging in age from 8 to 18. The average mental age was determined to be 11-years-old, ranging from 5 to 16. It was quite a challenge for the educators.
Most boys worked half-days and attended school for the second half, although several worked full time in the farm. Three-quarters of the boys were Cub Scouts, Boys Scouts or Sea Scouts, a tradition the institution started in 1921.
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Christie Hale grew up at the facility with her father working as farming supervisor.
“They would basically run the entire place, they would do farming, they had a dairy there, a creamery, they would do gardening, they had chickens," she said. "Basically they were self sufficient.”
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Her parents had moved there in 1949, one year before she was born. Though Christie interacted with inmates, as did other children, the facility was very cautious to keep all children safe.
At this point the facility was housing over 800 inmates for theft or vandalism, but she remembered some were convicted of murder and child molestation.
Today the facility houses 300 juveniles, with perimeter fencing and 24 hour armed patrols. Inmates range from 12- to 23-years-old and are an average of 16-years-old. The location is considered to be in Monroe Township.
