On July 23, 1860, Wisconsin Governor and Waukesha Resident Alexander Randall presided over the formal grand opening of the Waukesha House of Refuge. Designed to be a Juvenile Detention Center similar to those in France, the House of Refuge was described as a "cottage" system, with several buildings for various uses fenced in around a central courtyard.

Alexander Randall

Located on 800 West College Avenue, the complex began by accepting both boys and girls of all ages, but in 1871 the school's cooed policy was abolished and the House or Refuge was renamed the Wisconsin Industrial School for Boys to reflect the change.

"The sturdy boy shall here learn the rudiments of agriculture and thereafter be practiced for his own benefit upon the generous prairie or amid the virgin forest of this state. Here shall be taught the love of labor for its own sake ... and his wild spirit shall grow calm and peaceful." - J.B. Cogswell

The reform school, as it was popularly called, stressed agricultural knowledge, and became a center for dairy production. It also focused on industrial skills, producing shoes, brooms, chairs, mittens, and socks among other things. The child labor laws of 1916 forbade the complex from producing items for sale, so production lines were converted to serve needs within the school.

The reform school continued to operate well into the 20th century, quickly growing in the number of inmates, which reached over 350 at times.

However, as time progressed the number of escapees began to escalate, drawing unwanted attention from the community and investigations from the State. One incident of particularly bad fortune for the reform school involved three boys, ages 13 to 17, who escaped from their prison and ransacked a local grade school. As a result, administration of the complex changed hands several times, but little changed. The whistle signaling an escapee from the boy's school sounded through Waukesha more and more often, and the decision to phase it out was made in 1960. By 1962, all the inmates of the reform school had been transferred elsewhere, and the property was sold to the City of Waukesha. The City quickly sold some of the land, but retained several buildings. These buildings survive today, and provide a reminder of the reform school...

Reform School Escapees