Beatrice facility started out as home for youths -- 2/17/2008

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By Jim McKee/For the Lincoln Journal Star

   Dr. D.W. Scott, superintendent of the Hospital for the Insane at Lincoln, noted in his 1875 report to the governor that his institution did not specifically offer care for children, and it was his hope that the state would make such provisions "at no very distant day."

   At that time, the Nebraska Constitution designated that all state asylums were under the Commission of Public Lands, which consisted of the secretary of state, treasurer and attorney general.

   A full decade passed without action, but in 1885 the Legislature took up the state hospital question. Senators proposed an additional hospital for the insane to be built at Norfolk, provided the city donate at least 320 acres of suitable land within three miles of town.

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The boys cottage at the Nebraska State Institution for Feeble Minded Youth, now known as the Beatrice Development Center, in about 1920. COURTESY PHOTO FROM JIM MCKEE

The boys cottage at the Nebraska State Institution for Feeble Minded Youth, now known as the Beatrice Development Center, in about 1920. COURTESY PHOTO FROM JIM MCKEE

   The Legislature also established an "Institution for Feeble-Minded Youth... to provide special means of improvement for that unfortunate portion of the community who were born, or by disease have become, [needful]... and by a wise and well-adopted course of institution reclaim them... and fit them... for usefulness in society [through] education."

   On March 5, 1885, $50,000 was appropriated through a 1/8-mil financing for the establishment. The facility would be at Beatrice provided the city or its residents donated 40 acres of land within two miles of town with a stream of "living water" sufficient for the operation. To that end, the residents subscribed $4,000 that was used to buy 40 acres of land in Midland Township, which was donated to the state.

   Dr. J.T. Armstrong was appointed the school's first director, and his wife was the first matron. The Administration Building, or Old Main, was built in 1887, and on May 24 the first child was admitted.

   It was announced that parents or guardians, where possible, merely had to provide transportation to the school, clothing and unspecified "incidentals," with their county of residence reimbursing the state $40 per year per child admitted. Any child from 5 to 18 who had lived in Nebraska for at least a year was eligible. By the end of the first year, 65 to 70 children had been admitted.

   Virtually as soon as the first building was completed, new construction was proposed. The 1890 report showed 134 "inmates" in residence and that an ice house, boiler house and fire escapes had been added, but the promised water supply had been totally inadequate.

   Beatrice responded by agreeing to pipe city water to the school. The report also gave an hour-by-hour schedule the children followed from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and noted that shoemaking and tailoring classes had been added to the curriculum.

   In 1893, the state institutions and officials were awash with charges of misappropriation of state funds, and cries of impeachment were on hand at all levels. The legislative investigating committee, however, stated the Beatrice institute was "unique in that it gave Superintendent A.T. Armstrong... a clean score for his management."

   By 1895, a girls dormitory was completed that would be used until 1983, although it stood vacant for another decade.

   The Beatrice school's population rose to 218 with 14 employees in 1900, and to 415 with about 20 staff members in 1915. The original 40-acre campus had grown to 300 by 1918, while a dairy, laundry, bakery and water treatment facility made the 600-resident campus nearly self-sufficient.

   While the annual report showed that the youngest charges were taught forms, colors and reading until each child had "garnered a general knowledge of all the branches usually taught in the public schools," most also worked on the farm, in the laundry or dining room as well.

   In 1921, the "only children" requirement was dropped, causing enrollments in 1934-36 to swell to the point where 150 applicants were turned away for lack of room despite the fact the campus had grown to 512 acres with a hospital and infirmary added as well.

   1953 saw the razing of the original administration building, and in 1997, the Youth Farm was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

   Today, the Beatrice State Development Center cares for more than 300 patients with developmental disabilities. All of them are adults.

   Historian Jim McKee, who still writes with a fountain pen, invites comments or questions. Write in care of the Journal Star or e-mail to jim@leebooksellers.com.