Thorn Hill School for Boys Records

The Thorn Hill School for Boys Records contains reports of the superintendent to the Board of Managers documenting the boys’ behavior, academics, crops and livestock, and finances, books of check receipts, two daily record books documenting admissions, discharges, discipline logs, and medical treatment, oversized water supply maps of the school grounds, and images of staff, students, and school buildings.

About the Thorn Hill School for Boys

Thorn Hill School for Boys, also known as the Allegheny County Industrial and Training School for Boys, was a reform school in Marshall Township, Pa., which operated from 1911 until 1978. The school housed, trained, and educated boys ages 11 through 18 who were delinquent wards of Allegheny County and those who committed crimes and were sentenced by Juvenile Court. Boys sent to the school committed a range of crimes from incorrigibility to rape. Their mission was to rehabilitate and train juvenile offenders to become productive members of society through both strategic nurturing and supervised training. The complex occupied 1500 acres of land and held 70 structures. Total annual enrollment peaked near 500 in the early 1920s; however, the average enrollment usually fell between 200 to 250 boys per year. The boys were assigned to dormitory-style cottages which were supervised by cottage parents. Half of their day was spent on academic endeavors, while the other half involved agricultural development. The school was almost completely self-sustained, living off crops from its fields, fruit from its orchard, and various livestock. For example, in 1950 Superintendent Dan L. Rees reported to the school's Board of Managers that the school operated in 1949 for $178,229 because the boys grew $92,907 worth of fruits, vegetables, and grains. Extracurricular activities were available as well. Boys participated in school plays and competed against local schools and clubs in basketball and baseball. Boys often ran away, only to be caught or to return on their own. Boys who ran away often claimed that their reason was the disciplinary measures given by staff members. Violent outbreaks between boys occurred but were rare. The 1500 acre parcel of land Thorn Hill School occupied began to be coveted for commercial development in the early 1960s, especially with the expansions of Route 19, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and Interstate 79. In 1962, Allegheny County transferred 1000 acres of school land to the state, which took over operations of the school and renamed it the Warrendale Youth Development Center. Through the 1970s, the facility transitioned from a short-term care facility to a day treatment center. Eventually, the operation became known as the Day Treatment Center of Allegheny County and in 1979 was moved to a location on the North Side. Most of the land was then acquired by the Regional Industrial Development Corporation and became the site of the Thorn Hill Industrial Park.

The North Hills Genealogists supported the digitization of these photographs.