Industrial and Training School – Columbia MS

Description

The Industrial and Training School in Columbia housed juvenile offenders from the early 1900s through 2008 when it was closed. Begun in March 1934, the state legislature appropriated $200,000 to supplement CWA funds for building repairs on Mississippi institutions. Work was delayed due to delay in the CWA funds. Approval was eventually received to use ERA funds. The largest expenditure was for the Industrial and Training School at Columbia, where $49,783.98 was spent on buildings and grounds improvement. Work included rebuilding the water supply system, new reservoir, repair and painting of water tank. Repairs were completed on Franklin Hall and Bilbo Hall, a new jail annex was added to Franklin Hall, and general repairs to the appearance of buildings was completed. The state allocated funds to match the funding supplied by the Emergency Relief Administration and the Industrial and Training School at Columbia received $25,326 in the first two months, with an additional $12,228.92 pending for October. Most of the early buildings were demolished in the 1960s although some still remain.