Images of America

In the first decade of the 20th century, the state of Massachusetts established itself as a leader in the education of individuals with disabilities. The third state school for the feebleminded was built in rural Belchertown, in the western part of the state. Opened in 1915, Belchertown State School would eventually encompass almost 900 acres of land and would become the largest employer in town. For nearly 60 years, the state school educated individuals with disabilities who were otherwise excluded from public education, training the "residents" to become independent members of their families and of society. The model was a success until reports of abuse and neglect began to surface, culminating in the landmark 1972 Ricci v. Greenblatt case, which ultimately led to the state school's closure in 1992. The state school's rich history, maintained and curated by the late Donald LaBrecque, chronicles the rise of special education and developmental services and the ultimate collapse of the state school system.

Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast's Camp Alice Chester (CAC) on picturesque Booth Lake first opened its doors in 1924 after a successful fundraising effort led by Alice Chester, the first president of the Milwaukee Girl Scouts. Thousands have walked its well-worn trails, cooked over campfires, and slept in the tents and cabins. Swimming and boating activities have consistently been a major appeal for campers. The historic European-style lodge has provided a gathering place for community meals, folk dancing, dramatics, arts and crafts, and ceremonies through the decades. CAC is a unique setting where skills and confidence are strengthened and lasting friendships are formed. Since the fall of 1980, CAC has also been known as Alice Chester Center (ACC). The name change brought expanded year-round, staff-led opportunities for Girl Scouts and others to utilize it during the fall, winter, and spring seasons. Today, the accredited property encompasses 333 acres and features frontage on two lakes.

The University of Rhode Island is an in-depth pictorial history of URI that covers the period
beginning with its inception as a college in 1892 to the term of its current president. Settled in the rural village of Kingston, where a rolling hillside
has evolved into a vast world-class educational institution, URI began as the Rhode Island Agricultural School in 1889. Photographs seen in this book tell the story of the Kingston residents' struggle to bring the state's agricultural school into being. We see the never-ending crusades for necessary facilities and faculty and the radical adaptations utilized during World War I and World War II. The growth and fame of coaches, athletic teams, and athletes are chronicled, and dignitaries such as Eleanor Roosevelt, Presidents Eisenhower and Johnson, composer Aaron Copeland, Igor Sigorsky, and
innumerable others jump from the pages.

Helping orphaned and disadvantaged boys get a chance at a better life was the mission of Brother James, founder of the Franciscan Brothers of the Holy Cross, a German Catholic Order that sent Brothers to the United States in 1924. To that end, St. James Trade School was established in Springfield, Illinois, in 1928. Two years later, the first group of apprentices was admitted; they and hundreds who followed them through 1972 went on to become certified mechanics, carpenters, and electricians among other valuable trades. High school diplomas were earned beginning in 1948. In 1975, Brother James Court (BJC) opened with a brand new building specifically designed as a residential intermediate care facility. BJC provides both residency and advocacy for developmentally disabled men. Providing the highest quality care, consistent with the spirit and principles of the Franciscan Brothers of the Holy Cross, programs at BJC meet residents' needs and allow them to live happily at BJC for as long as they need.