I had the opportunity to shoot at the old Girls Reformatory outside St. Anthony. Idaho recently. This place also served as the state juvenile correctional facility, among several other things. The three buildings are unique structures and are just the type of historical buildings I love to explore. It these old walls could talk… they would have some awesome stories. Some say it is haunted, but a few families have lived there and only tell stories of helpful ghosts. 
This is where a lot of people performed a lot of good service to those in need. I hope to go back again some time when I have more time to do some light paintings on the more original third floor. It was one of our many stops in a Upper Valley (East Idaho) Photo Excursion loop I took my Comm 316 Professional Imaging class.
Girls Reformatory-St. Anthony – Old Building
Caryn Esplin- Girls Reformatory – St. Anthony – Red Drapes
Caryn Esplin- Girls Reformatory – St. Anthony – Art Deco Hall
Caryn Esplin- Girls Reformatory – St. Anthony – Operating Room
When we first came to Idaho (in 1972) Bob was hired by YSC and worked with the boys in the PE/Rec department until coming to Madison School District. We spent a lot a time there – it seems like those buildings were OLD when we arrived!!!! Great shots Caryn!
Wow, you would know the history of this place then! I love old places like this. Thanks for the comment. We need to get together sometime soon. 🙂
WOW, These are amazing. I wish I would have taken a few more there, but I will see how the ones I got turn out. The last two are my favorites. I love the leading lines on the hallway shot.
When I was 12&13(1961&1962)I was a “student” at Saint Anthony Reform school. The Old Building (with pink bricks) was used to house Company J. We were boys ages 8 thru 14.I was told the building used to be the girls clinic. There was a building at the site that was similar to the large building still standing,i helped to tear it down.
Thanks for the comment, David. So there was a second large building? I wonder why they tore it down? When was that? What was you experience there like? Thanks for sharing. I just love old building and the history that comes with them.
I really don’t know why the building was torn down. It was in the summer if 1962. I was just told to stack the old bricks after the crane and bulldozer had moved away.
As far as the pink building (old clinic),we were only permitted to use the shower room, dorm room and basement. The rest of the building was “off limits”. There were about 8 to 10 “students” in company J. ages 8 to about 14.I remember watching John Glen in space on the tv in the basement. We were in the building at night and the weekends. The rest of the time we were bused to the main campus about a mile away. My most vivid memory of my time at the clinic was watching the girls putting on their pajamas in the building next door, the one in your picture. The boys and girls were separated and we only saw them in school and church. In the summer of 1962 company J was moved to the main campus. My memories of “reform school” are still vivid and not pleasant even after 50 years. I do like all of your photos!
I went on a two hour tour of the old campus today with my Realtor. I’m considering buying the campus, restoring it, and turning it into a “Wound Warriors Recovery Center” for our returning Combat Veteran’s and spouses. If anyone can provide any additional history, or photographs of the campus it will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Hi John, I love your idea of restoring the campus and using it to serve veterans and their spouses. What a nice idea. I have only been there once, but I was fascinated with the bits of history I heard. I contacted the owners who knew a lot of the past stories. I am not sure how to contact them, but I am sure the realtor can put you in touch with them sometime. Good luck and I would love to know what you decided to do! Thanks for the comment and interest.
We lived at this campus for 6 years in the ’80’s, in the infirmary. We had a few people stop by and tell stories. One lady was writing a book about a young lady who lived at the then early 1900’s as a Territorial Orphanage. She was there because her parents had died. She ran off to Montana to get married and her bother went after her and made her come back. A girl in solitary tried to jump out of the 3 story and broke her leg but still got pretty far away before they caught her. One girl tried the same thing but hung herself instead. My daughters said there was a very nice Dr who would come around and help them, he showed up in front of that old sink. He told them if the put pop corn in the sink it would sprout and they’d have all the pop corn they ever wanted. So they did and I found it and they told me the story. A little girl who would run the halls, a scary older lady who would do bed checks I think. A girl who would look out of the 3rd floor window of the Big building. In the low cut building there was a janitor and a 13 yrs boy with him. That would tell my daughter not to come in it was not safe. The former owner told my daughter to take her books and things out of the furnace room, but they NEVER went in there it was to scary they said.
I just checked back to see more comments.
After reading about ghost stories i remembered about Clay Patrick,i was returned to the reform school in 1965 and was told that he drank disenfecant soap to get out of work detail but he died in the clinic at the boys school.I worked with Clay several times and considered him my friend. I was told that nurses and clinic boys ( they cleaned the clinic )had seen his ghost bathing in an oversized tub that was used to clean incoming boys. He was 16 at the time and is buried in Blackfoot.
I was a two-year resident of St. Anthony’s reformatory from age 15 to age 17 in the 1970’s I went by a different name then . My crime? Running away , habitual runner, against the law back then. I was in solitary confinement two weeks at a time for “planning” to run ,this happened over and again…I didn’t even carry the sentence out. There were matrons that did care about me though I didn’t see it at the time Glenda Mayor or Meyer, Terry Hobbs , and Colleen Graham , I wish I could have felt such gratitude towards them when they were alive, I didn’t see it until I was in my fifties ,Did I reform? No, I was a lost soul until honesty just a couple of years ago. Did I learn? NO , as a matter of fact after I was released and put in a group home , I continuously ran from there , too bad really, the lady that ran the home actually cared about me , she took me back time and again. The juvenile court got tired of dealing with me and eventually emancipated me .
This is amazing work I am from Idaho Falls and would love to use those site. As a backdrop. Could you tell me how to get there I am from Idaho Falls so I’m pretty familiar with the area or a address to use to look it up?
Nicole, I know the family who lives on this site. This building is now used as a haunted attraction in October, called “The Haunted Hospital.” I’m not sure of the address, but I know they have a facebook page that you can find that information.