Sleighton Farm School is an abandoned reformatory school for delinquent children in Pennsylvania.
History
The Sleighton Farm School began as the House of Refuge in Philadelphia in 1826. 1 4 It was founded by the Quakers, with assistance from the Pennsylvania Prison Society, on the basis that juvenile offenders should be treated differently than adults. The House of Refuge believed its primary goals were to retrain and re-educate at-risk youth, most of whom came from unstable homes. 4 It accomplished this by establishing sense of security, and a sense of responsibility and self-respect. 3
Male offenders were moved to Glen Mills in Delaware County to the newly formed Glen Mills School in 1889, while the female offenders remained at the House of Refuge. 1
The House of Refuge sought land in the rural Delaware County countryside in 1906 in a shift of curriculum. 1 14 The reformatory school found the belief that students would be better served in a setting that emulated a large family, where the therapeutic power of growing things on a working farm would be better than keeping them in the inner-city hardscape.
Cope and Stewardson, a Philadelphia architectural firm, was hired to design dormitories and associated buildings for the rebranded Glen Mills School Girls Department in 1908. 1 Construction of the school began in 1909, and it opened in 1911.
The original facility included nine cottages (Campbell, Dubois-Miller, Harrison, Lincoln, Logan, Lucrettia Mott, Robinson, Washington, and Watson) that were designed in the Colonial Revival style, an administrative building that was developed in the Greek Revival style, small cottage, stone barn, and power plant. 1 Over the years, various lots surrounding the Gates Mill property were acquired, including a house owned by Alfred Darlington that became Stokes Cottage. Another was a circa 1803 residence owned by George Baker that became known as the Little House.
On April 17, 1931, the school split into two, one for boys and one for girls. The boys’ school kept the Glen Mills name while the girls’ school became known as the Sleighton Farm School for Girls. 1 4 12 By 1949, Sleighton had grown to 350 acres, housing 350 to 360 females. 4
Enrollment in 1975 totaled just 24 women 12 and was Sleighton was drowning in $1.4 million in debt. 13 The executive director at the time, Gloria Levister, decided to open the school to boys, which boosted the population to 201 students — 79% of whom were male. 9 12 13
Physical improvements included the Ulmer Memorial Chapel that was dedicated on October 23, 1965. 2 The building was the gift of Edward M. Ulmer and his sister, Mrs. G. Lathrop Smith, who donated $140,000 toward the cost of the chapel as a memorial to their parents. The 300-seat chapel was used for Catholic, Jewish, Protestant, and non-sectarian services. A gymnasium and prevocational center were added in 1978. 12
Decline
In 1993, the Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board purchased the easement to 120 acres owned by Sleighton for $1.62 million. 5 The easement purchase program, introduced in 1989, was designed to protect prime farmland from being developed by selling development rights to the state.
Sleighton merged with Elwyn in February 1998, 9 which served adults and children with physical and mental handicaps. 8 At the time, Sleighton had a substantial deficit, and Elwyn had offered more than $1 million for the facility. Elwyn began looking for buyers for the Sleighton property starting in February 2001 and announced in May that the school would close in September. 8 9
Middletown Township started talks to secure 22 of Sleighton’s 350 acres for use as a municipal park, which thwarted plans by Pulte Homes to build 79 houses on 128 acres. 7 The new township park, Sleighton Park, opened in October 2012. 11
The Washington Cottage was destroyed in a suspected arson on March 29, 2014. 10
Buildings
Campbell Cottage
The Campbell Cottage, named after Mary Campbell, was designed by Cope and Stewardson in the Colonial Revival style and built in 1909.
Deborah-Logan Cottage
The Deborah-Logan Cottage, named after Mary Campbell, was designed by Cope and Stewardson in the Colonial Revival style and built in 1909. It was destroyed in a fire in the later 21st century.
Dubois-Miller Cottage
The Dubois-Miller Cottage, partly named after W.E.B. Dubois, was designed by Cope and Stewardson in the Colonial Revival style and constructed in 1909.
Falconer Education Center
The Falconer Education Center, named after the first superintendent, Martha Platt Falconer, was added after 1909 with an addition circa 1930. A portion of the building was demolished in a fire in 2012.
Farm Office
The Farm Office was located in a 2½-story house that was erected in 1913.
Gymnasium
The gymnasium was added in 1978. 12
John Sergeant Administrative Building
The Administrative Building was named after John Sergeant, the first president of the Board of Managers of the House of Refuge. 1 It was added in 1909.
Harrison Cottage
The Harrison Cottage, named after George Harrison, a land donor, was designed by Cope and Stewardson in the Colonial Revival style and built in 1909.
Lincoln Cottage
The Lincoln Cottage, named after President Abraham Lincoln, was designed by Cope and Stewardson in the Colonial Revival style and built in 1909. It was destroyed in a fire in 2014.
Lucretia Mott Cottage
The Lucretia Mott Cottage, named after Lucretia Mott, who was known for her role in women’s voting rights, was designed by Cope and Stewardson in the Colonial Revival style and built in 1909. It was the receiving cottage for females who first entered Sleighton.
Powerhouse
The powerhouse was designed by Cope and Stewardson in the Colonial Revival style and built in 1909.
Robinson Cottage
The Robinson Cottage, named after Henry Robinson, was designed by Cope and Stewardson in the Colonial Revival style and built in 1909.
Ulmer Memorial Chapel
The Ulmer Memorial Chapel, designed in the Colonial Revival-style, was completed in August 1965 6 and dedicated on October 23. 2 6 The $200,000 6 building was the gift of Edward M. Ulmer and his sister, Mrs G. Lathrop Smith, who donated $140,000 in 1964 toward the cost of the chapel as a memorial to their parents. 2
A chapel fund had been started at the conclusion of World War II, but the bottom line did not significantly increase until 1961 when proceeds from the annual Village Fair were earmarked specifically for the construction of the new building. 6
The 300-seat chapel was used for Catholic, Jewish, Protestant, and non-sectarian services. 2
Washington Cottage
The Washington Cottage, named after President George Washington, was designed by Cope and Stewardson in the Colonial Revival style and built in 1909. It was destroyed in a suspected arson on March 29, 2014. 10
Watson Cottage
The Watson Cottage, named after James V. Watson, was designed by Cope and Stewardson in the Colonial Revival style and built in 1909.
Sources
[su_spoiler title=”Sources” icon=”caret”]
- “Brief History.” Save Sleighton, article.
- Hann, Mary Ford. “Miss Corey Likes Work as Sleighton Chaplain.” Chester Times, 24 Sept. 1965, p. 8.
- McCaw, Sandy. “Social Work Rewards Several BC Students.” Barnard Bulletin, 28 Oct. 1954, p. 1.
- Votaw, Galja Barish. “Hundreds of Girls Helped at Sleighton Farm School.” Chester Times, 27 Oct. 1949, p. 24.
- Ordine, Bill. “Selling easements keeps ’em on farm.” Philadelphia Inquirer, 3 Jun. 1993, p. MD1.
- “Chapel at Sleighton Farm to be Dedicated Saturday.” Chester Times, 22 Oct. 1965, p. 10.
- Dale, Kevin. “Former school site for sale, paving the way for builders.” Philadelphia Inquirer, 8 Sept. 2002, p. L1.
- Klimkiewicz, Joann. “Middletown seeks Sleighton land.” Philadelphia Inquirer, 25 Oct. 2001, p. B1, B9.
- Hardy, Dan. “Sleighton School near shutdown in Delco.” Philadelphia Inquirer, 15 May 2001, p. B5.
- “Fire roars through building on old Sleighton Farms school in Edgmont.” Delaware Daily Times, 30 Mar. 2014.
- Alburger, Bette. “Middletown Township cuts ribbon to open Sleighton Park.” Town Talk, 10 Oct. 2012.
- Scott, Nancy. “Over the years, House of Refuge stays the course.” Philadelphia Inquirer, 26 Mar. 1989, p. 23-DC.
- Scott, Nancy. “Helping students live by the rules.” Philadelphia Inquirer, 26 Mar. 1989, p. 4-DC, 23-DC.
- Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia. “Preservation Matters.” 2003.
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2025….I never knew about this place until I drove by today, then Googled it. I parked on the property and walked around the campus for 15 minutes. A cop showed up, was nice but told me to move my car or the State Troopers will have it towed. The place is amazing but every building is falling apart & overgrown. Shame it wasn’t saved. A kid in 2014 jumped off the Water-tower, suicide and trespassers are the real problem with vandalism & destruction. It is a wild place to see.
Were there tunnels at one point? I see constant man holes on the site that are filled in and some of the basements are like a maze.
I heard about abuse allegations from this place,Any experiences? The bedrooms in the cafeteria are covered with a steal wall that’s next to impossible to get through,Also isn’t the property a Historic landmark? Why is it left waiting to collapse.
Also PSA Be alert when walking in the buildings,Most are stable but I been in a couple you could barley walk in. The one room had so many clothes and toys,I think it was a living room area of some sort (had a couch) but the entire floor was caving in.
nic k curry was there
Hello my name is James and I know this is crazy question to I have to ask does any remember a girl name lilly Lewis
If anyone has more stories about this place, PLEASE Email me! mikey100309@gmail.com! I would love to hear them so please!!!
I have been researching The Sleighton School hoping to find students’ records from 1930-1940 with no luck.
Just found this:
https://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/
I as well,my mom and cousin attended in the 40s.l was recreation Counselor in 80s at sleighton.
I was housed there in the 90s as delinquent juvenile I’d say back in 97-98. I’d be open to share about my experience. Me and my sibling were both housed there. Also, several of my childhood friends who I am still in contact with. The stories I/we could tell. We were mostly from Philadelphia and the surrounding counties.
I WAS THERE IN 1971 I RAN I TOOK 7 OTHERS WITH ME. I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO DIDNT GET CAUGHT.BUT AFTHER 8 MONTHS I TURN MY SELF IN.LOL AND WAS SEND HOME 2 WEEKS LATER.IT WAS A VERY BIG PLACE.I REALY DIDNT MINE IT.AS FOR STAFF SOME WHERE GOOD.MY BEST STAFF WAS THE COOK SHE WAS A BEAUTIFUL WOMEN A SOUL OF GOLD.I WAS 14 WHEN I WAS THEIR.AM 67 NOW.IT WAS A VERY BEAUTIFUL PLACE.WE WENT TO GLECTEN MILL FOR DANCES,WE WENT TO THE ROLLER DERBY.WE WENT TO SEE THE SUPREMES,ARETHA FRANKLIN. ECT,
I lived there in 1973 for 3 yrs. As a q 13 yr old city kid the grounds amazed me as did the greenhouse. I was in Lincoln Cottage, Dubois and more. I too ran away at 3rd yr when caught the sent me elsewhere. Wasn’t to bad just wanted to go home.
It is so interesting that most of these buildings that added a colonial revival style in 1909; in the same time that Milton and Katherine Hershey opened and established Milton Hershey School that is still flourishing and empowering young minds. I am the proud grandmother to SIX grandchildren that attend this PRESTIGIOUS institution. Many thanks ALWAYS to the Hersheys for their insights that continue to evolve and will for many generations to come
have recently went to this place. used to live around the corner. been going here for 7+ years. security usually parks at the park. around 11pm-12am is when they start switching shifts. anyone who happens to see this, if you went here at any point in time, I would love to hear your story! always been very much interested in this place and want to see what actually goes on behind the lies the gov spreads on the internet. Thank you!
I worked there as a counselor in the 90s I remember the school had a bus that used to pick up staff from Media.! Remember one of my students, whose name was Antown Saunders or sanders can’t remember the exact spelling of his name but he stood out because his nick name was frog ! He has a hoarse voice that sounded like a frog. I was shocked to To in the new he was arrested for trying to rob a student from university of Pennsylvania and killed him in the act. I think his accomplice was a guy by the name of homocide not sure but Antwone received a life sentence! I was sad to watch it in the news because he wasn’t a difficult student and he always was respectful to me and lived talking with me
I just drove by it and I was in shock to see so many abandoned houses next to each other in this area and I had never heard about it. I drove back and around the first building and it is an amazing construction. I got home and had to google this place.
I remember being there in the 90’s was there for a year I can say I had some good times there the guy who ran the place was an nfl player MR Gibson
I was there from 91-92 it was fun for me also I was in Logan cottage Mr Montgomery was our cottage supervisor.
Does anyone know who owns the property? Is it the states? or Elwyn Inc?
People say it was hell but to me these were the best days or my teenage life.
My aunt, Alice Pazauski from Pottsville, PA attended this school. She would be approximately 90 years old today. The family always suspected she had been molested after her mother died and she was “FARMED OUT” to several schools.
I was sentenced to this crazy place when I was 14 years old,it was hell.i escaped the barbed wire fence and never got caught.im 60 years old now..
I am 86 years of age and my days on the farm were much better than my days at home with my mother, I sure was treated better than I got treated at home.
Do you recall a student by the name of ALICE PAUZAUSKI? Thank you.
My mother also attended around the same time as you! She really never talked about it but I would love to hear more about the school
Jacquelyn Randolph
i want to hear more about your stories! is there any way i can contact you?
I was there as a child 13 remember so much.
Was your last name Landers at the top me? I was also there. I think 65-66
Hi Holly, My mom was here around 1970. She passed away in 2021. I am interested in an knowing more about this place and possibly anyone who may have known my mom during this time. Her name was Betty.
I was sentence to this school when I was 12 years old. Back in 2001. There was nothing fun about this place. It was a prison for kids. I was at this school until it was shutting down.. A cook committed suicide right before they closed this place… this school was a nightmare…
I have heard a few different stories about a staff member committing suicide just before the school shutdown in 2001 but cant find a single article anywhere online. Do you remember anything else about it? His name? where it happened? Thanks!
I remember that I left when I was 18 in January of 2001 I was sent there at age 14 but
24hr security and video cameras everywhere. State police were called on we got hit with a bunch of charges. Not worth the headache
Very true just went there the other day and had To play hide and seek using the woods and any overgrown but go out thankfully lol
I just went and on the left side of the chapel, there is an entrance from the basement but you need to hop table to table to get down. There is also another building further down where you go on the right side and go up the white ramp, where there is easy access from the door. The main house is entered through the door by walking up the stairs and straight in. There are small old classroom areas that are ingrown but can be entered through an open door. There are also small buildings where u can enter by the watertower. Other buildings were blocked off but i think there were more near the basketball courts.
how accessible is this building? Is it wide-open or do you need permissions? Looking to film a Music Video and looking to do it in the most legit/risk-free way as possible. Thanks so much for the brief!
It’s right next to a park so the campus is really easy to walk to but a lot of the buildings are boarded up and it’s on private property. There is also security
what are the chances of getting caught by the security exactly
The gym, the church and 2 or 3 building are pretty easy to get into but you may have to duck in the woods and overgrown to avoid security