Louisiana Training Institute
| Louisiana Training Institute | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1902 |
| Opened | 1904 |
| Current Status | Active |
| Building Style | Cottage Plan |
| Location | Monroe, LA |
| Alternate Names |
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History
In 1902, legislation authorized the State Penitentiary’s Board of Control to establish an institution for white youth aged 7 – 18. This led to the 1904 Legislative Act 173 that created the State Reform School (also called the Louisiana Training Institute – LTI) for white male juveniles in Monroe. However, funds were not appropriated for the new institution until the 1906 legislative session, which authorized an expenditure of $20,000 over a three year period. Approximately 193 acres of farmland in Ouachita Parish were purchased as the site for the facility. When fire destroyed the administration building in November 1912, the records were lost. The school disbanded until 1915 when it re-opened after being moved to the present site. In the early years a successful athletic program evolved, with teams that competed against other groups in the Monroe area. By 1941 the school was accepted into the Louisiana High School Athletic Association with varsity teams in baseball, basketball, football, and track. From the 1950s – 70s, LTI’s Southside High School Pelican football team was a local force to be reckoned with, and the team traveled to play training schools as far away as New Mexico.
As LTI superintendent from 1951 to 1970, A. L. “Red” Swanson initiated many outstanding changes, reforms, projects and ventures. A number of buildings were erected during his administration, including the administration building, a new school, cafeteria, chapel, cottages, machine shop and maintenance shop, a new dairy, barns and two duplex apartments for the staff. Supt. Swanson had the bakery make birthday cakes to celebrate each boy’s birthday.
Today it is known as Swanson Center for Youth. Former farmland is now home to E.A. Conway Hospital.
