INPERSON
History of
Morganza
Revealed in
New Book
Christopher
Barraclough’s
new book explores
history of Morganza
Reform School.
M
ost people knew it as the building you could see from I-79 where “Silence
of the Lambs” was filmed, but for the past year, it’s been a labor of love for
Christopher Barraclough.
Barraclough, 28, a graduate of Moon Area School District, PTI and a
Canonsburg resident, took up the subject after he became fascinated with Morganza
after viewing its vacant structures from his window at work.
More than a year and several trips to the state archives in Harrisburg later,
Arcadia Publishing’s “Morganza:
Pennsylvania’s Reform School” is on
the bookshelves, and Barraclough is a
published author. Along the way, he said,
he learned a lot about both Morganza and
the publishing process.
“The biggest challenge while putting the
book together was finding enough images,”
he said. “The images had to be prominent
and highlight the institution. The quality
of the images was also important, which
became a challenge.”
“Morganza: Pennsylvania’s
Reform School” expands on the history
of Pennsylvania’s first state-owned
and operated reform school for
juvenile delinquents.
In this new pictorial history, more
than 200 vintage images share the stories
from one of Pennsylvania’s first juvenile correction institutions. The book features
images and captions sharing information on how the institute used many methods
to try to reform juvenile delinquents. Morganza has long been a draw for historical
researchers, urban explorers, ghost hunters and others interested to learn more
about those who lived and worked there.
And while the building was known as a home for juvenile delinquents,
Barraclough said he found it to be so much more through his research.
“Many people assumed the institution was for delinquent children, but didn’t
know much more about it,” he said. “During my research, I found out the boys and
girls who passed through the institution became well-rounded individuals. They left
the institution with life-changing skills and became outstanding citizens.”
Morganza was razed and an office park stands on its former grounds, however,
the memory of its administration building capped by a striking copper cupola,
is known to generations of locals who travelled I-79, wondering what exactly
went on there.
The architecture was so distinctive that it was featured in the 1991 film
“The Silence of the Lambs.”
Over the years, Morganza underwent
several name changes. Standing as a
containment campus for delinquent
youths for more than 90 years, it
later functioned as a facility
to aid the mentally
handicapped until its
closure in 2000.
By
Mark
Berton
44 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | Peters Township
Cupola, courtesy
Richard Nowe