W.J. Maxey Boys Training School, Juvenile corrections facility in Whitmore Lake, Michigan.
W.J. Maxey Boys Training School was a facility that housed up to 60 male youth between ages 12 and 21 who needed specialized care and treatment. The institution provided education, vocational training, and therapeutic services on a 103-acre property in Whitmore Lake.
The school was established to serve male adolescents with behavioral issues and substance abuse challenges requiring intensive rehabilitation. Operations ended in October 2015 following state budget reductions, with residents transferred to alternative programs throughout Michigan.
The educational program included high school diploma preparation, GED courses, and vocational training in construction trades, cosmetology, and graphic design.
The property is not open to the public as it now serves as a training center for the Department of Corrections and functions as an administrative facility. Anyone interested in learning more should contact local authorities beforehand to inquire about potential access or visiting options.
Since 2020, the Michigan Department of Corrections has repurposed the site as a training center for correction officers with dedicated facilities. This transformation from a youth care facility to law enforcement training center shows how institutional properties find new roles over time.
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