Originally conceived in 1899 by James R. Dick, Shawbridge Boys Farm was built in 1907 for the training of delinquent boys from the Montreal area. The farm was used to house orphans and juvenile criminals under the age of 18 who were sent there to serve time for charges such as robbery, assault, or theft. In the early years of Shawbridge Boys Farm, it was sponsored by The Rotary Club of Toronto and Montreal. As more sponsors came on board after The Rotary Club, many photos were taken in the early years of the Boys Farm.
