You must forgive me for not having a good overall exterior shot of The St. Francis Boys' Home (nor many interior ones for that matter), as both times I was there I was in a "rush," and I didn't get a chance to come back before it was demolished.
According to Patricia Ibbotson's book Detroit's Hospitals, Healers, and Helpers, the St. Francis Home for Orphan Boys was established in 1909 in a building on Woodward in Highland Park, between Victor and Ferris. Obviously that is exactly where Henry Ford's new Model T Plant was built a few years later, and according to popular belief Mr. Ford offered to not only buy them out but also donated new land for another orphanage to be built here, at 2701 Fenkell.
An interesting footnote in the book Seasons of Grace: A History of the Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit says that the Chicago Defender once alleged in the 1920s that no parochial schools in Detroit accepted black children. The Michigan Catholic issued a rebuttal to the story, pointing out that the St. Francis Boys' Home did.
Here's the chapel, which contained a nice old pipe organ and some stained glass windows (behind me) that I apparently was unable to get photos of:
The St. Francis Boys' Home was shut down in the early 1990s and at some point soon afterward became part of the Detroit Public Schools, when the new Paul Robeson Academy program moved in. Today the "St. Francis Family Center" is located at 17500 W 8 Mile Road.
According to Detroit Public Schools, Robeson was a "school of choice," meaning that pupils needed at least a 2.5 grade point average in order to enroll, and their parents were required to pledge their support and participation in the program.
Robeson Academy was named after "an influential African-American singer, actor and social activist." It was the first public school program in America to have an Afro-centric curriculum, according to the Detroit Public Schools, and was designed to provide "culturally responsive teaching techniques that prepare students both academically and culturally to become productive citizens of the 21st Century."
While I have no problem with Afro-centric curriculum, Black Jesus might be stepping over that "separation of church and state" line a little bit there, heh:
Due to declining enrollment Robeson merged with the Malcolm X Academy for younger students in 2010. The Malcolm X Academy was formed in 1992 at a former elementary school in Warrendale around the same time as the Robeson Academy. At the time that area was still largely white, and surprisingly (or not) many residents protested having an all-black academy move into their neighborhood, especially one that was named after a black radical leader. Undoubtedly they viewed it as "anti-white," and picketed during its opening.
Some even went as far as to vandalize the building by painting swastikas on it. A quote from a New York Times article on the Detroit Public Schools webpage said that the backlash "was so hostile it reminded many people of Little Rock in 1957, not Detroit in 1992."
The top floor of the school was burned off in May of 2011 after supposedly being struck by lightning, and the academy was forced to relocate. How it managed to spread to the entire upper floor of the building so easily has never been exactly answered satisfactorily I don't think, and probably shows that some fire codes and simple safety procedures may have been overlooked or ignored.
Unfortunately the damage from both the fire, and the amount of water the fire department used to extinguish it, was bad enough to where the structure was no longer feasible to repair.
Because of the abrupt way in which it was abandoned--literally a fire drill while class was in session--it was more surreal than usual as far as what was left behind in-situ...there were rows of new laptops just sitting in docking stations, some of the few clocks that had not melted were still ticking, lockers still had kids' backpacks in them, and I think I saw at least one or two half-finished projects still sitting on students' desks from when the fire alarm sounded.
No one was allowed to come back in to recover anything, so here it sat. No one except scrappers and looters of course. I didn't take any photos from the interior simply because it was so dark and so water-damaged. I also didn't want to risk alerting anyone we were inside by light painting photos or firing a flash.
Today, the Robeson / Malcolm X program continues to operate, and resides at 2585 Grove Street near University of Detroit, in the former Hally Magnet Middle School. These two academies have bounced around so many times that it is as if they are sharing in the fate of the lost boys the orphanage served when it opened.
This building at 2701 Fenkell was demolished in the autumn of 2012.
I managed to get a shot of the downtown skyline next to the belfry:
You can't quite see it, but one of the bells was currently wedged halfway through one of the slats of the other side of the belfry because scrappers had tried to steal it.
References:
The City of Detroit Michigan 1701-1922, by Clarence M. Burton, p. 422
Detroit's Hospitals, Healers, and Helpers, by Patricia Ibbotson, p. 101
Archdiocese of Detroit, by Roman Godzak, p. 11
Detroit's Polonia, by Cecile Wendt Jensen, p. 69
Seasons of Grace: A History of the Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit, by Leslie W. Tentler, p. 574
http://detroitk12.org/inside_dps/2008/12/02/paul-robeson-academy/
http://detroitk12.org/schools/robesonmalcolmx/
According to Patricia Ibbotson's book Detroit's Hospitals, Healers, and Helpers, the St. Francis Home for Orphan Boys was established in 1909 in a building on Woodward in Highland Park, between Victor and Ferris. Obviously that is exactly where Henry Ford's new Model T Plant was built a few years later, and according to popular belief Mr. Ford offered to not only buy them out but also donated new land for another orphanage to be built here, at 2701 Fenkell.
The book Archdiocese of Detroit by Roman Godzak says that it was one of the biggest and best-known child care facilities in Detroit, built to hold up to 500 boys under the care of the Sisters of St. Joseph. It was designed by Albert Kahn and completed in 1921.
The book Detroit's Polonia tells briefly of one particularly striped graduate of St. Francis Boys' Home, Tech Sergeant Walter Sajewicz, who went on to join the army around World War II and became an engineering aide in the Manhattan Project building the first atom bomb.
Here's the chapel, which contained a nice old pipe organ and some stained glass windows (behind me) that I apparently was unable to get photos of:
The St. Francis Boys' Home was shut down in the early 1990s and at some point soon afterward became part of the Detroit Public Schools, when the new Paul Robeson Academy program moved in. Today the "St. Francis Family Center" is located at 17500 W 8 Mile Road.
According to Detroit Public Schools, Robeson was a "school of choice," meaning that pupils needed at least a 2.5 grade point average in order to enroll, and their parents were required to pledge their support and participation in the program.
Robeson Academy was named after "an influential African-American singer, actor and social activist." It was the first public school program in America to have an Afro-centric curriculum, according to the Detroit Public Schools, and was designed to provide "culturally responsive teaching techniques that prepare students both academically and culturally to become productive citizens of the 21st Century."
While I have no problem with Afro-centric curriculum, Black Jesus might be stepping over that "separation of church and state" line a little bit there, heh:
Due to declining enrollment Robeson merged with the Malcolm X Academy for younger students in 2010. The Malcolm X Academy was formed in 1992 at a former elementary school in Warrendale around the same time as the Robeson Academy. At the time that area was still largely white, and surprisingly (or not) many residents protested having an all-black academy move into their neighborhood, especially one that was named after a black radical leader. Undoubtedly they viewed it as "anti-white," and picketed during its opening.
Some even went as far as to vandalize the building by painting swastikas on it. A quote from a New York Times article on the Detroit Public Schools webpage said that the backlash "was so hostile it reminded many people of Little Rock in 1957, not Detroit in 1992."
Unfortunately the damage from both the fire, and the amount of water the fire department used to extinguish it, was bad enough to where the structure was no longer feasible to repair.
Because of the abrupt way in which it was abandoned--literally a fire drill while class was in session--it was more surreal than usual as far as what was left behind in-situ...there were rows of new laptops just sitting in docking stations, some of the few clocks that had not melted were still ticking, lockers still had kids' backpacks in them, and I think I saw at least one or two half-finished projects still sitting on students' desks from when the fire alarm sounded.
No one was allowed to come back in to recover anything, so here it sat. No one except scrappers and looters of course. I didn't take any photos from the interior simply because it was so dark and so water-damaged. I also didn't want to risk alerting anyone we were inside by light painting photos or firing a flash.
Today, the Robeson / Malcolm X program continues to operate, and resides at 2585 Grove Street near University of Detroit, in the former Hally Magnet Middle School. These two academies have bounced around so many times that it is as if they are sharing in the fate of the lost boys the orphanage served when it opened.
This building at 2701 Fenkell was demolished in the autumn of 2012.
I managed to get a shot of the downtown skyline next to the belfry:
You can't quite see it, but one of the bells was currently wedged halfway through one of the slats of the other side of the belfry because scrappers had tried to steal it.
References:
The City of Detroit Michigan 1701-1922, by Clarence M. Burton, p. 422
Detroit's Hospitals, Healers, and Helpers, by Patricia Ibbotson, p. 101
Archdiocese of Detroit, by Roman Godzak, p. 11
Detroit's Polonia, by Cecile Wendt Jensen, p. 69
Seasons of Grace: A History of the Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit, by Leslie W. Tentler, p. 574
http://detroitk12.org/inside_dps/2008/12/02/paul-robeson-academy/
http://detroitk12.org/schools/robesonmalcolmx/
The place was very bad for us in the 60's when corporal punishment was the rule, experimental medicines and lots and lots of meds were given all day and night to us all almost. Punishments were horrible and running commercial buffing machines when you are 6 and being afraid to hit a wall is terrible. The abuse mental, physical and sexual was unescapable. Nothing good to say about this place other than glad it burned down!
ReplyDeleteWhen were you there? I was there from 1957 thru 1965 and yes, you got your butt beat if you were out of line, but experimental medicines? Give me a break. What's your name?
DeleteJohn D: Do you remember meeting any Cuban refugee kids between 1961 and 1965 at St. Francis? I am doing research about them. I want to know what they went through. I am interested in you experience because it's very likely that theirs was just like yours. Is there any way we can email each other about it? My name is Jose.
DeleteMy Father was here from age 14-18. He said that it was a terrible place. Here he was sexually abused and forced to partake in homosexual activity. My Father is a wonderful man. Our family is Christian (not catholic). My Father struggles with God because of all that he went through here. He was going to face and potentially beat one of the priest's if he found one in particular, but turned out that he's already dead.
DeleteWhat years was your father there, I was there 78- 79, and alter boy, and I would like to know which priest abused me. I was abused nightly in the dormitories, then by the priest before or after services on Sunday.
DeleteMy name hi my name is Walter Boyd I was in St Francis home for boys and proximately about the Sundays I was awarded Court and I will sit there due to child support in first hand I didn't want to talk about this story about this story but I was talking to some friends and they asked me what happened and being a black young boy you would never imagine dealing with priest I didn't grow up in that kind of atmosphere I was put there because of my circumstance now I'm 54 going on 55 it's a little hard to deal with but I kind of to reality with a lot of broken relationships and going through a lot of emotional problems I think the truth need to be told about saint Francis home for boys the staff can protect us and the nuns didn't even care but it was ungodly what themes was allowed to do just because we was broken boys and we placed in there by the court so now I'm trying to get my story out
DeleteIt was strange and lonely, I did not experience any abuse in 1982. It still sucked though! there used to be a man they let stay there that would give the boys candy but, I don't think he did anything inappropriate, at least not to me.
ReplyDeleteMichael Harris
That would be Frank the candy man, he was in house custodian.
DeleteLived round back of the place
was there from 79-81
Frank was his name. And he threw it from the top floor to the ground to us kids. I also didn't experience abuse. There were people that were watching over us during the day, but the nights were mostly quiet. There were a few mishaps during such times of unauthority mainly of unruly nature between kids.
DeleteHis name was Frank He stayed around the back at the top of the stairs You always gave out life saver packs was a good man he used to live there as a child also
DeleteFrank the Candy man, lived by the steps in the back by the incinerator, always life savers. Nice man, one of the only nice people in that hell.
DeleteI remember older man named Frank that had a workshop down from the laundry he made me an Indian peace pipe he also always gave me $.50 to go to the store across the street I was to get him to cigars and 25 cent. Could always stop in his workshop visit with him I have lots of stories about him always good I asked him one day why Kenny Lawrence Davis could not go to Detroit barbershop with the rest of us he told me because of that special shears in the barbershop didn’t I have those kind of shearsI believe that story until I was 30 years old and I didn’t understand segregation
DeleteI dont remember too much there, but I remember getting on bus for haircut. It was in Hamtramck. They had henry fords chair in the display window.
DeleteFrank the candy man lived in the basement. He'd hand the candy through the window.
DeleteJuicy fruit gum was my memory. The roaches in that place where monsters.
They would fly they were so big. Nightmares
A very dear friend of mine attended in the late 70's early 80's. His name is Adam Grauman. This place helped destroy his life after his parents gave him away. They couldn't handle his beahavior. So sad.
ReplyDeleteI was there in the early 50's. The Nuns could be brutal at times making us eat powdered floor soap if we talked in class or setting us on a hot radiator. We were in 1st or 2nd grade. It was a military school at that time.
ReplyDeleteI was there in 1958 and remember the same experiences and much more. The abuse and cruelty was inexcusable.
DeleteI was there in the late 50's early 60's. The nuns would go to jail in today's world if the did any of the torture they got away with then.
DeleteSo would’ve many of the parents going to jail for the things that they did to the young boys that were there I’m not sure which was worse I know I ran away and went home and then I went and ran away and went back there and then I found out they’re sending me to boyFailed so I ran away again
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteMy brothers were there during the Detoit riots in the late 60's. Does anyone remember Gene Ruiz or Chester Ruiz? My mom and step dad went there to pick them up during the riots to bring them home.
ReplyDeleteI posted about my brothers, and didn't checkoff the notify me so please respond to this one instead.
ReplyDeleteHello smarty my name is Richard suwalski I read your statement about Saint Francis home I understand your brothers were there during the riots so was I I wonder if your brothers remember me contact me 313 729 3400
DeleteI remember you. My name is Richard Knight. Was in St Francis 67 thru 1970. I remember you were a good fighter and stuck up for me a few times. Call me 269 769-6365
DeleteMy brothers an I were there in the 1960's. I spent 1965 - 1969 there. Yes is was a tough place and yes I experienced everything mentioned above to include uniforms and marching on weekends. I went back in the early 1990's with my wife and it was some type of reform school for girls - they would not even let me look around. It still seemed creepy to me. I have often wondered how other boys I knew there were doing.
ReplyDeleteHa
DeleteMy father and his brothers were there when it was St Francis Home for Boys back in the mid to late 30s. I don't recall any bad stories about his time there. He and his brothers were happy to be together and staying in a warm place with beds and ample food.
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather and his brother were possibly there during the '30's as well. It's my understanding that the nuns would come get the boys when their father was struggling with them (their mother abandoned them around 1927/26). Just wondering if you have any pictures, or if you have any other details you'd be comfortable sharing. We're not sure if it was here or Most Holy Trinity that they were taken. My gramps was an altar boy, and the nuns got him a gig as a bat boy for the Tigers. Seems like it was a safe, warm place with food and a little love. Their dad did the best he could, but having lost both of his parents to TB when he was about 15, and given the era, I'm not sure how easy single-fatherhood could have been for him
DeleteI was there from 1965-1968. There were challenges but it wasn't too bad. We were always playing sports I remember having some good friends. We had Cubans--Adolofo Morales, Leon Morales, and others. I could write a book about all that went on. Plus there was another Cuban who became a doctor. TH
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather and his brother were possibly there during the '30's as well. It's my understanding that the nuns would come get the boys when their father was struggling with them (their mother abandoned them around 1927/26). Just wondering if you have any pictures, or if you have any other details you'd be comfortable sharing. We're not sure if it was here or Most Holy Trinity that they were taken. My gramps was an altar boy, and the nuns got him a gig as a bat boy for the Tigers. Seems like it was a safe, warm place with food and a little love. Their dad did the best he could, but having lost both of his parents to TB when he was about 15, and given the era, I'm not sure how easy single-fatherhood could have been for him
ReplyDeleteMy name is Jim Soltis. I was there from 1955 to 1960, 1st through 5th grade. There was corporal punishment, but I don’t remember any actual physical abuse as such. If you got too many demerits during the week, on Saturday morning, Mr. Mc Garry would give you licks with a razor strop as you bent over a chair. Most of the nuns were rather cold and grim, as was the priest, Father Joseph(?). But I remember Sister Marlene as being very kind. I also have good memories of going to Camp Glenbrook for two weeks every summer. It had a beautiful stone chapel. It was somewhere in the Irish Hills. Does anyone know what became of that camp?
ReplyDeleteI was there from 1954 to 1959 and I also remember Camp Glenbrook and Sister Albertine,Sister Sharon Ann,Sister Mary Marshall and Mother Maura and Father McDonald...I have great memories of Ste. Francis...
DeleteI was at "the Beanery" from about '59 to '62. Yeah, I remember demerits and getting your hands or your backside smacked if you did something wrong. I remember "standing at position" with your arms in mid-air as another punishment. "Cruel" or "inhumane"? Not by any standard. I remember movies in the gym on Wednesday nights, I remember Camp Glennbrook, and Thursdays we always had sloppy Joe's for lunch and hot dogs and chocolate milk for dinner. I remember Albertine, Cleophus(?), Marlene and Finbar...What a fun bunch of nuns they were. I remember the weird little nun rooms built into the dorms, and Sr Leah Vincent who would go ballistic if she heard some kid moving in his squeaky bed. The swimming pool was not enclosed when I was there...How many kids in Detroit got to go swimming every day in the summer? I have good memories of SFH. It wasn't ideal, but it was a lot better than what some of these messages describe (at least, that's the way it was while I was there). Tim Doyle
DeleteTim Doyle you probably won't remember me but I had the bed next to you in the Division 3-4 dorm, and Sister Sharon Ann was in charge, I remember our group would watch Bonanza or some other Tv show before we knelt down by our beds to say our goodnight prayers. I only have great memories of Ste. Francis and also of our bus trip to Camp Glenbrook singing 99 bottles of beer on the wall. It was at Camp Glenbrook where during a pillow fight we collided at a corner.
DeleteI carry your chipped tooth which is still stuck in my head, and every now and then still gets a little sore...LOL.
I also remember many of the kids like Roy Stewart, Tim McBrady, Harold Ryan, Daniel Davenport, Peter Nagy, Steven Pilot, Gary Shultz (Flubber), Gary and Paul Wright, and Michael Yankowski.
I went to one reunion many many years ago called 'A Night At The Home' but was disappointed that I didn't see anyone I knew, the sad part is I'm sure we've lost some of these names, but it sure would have been nice to see them once more....
His name was Father Joeseph McDonald..
DeleteNoah, do you remember me. I remember all those names. Hope you're doing good.
DeleteMy grandfather was there 1928-1930's. I was able to write and get a copy of his file, it was helpful to researching my family.
ReplyDeleteIf you could please tell me, where did you write to get your grandfather's records?
DeleteKay Bee - could you please tell us where you wrote for the records?
DeleteCould you please tell me where you wrote to get your grandfather's records? I'd like to write them as well.
ReplyDeleteI was there in the 50's and the place was a little different to say the least.If you were bad you were punished for it and most of the time it was somewhat severe. I ran away several times, but they kept bringing me back so I accepted the fact to just accept it. There were several lay people employed at the time and they were very "strange". Dan Patterson
ReplyDeleteI was in that place in mid 70s . Mrs.Coleman was my social worker . Mr. Watson and Mr. LAWLER were there during the days and Mr. Brown in the Dorm . Watson and Lawler called "free for alls" on the white kids . I told sister Mary Ellen and mrs. Coleman about what was going on and the abuse of lawler punching me in the chest . I was 12 at the time ...I can only hope Lawler and Watson burn in hell .
ReplyDeleteya there few there need to burn in hell
DeleteI was there in early to mid 70's and experienced alot of abuse there. Ms.Coleman was my social worker too, and was very nice to me. Mr.Brown in the dorm was very abusive, and was several other"counselors"there.I was attacked on a daily basis by blacks there, as was all the white boys were too. Especially at night after lights out. And we just had to fight back as best we could. There was no help there against it. It has scarred me for life, and I'm 57yrs.old now, and still have not gotten over the 4yrs of that nightmare. And my social skills with people have not been good. That place ruined me for life
DeleteMy name is RICHARD I was there at that time you can message me
DeleteFree for all's were very frequent I'm white and was there 1980-1983 and yes being that 90% if the staff were black racism against the white kids was a normal thing. Fighting is all I did every day. My name is Bill and they called me bad ass Billy McCormick. The devil was definitely in that place if there is one
DeleteMY LITTLE BROTHER AND I WERE THERE FROM 58 TILL THE MID SIXTIES OUR DAD DIED THAT'S WHY WE WENT THERE.MY LITTLE BROTHER RAN AWAY AND WHEN THEY BROUGHT HIM BACK THE 1ST GRADE NUN PADDLED HIM SO SEVERELY THAT WHEN MY MOM GOT TO SEE HIM A MONTH LATER HE STILL HAD MARKS ON HIS BACK AND BUTT.I HAD A NUN STOMP ON MY TOE WITH HEEL OF HER SHOE. MY TOE WAS ALL SWOLLEN ETC. THE HEAD NUN SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE IN FRONT OF MY MOM BECAUSE I WASN'T LOOKING AT HER.ALSO A NUN GAVE ME A BLOODY NOSE FOR SOME PEDDY REASON..I WAS ONE OF THE GOOD KIDS I WAS A ALTER BOY ETC. THOSE NUNS COULD BE MEAN WHEN THEY WANTED TO BE.
ReplyDeleteHello to all former residents of the beanery. I was there from 57-65 & I remember we got to go to the Detroit Auto show (had to wear our dress blues to promote the
Deleteschool. On one show, a boy named Alfred Astle was being interviewed by a TV station and they asked about about the things he liked & disliked about the
I remember Shultz, Davenport, Kenneth & Ronald Addy. Was best friends with Ronald Addy. He left before the 8th grade.
DeleteI am hoping someone might remember Clarence Rushlow. He is recorded in the 1940 Census as a 6year-old resident of St. Francis Home for Orphan Boys, Detroit, Michigan. I hope to learn if someone might know of his family--his wife and children. He possibly died in July 2011. Thank you, it will be most appreciated.
ReplyDeletei went to paul Robeson in 2005-6 it was a great time in my life made great friends, had crushes, fights all the stereotypical kid would go through in middle school im salty it burnt down. - Ronnie Austion
ReplyDeleteMy name is Tom Korzeniowski. I was at St. Francis from '46 to '49. I've included a few of my experiences there in my book, "The Panski Chronicles." (Names were changed to make it a fictional biography. It's available on Amazon (Kindle or paperback). From St. Francis, many of us went on to Boysville in Macon, MI.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Lee Stoddard I was there from 47 to 52 there was a lot of discipline. I did run away a lot but I had no place to go so I always had to come back. The time there made me only stronger and self sufficient independent
DeleteHi Tom I will follow up on your book. I also went to St Francis and to Boysville. .
DeleteMy biological father, who I believe might have been Paul Reiz, and his brothers Frank and Stephen were listed in the 1930 census. I think their mother died in 1923 and their father was a guest of Jackson State Prison. If any of this sounds familiar, please contact me. I was adopted in 1949 (born in 1946) and have never known who my bio parents were. I'm just learning some information through Ancestry.
ReplyDeleteMy brother and I were there from 1954 to 1959 and I was never beaten nor slapped by the nuns, I did receive a paddling for getting out of line once but nothing severely....I have fond memories of Ste. Francis and still think of the many friends I had... To name a few... Tim McBrady Tim Doyle Harold Ryan Paul Wright Steven Pilot Peter Nagy Michael Yankowski Gary Schultz and Daniel Davenport...There are others I remember as well, but I cherish those early days there....
ReplyDeleteNoah, I hope you are well. You left out a few names: David Alt, Nick Kloka, Zembrecki, Joe Stroud, the Patterson Brother, Dennis Stawartz, Kenneth Addy, Roy Stewart, Richard Lenahan, Darius Hummel, Jim McDonald, Widmeyer. Didn't you and Davenport have some routine worked up pretending to be Baby Huey and (?). I have good memories of the place as well. I wrote a story about the time Bruce Hartley got talked into a "Devil Cut" at Detroit Barber College and Finbar nearly had a stroke when he got off the bus and told her what it was. I hope you are well and I hope you get this. Tim Doyle
DeleteYes Tim I had the bed next to you in the dorm and i remember those kids as well, Oh I still carry a part of you with me everywhere i go...
DeleteYour stuck in my head (Tooth) that is...LOL
Remember the pillow fight in the dorm at camp Glenbrook when we collided at a corner in Ste.Marys dorm..
I got out of line a couple of times and Sister Albertine got out her paddle and a couple wacks later i was back in line....LOL.
Actually it was because i used to tease Daniel Davenport calling him baby Huey...Kids oh well. I have a few pictures of me and my late older brother, and i have one of Tim McBrady somewhere from Military Review Day, it's great to finally chat with you again..
I have fond memories of Ste.Francis.
By the way do you have a sister by the name Patricia?
Tim here is my email..
DeleteDo you remember John Dumbeck?
DeleteI was in this home back in late 67 to 1970 if you know of me or my brother Tom Sawulski RICHARD
ReplyDeleteI was there in mid 70's too. I remember the black kids whooping on me every chance
ReplyDeletethey could. Man there couldnt have been 2% white kids. I was 4 yrs ,i still have the scars from fighting, and dont get me started on mental abuse and the 2 am laundry parties in the bathroom.
What were the 2am laundry parties?
DeleteMy father was at St Francis from about 1934 to the late forties. He talked about being sponsored by Henry Ford. He also shared that Henry Ford would bring a chocolate Santa and have their picture taken with it. Has anyone else heard of this? Does anyone have pictures or memories from that time period?
ReplyDeleteI was there from 1963 to 68. Do any of you remember a guy named Charles Longo aka Mr.Longo he was a pedifile big time. And sister Mary Ellen and I can't remember the other nun's name but they were lesbians. I do remember some Cuban boys coming in.
ReplyDeleteI remember Longo. He once threw a blackboard eraser with a wooden back that bloodied a kid's face. Longo loved to throw them at us during whenever we did something out of line.
Deletewell what's done is done. My life could have turned different. Better than living on the street, I guess.
ReplyDeleteAnyone remember mr Edward Rose?he was very beloved he was my great grandfather. Anything at all would appreciate. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHello, Edward Rose was my great great grandfather (great grandfather was Harold). I don’t know anything about him though and would very much like to find out anything I can. I know my great great grandmothers name was Louise/Lulu Rose (Martin)
DeleteHi. If I remember correctly, Eddie was a little guy & he wore glasses. I went to his house a couple of times. He lived not far from the train station on Michigan & Vernor. We were juvenile delinquents and I won't say anything more on that subject..
DeleteI was there from 78 - 79, suffered daily abuse. Sexual abuse almost nightly, top floor dormitories, have alot of repressed memories, got moved to another place after I put my hand through a window by the gym, fighting 2 black kids almost twice my age, I was 8, I would like to know who ran this place 77-78, I ended up being in the system from 76 - 2000.
ReplyDeleteI also was there 1980-1984
DeleteMr Johnson
Miss brown
Mr cox
Mr Greene
Any of those sound familiar?
I was a ward till I was seventeen and left the system.
Can't count how many orphanages I was in.
My husband's grandfather and brothers were in the in original one for a couple years. Their mother died in the Eloise Asylum from exhaustion and mania. The boys never talked about it. I wish grandpa was still alive. I have so many questions. One of my cousins did write to the nuns sometime in the 80's and received a response. They had records of when the boys were there. A couple of their sisters were put in the home for girls which I am still researching.
ReplyDeleteI was there in 1986.. I was 11 yrs old.. that place was he'll inside those brick walls.. the day it burned down was the happiest day of my life.
ReplyDeleteI hated everyone in that building.the Nunn's..the staff..the cooks..the teachers... Every fucking 1 ..
That place and those people fucked my life up..to this day.. the shit I went through.. fighting.. getting hit over my head while trying to sleep..yeah..it took 1 time..I never slept again ..I still have a hard time sleeping through the night..
I remember 1 kid in there that looked out for me..Mark ... He got adopted by his counselor...and then there was a guy..Mr Fletcher... What a fucking asshole..I wish I could run in to him one day... It would be his last day alive.. he came there from Lafayette clinic...and was in charge... Yeah..well fuck him and his stupid ass bitch wife too from Lafayette clinic.. I hope he sees this..leave your address... I won't heasitate to pay you a visit..
My dad was in her in the late 70s early 80s he said the other kids would pick on him he was 4 years old and he was one of the only white people there! I wanna know if anyone remembers him his name is Donald or don. He experienced bad things there
ReplyDeleteI remember a Don at that time, the Don I knew was kicked in his nuts so hard by one of the guardians they swelled to size of a large canteloup. No medical treatment for 2 weeks then he was gone.
DeleteI think your talking about James the white kid with huge balls. Everyone teased him.
DeleteI was in from 1980-1984
I also went back in 1988 for 6 months.
He was probably 6yrs old.
DeleteI was dropped off there on my 6th birthday because that was the age you could be there.
July 5th 1980
Till Christmas 1983 I was taken to a Foster home.
I went to St Francis in October of 1942 and was there until June 1950. I had three meals a day and had a roof over my head and a warm bed to sleep in. I met a lot of wonderful people a long the way. As far as Glenbrook the land is still there but it has changed hands a few times. It is on Shardon Rd. just west of Clinton, Michigan. My time was good at St Francis.
ReplyDeleteDo you maybe mean that Camp Glenbrook is on Sheridan Rd? Do you by chance have any more specific info or address as to its current location and do know its current name? I was thinking of visiting the camp and see if the chapel is still intact. Thanks
DeleteMy name is Steve Augustine. Was there from 63-68. It would be great to hear from people who knew me @ steveaugustine777@gmail.com. I dont remember anybody being given drugs but I do remember using the floor buffer and smashing it into the wall. No one ever punished me for that but I do remember the beatings spankings and group punishments. I only remember one Cuban boy named Fransisco Dorado (man did we give him a rough time). The worst memory was Mr. LONGO a total pedophile who wouldn't let me play quarterback anymore because I wouldn't have sex with him. Overall though St Francis in my mind was an ok place. Especially have great memories of the riots.... being at the Yankees doubleheader the day they started and then driving back right through the middle of them.
ReplyDeleteI remember Charles Longo he took a for my bus to Kensington Park there was one boy that wanted to run away he asked me if I go with him and I did we are walking through a big field and the bus stopped at the road so we kind of had no alternative but to walk up to the bus. When we got back I walked out the boss first and then the other boy did something was said to him and he turned around and all Mr. Longo kicked him in the chest he was standing on the stairs of the bus. I’m so hard I thought it could’ve killed him but it didn’t I remember that day like it was yesterday
DeleteI was there in 1965 to 1968 where is my friend Ronald Thomson me Jonessi 248 5082348
ReplyDeleteMy maternal grandfather Walter Thiboult was there with his younger brother Nicholas Thiboult back in the original location in 1906/1907. Word is that they both hated it so much they ran away shortly after going there and lived on the streets of Detroit
ReplyDeleteAnybody remember what ten demerits would get you also do you know a nun named sister annora or a couple twin guys named Jerry and Terry de Salas I was there in 1967 68 and apart of 69 my name is Robert Bedard bedardr@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteAnybody remember what ten demerits would get you also do you all remember a nun named sister honora we used to call we used to call it the Beanery
ReplyDeleteMy father and his brother were there in from about 1919/20 to at least the year 1929 when dad was mentioned in the school publication called "The Gold and Purple" which I have a copy of. I would appreciate additional information about the home especially during this time period.
ReplyDeleteI would as well. My husband's grandfather and great uncle were residents, but I haven't been able to locate any records.
DeleteMy father was at this home about 1919 to about 1929 with his brother. I have a copy of "The Gold and Purple" published at the school in 1929. Would like additional information about this school during this time period.
ReplyDeleteGive a cheer, give a beer, for the boys that drank the beer in the cellars of St Francis Home.
ReplyDelete- Peter Hildreth (1958-1964)
Peter H. I remember you. I think you played football: fullback or running back? Do you remember Paul Wright, Clifford Reynolds, Ronald Addy, Vince Camarda, Bruce Hartley, Bruno Hinojosa? I've read some disturbing statements about Mr. Longo. I am totally surprised. Finding that hard to believe. Now there was an assistant coach (who I won't name) who tried with me and I told Longo & shortly after the assistant was fired. As for me, I got my share of discipline which I rightfully earned but honestly, that school saved my life. Believe it not, it was the best thing that could of happened to me at that time. johnd@umich.edu
DeleteYeah I sure do if you were in the military there you also got little badges to put on your uniform you know I still have my hat. From my uniform and I put all the badges on there I think I still have a couple of them I’ve given them to my kids grandkids my name is Pete Hildreth who is here from 58 to 63 or 60
ReplyDeleteLongo was also the football coach, wasn't he? He introduced me to the concept of "reckless abandon" and I decided (in 6th grade) that I probably wasn't ready for football and Mr. Longo. He was from St Benedict Parish.
ReplyDeleteBuddy I was there in 88 the top floor. Do you remember miss Brown. Mr Dave or father Dave?
ReplyDeleteThat was my second time there.
1980-1983 also. Hated that place. It's still with me today
My name is Paul mechling was there 68 to 71 remember the Candy man what a nice guy he cut my hair 248-993--2980 sister ann division 7 and sister Sylvia division - 6 looking for carnel Jones , mark setzer had burrn on his back
ReplyDeleteDo any of you recall ever being sexually abused by any of the nuns (or others) working at there?
ReplyDelete