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[Gen. Discussion] The Home
Posted By: John Sharp
Date: Monday, 24 October 2005, at 10:25 p.m.
Bob: Hi glad to see a message from other alumni. We missed each other my month or so. As you know my brother Tom and I entered about the time you were leaving. Yes I remember Zina, Nina and Henry M. They were a great family and smart as well. In 1956 the year Tom and I went into the home we met up with everyone at West Park NY. Do you remember the place? We were assigned to the boy’s house which I think may have been a converted horse stable. The whole place was laid out in a military fashion and run in much the same manner. Do you remember the outhouses? I think our houseparent was Mrs. Dodd’s, a rigid and very religious person. I don’t think she liked children much, anyway she was strong believer in not sparing the rod and loved to justify herself by reading us biblical verses after whippings that supported corporal punishment. For the most part she and most of the rest of the staff sadly ignored Christ’s injunction to “love thy neighbor” or that if any injured a child it would be better for them to have a “millstone tied to their neck” etc.
So we spent most of our first summer trying to avoid her wrath and learning the ropes. During that summer Ken Green and his sister’s Beatrice& Dianne were good friends. Ken was closer to my age, his sisters were both older. I got to know meet Beatrice after I left the military in 1968 but lost touch. She was a wonderful person and great singer.
Do you remember Gaylord? He was older and hung out with Eddie Tarleson (not sure on these spellings). They were both older boys and my role models as to how to behave and to survive. I saw Gaylord in 1969 after I left the service. He was studying acting and working in NYC I think he had completely redone his NJ speaking voice and was sounding something like Richard Burton.
The Garside’s (spelling?), were also house parents, while we were at the home. They were younger and I believe may have had children, of all adults they were the only ones that we thought were even half decent.
My brother and I liked playing on cliffs near the Palisades and exploring all the caves. We would walk about on the top and jump from ledge to ledge it’s a wonder we made it to adults.
We use to sneek into the Lee Theatre when they had something good playing ( Forbidden Planet 7 times ) I would go buy a ticket, then crack the side door enough for Tom, Ken Green, Ken K and some of the others who would quietly take a seat.
We went to Fort Lee schools for about 4/5 years. Fort Lee Intermediate School was nearly new then. I think Mr. Romano was the principal. Since, we were in the home this sometimes meant that got singled out for unwanted attention: “Where do you live?” Oh you live there!” The good news is that most of the boys from the home stuck together and that could be a great help in Fort Lee. Most of the children from the town were some what mystified by us, they apparently thought of "Boys Town' (not) or "Bowery Boys' (close). Most of their parents definitely did not want us out with their kids, especially daughters.
Did you go to Palisades Park? We use to spend a lot time there. In the summer they would let us in if we did odd jobs clean up after the elephants or similar but it was fun the rollercoaster was super and a great place to meet girls.
If you read my e-mail (24 March 2005) you know my thoughts on” the home” From your note and Don’s, I guess the Home's Fort Lee place is closed, and for that I am glad. The young people we shared those important years with will always have a place in my heart but even now after so long I have little nostalgia for 1512 Palisades Ave as an institution or the for the people who ran it. l. Hopefully you had a better experience. Let me know.
Regards John
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