Saturday, April 16, 2011

From St. John's Orphange to St. Joseph's House for Boys 1950-1960's

John Joseph , Mary Ann Theresa , Mother Deborah Nora Leddy Bangert, Deborah Eleanor  Bangert- Brooks, Joseph Vincent Bangert circa 1990 at our father's funeral Mass in Our Lady of The Cape RC Church in  Brewster, MA

My twin brother Joe and I were driven to St. John's in 1953  administered  by the Sisters of Saint Joseph, when we were only 5 years old, and later at age of 11, we were transferred to the "big boys" home of St. Joseph's House for Homeless and Industrious Boys administered by the Holy Ghost Fathers.
The Four Bangert Children  -Mary Ann, Debbie, Johnny and Joe


St. John's Orphan Asylum 49th St. and Wyalusing Ave. West Philadelphia



St. John's Prayer Time 1920's, note the good sister have a wooden chapel kneelers, but not those in their care!
1963 color Kodachrome of St. John's pool

Our childhood lives were extremely cold and we were brokenhearted as we were separated by the courts and given as wards for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to do what they wanted with out state inspections and any consumer recourse, and many of the nuns were cruel as I remember it, and we had many unspeakable acts of violence, with very unfair and unnecessary corporal punishment, and were neglected on a daily basis. 

 

These situations were perpetuated by a arcane system which went unchecked by any reformers. When I give thought to this era it still is very painful and extremely hard for me to understand how caregivers were not taking care of us?  


Where was their innate humanity? Were the victims and the victimizes part of a religious system that was very far from Christian, moral, decent or humane, but yes very "catholic" in the strictest meaning of being 'universal' in both the post war era on the United States and Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

The nuns would ask us to offer up these acts because they were Acts of mortification to the Sacred Heart of Jesus!

So Be It Then, but NOT NOW!




http://theopenheartstudio.com/about_karen

Today I pray that my abusers have opened their own hearts, to find truth and knowledge and remember that we were put into their sacred trust and care for our minds, bodies and souls. 

May our abusers may have their own redemption in an awareness that logic and science now rules modernity

 

Not the olden days of sense of sin, repentance and suffering. 

 

Spirit rules, the survivorship spirit of life longing for itself, like roots seeking water in city pipes, or the plants which turns it's leaf toward the sun of warmth and photo-syntheses.


Beside this what if eternity- is only for a second? 


How would one live your life again? For self - or for others?

I pray that all of our own tortured and broken hearts, souls and minds, as well as our own intellects and spirits - share in part of our interconnectedness and collective healing for both victim survivors, and victimizers.

 

Here was my favorite place, the pool with little or too much chlorine treatment, and how about those wet woolen bathing trunks! I still itch today.

Here is a color picture of the old brick school building. This was the dungeon of doom and punishment.

In some psychological ways it follows us today in the form know as PTSD / Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  It seems like a re-occurring dream state outside of our bodies, in another life time and never too soon forgotten, but with one small smell, or words or images and that wickedly broken world come rushing's back into my awakened consciousness and yet I feel it happened to someone else, very disconnected from our present day reality of love and respect.

To this day I keep in touch with many of the home boys (homies) who recount and shared their memories from those days. Our daily corporal punishments, kneeling in a corner with our hands under our knees for taking in the dormitory after lights out.  

If we were caught using the wall for support we would have been strapped with a belt.

Click on the link for a other abuse story's! Warning! Contains child violence, and rape!

| Old Homie for St. Joe's The Hut | Corporal Punishment  | Irish Child & Sexual Abuse | Catholic Nuns, Child Abuse and Vows


 

If we ever considered running away and many brave boys did, the nuns would shave our heads and make us wear long flannel nightshirts to all day in school and out on the yard. 

For repeat runaways they were savagely beaten and locked in the dungeons beneath the schoolyard, where giant coal furnaces were and next to the mammoth coal boilers and coal bins. The subterranean underworld, was a place close to the heat and flames of hell indeed. 


St. John's Orphan Asylum for Boys opened in 1797 in Philadelphia and was followed the next year by St. John's Orphan Asylum for Girls. 

The first non-sectarian institution was the Orphan Society of Philadelphia founded in 1814. 

 The growth of religious and non-sectarian orphanages proliferated. By 1850, there were nine such institutions in Pennsylvania. Some dormitory nuns were so old that in retirement they would be assigned to caregivers for the boys at St. John’s. 

When we went to visit the graves at the SSJ’s Mother House, at Mount St. Joseph;s at Chestnut Hill College where we were shocked to find some of the nuns birth years were 1876 and earlier. That means they we in their 80’s in the 1950’s!

Another of the many examples of the corporal punishment dished out by the nuns, for silly stuff like not keeping our bedspreads pulled up and straightened an example of one such nun, Sr. Mary of Consolation, SSJ, (of which she was neither), doled out her beatings until we would bleed from our constantly hurt hands and knuckles which would be chapped from no paper towels, and only cold water. I can feel the hot and cold injurers to this day. May she and all the faithlessly departed not rest in peace, but rather RIH (rest in hell of their own choosing).






She would ask us to select one of her 4 shillelaghs would taunt us with remarks like   


” Put you hands out now, you dirty old nigger ” 



In the 1950'  we had no desk in our dormitory
For minor offenses like getting out of bed on Saturday morning, the only non Mass day of the week, to swap comic books with others kids at the end of the dormitory or for interrupting, her she would hit you firmly across the knuckles, but it your knuckles were still hurting from the classroom nun, you could fool this old nun by turning your hands over and getting whacked across your palms, still stung but better than getting your knuckles hurt especially if they were cracked from being out in the play yard in the winter weather from 3 - 6pm every night!


Mary, our Mother and the Mother of Jesus, 


Mary, our Mother of Consolation,


Mary, the source of our hope,


Mary, the refuge of sinners,


Mary, the guiding star of our lives,


Mary, source of strength in our weakness,


Mary, source of light in our darkness,


Mary, source of consolation in our sorrows,


Mary, source of victory in our temptations,


Mary, who leads us to Jesus,


Mary, who keeps us with Jesus,


Mary, who redeems us through Jesus,


Mary, Mother of Consolation, our Patroness,

This was the "church speak" as to why suffering was something innocents had to endure. (This is the good reason which I have rejected the concept of original sin, as like it was ordained from a god, or deity.)

"Mary's motherhood had been full of mystery from it very beginning. Then, when it all seemed to end in meaningless cruelty and destruction on Calvary, as her innocent Son suffered a criminal's death, the Spirit once more overshadowed her and another astonishing word came from God: Woman, behold your son. In silence she gave herself anew to a motherhood set free from the limitations of flesh and blood, time and space, to embrace all the disciples of her Risen Son and Lord. The tradition of praying to the Mother of God for the gift of consolation dates back to the early centuries, an expression of the Church's belief that the cloud of witnesses, the elect in glory, never cease to pray for the Church on earth. The first written evidence of prayer to the Mother of God, theotokos, is written in Greek on a scrap of Egyptian papyrus dating from between 300-540. And she is invoked as the compassionate one!
On many occasions the Sister's behaviors were certainly not one acting out of compassion for her charges, and therefore hectically to her name sake.


Fr. John J Bangert O. Pream center with his classmates seminarians from Daylesford Priory

 Later I would buy into the ideas of Roman Catholicism, the church was always my home, my comfort, and hope until April 1971.  I was asked to leave my comfortable life in this monastery, because I had filled my own thoughts of what was moral, being against the war in Vietnam, or which my twin brother had just survive. It reminds me of a Irish joke "Dear God, If you send back my brother from war, I will serve you in as priest, Oh! never mind, God - I found him in Philadelphia.  The very anti-war Joe was now connected to Vietnam Veterans Against War VVAW, and I joined them as an associate member in Philadelphia, in 1970 at the AFSC American Friends Service Committee.  The formation team saw my very independent sense of moral development, and when I clamored for social justice, after reading the works of the Catholic Worker Movement and non sainted Dorothy Day I was once again asked to leave the pedagogy of the pedophiles training. I left and my brother Joe came to Daylesford in the cover of darkness in a rented U-Haul truck driven by a rich Vietnam Veteran from Boston who was camped out in nearby Valley Forge, John Kerry.





In the William Golding's 1964 novel, Lord of the Flies it was a truer sense of how we boys governed ourselves, away from the authorities, we ourselves were the authority. Some were kind, most were too scared to buck the system, and besides that the system was ever changing with the personality and the effects of abuse. I too regret for being part of the group when we were mean to the new fat kids, or one of the kids that we sent to the mental institutions for treatment, had returned and we called them names like retard, nut-so.
*"Readers and critics have interpreted Lord of the Flies in widely varying ways over the years since its publication. During the 1950s and 1960s, many readings of the novel claimed that Lord of the Flies dramatizes the history of civilization. Some believed that the novel explores fundamental religious issues, such as original sin and the nature of good and evil. Others approached Lord of the Flies through the theories of the psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, who taught that the human mind was the site of a constant battle among different impulses—the id (instinctual needs and desires), the ego (the conscious, rational mind), and the superego (the sense of conscience and morality). Still others maintained that Golding wrote the novel as a criticism of the political and social institutions of the West. Ultimately, there is some validity to each of these different readings and interpretations of Lord of the Flies. Although Golding’s story is confined to the microcosm of a group of boys, it resounds with implications far beyond the bounds of the small island and explores problems and questions universal to the human experience."
  *SparkNotes Editors. “SparkNote on Lord of the Flies.” SparkNotes LLC. 2007. http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/flies/ (accessed March 17, 2011).

A culture of the boy eat boy, or dog eat dog- survival of the fittest, and the fastest. 
The biggest kid demanded the most food, and they got seconds, or you had the back your reaching hand stabbed with a folk, much like the Charles Dickens novel, Oliver Twist.  Glenn Watkins had his head stabbed at lunch when he asked for more food from the table bullies.

My abuse started in the first grade when the old Irish nun, Sister Mary Finbarr, SSJ, our dormitory nun for the youngest children sections  "H" for kindergartners "L" first graders.  

She would beat us if our beds were wet, or if we could not tie our own shoes. Every month, we would have family visitation on the fourth Sunday. We were issued new clothing that we locked away, and on that Sunday we would have showers after the noon meal, and walk over to the school building and await our visitors card calling us to visit. 

The messengers who would run between the gym and school were orphans with no visitors. Our aunt Edie and uncle Bob, would usually come, every month, and sometimes our older sisters Mary Ann & Deborah, would come with our mother. 
The nuns would have a candy concession table in the back of the gym, and I remember crying all during the visit, wanting to be able to go back home on the trolley car which brought them from across the city from North Philadelphia. Aunt Edythe & Uncle Bob, would bring story books or a flannel felt boards with story characters to entertain us. 

My aunt, Edythe E. Mearns, was the president of the Philadelphia Story League and would bring "Dinah the dancing doll" to persuade us off the sad funk we would be in. 

Sister Finbarr would be stationed of the outside of the stage door, and if she saw us crying she would tare us away as we kicked and screamed holding on to our mother stocking legs, "Please Mommy don't leave us here, Please Mommy! "We will be good." "Now leave your poor mother alone would you," and remind us that we should be brave, because some boys never get visitors.



Sister Alice Patricia, SSJ, was my first grade teacher who Joe and I were assigned at St. John’s.


Not only was Sr. Alice Patricia our teacher, she also escorted us to and from school, study hall, dinning hall and to the play yard. When it was time to line up the yard nun would asks one of us to get into the building and get the hand bell and on occasions she would let one of us ring it aloud.  

On one such day I remember this rather rotund women, Sister Alice, grabbed my head between her adult hands, while violently holding my head against her black woolen, pleated and habited bosom to prevent me from turning my head away from my fate. 

This 'holy nun' was now was chocking me. I was then only a skinny undernourished a small 1st grader, seeing her fat rounded thumbs as she rammed the plate’s mixture down my throat.  I gagged and then vomited what was fed me, and then she made me clean up my own vomit, and forced me to eat it again. I cannot forgive her for that seared in memory as of yet.

37 comments:

An Unbelieveable Autobiography said...

History of abuse of orphans is yet an untold story. Thank you for your contribution.

Yours was difficult to read because the pain you still experience permeates your writing.

As an alumni of two orphanages or asylums, your personal experiences mirror mine.

I felt a need to write an autobiography to offer society a look at what they do to God's creatures with their abuse
which masquerades as discipline. What goes around comes around.

The redeeming social value for all of society's victims will
be an eternity of love with our heavenly father.

Steve A. Mizera

Unknown said...

I was also a victim of Sr. Finnbar she was the meanest nun I have ever met. She once beat me with her stick in my shorts that we would use to shower in. But first she made me go in the shower to get them wet then she wacked me several times.I received another wacking when she fell down the fire escape like stairs that led to the chapel and broke her arm.Mother Superior caught me laughing.When she healed, I got another beating.Sadistic bitch!!! David"Frank" Masino 1963-1966

Unknown said...

I wonder what ever became of the Brewington brothers(Eddie and Tyrone)there was one more brother, but I can't recall his name.They were my best friends.Me and my bro Tim were a few of the lucky ones that went home for the weekends 1-2 a month,and had mom come on visiting days (every 3rd Sunday I beleive).It wasn't a bad place per say(except for Sr. Finnbar)but was so happy to get out of there.David"Frank" Masino

Unknown said...

Any good stories from St. Johns...let me know on Facebook(Frank Masino)

Jane said...

Hello,

I remember my dad telling me this story and as he was recently recalling his times here, we came across your blog. His name is Dan and he was there with his brother Joe.

Jane said...

Hello,

I remember my dad telling me this story and as he was recently recalling his times here, we came across your blog. His name is Dan and he was there with his brother Joe.

Dawsloe1 said...

Does anyone remember my dad or his brothers? James (Jimmy), Kenneth (kenny), Philip (Phil), or Albert. Their last name is Dawson

Dawsloe1 said...

Does anyone remember my dad or his brothers? James (Jimmy), Kenneth (kenny), Philip (Phil), or Albert. Their last name is Dawson

Dawsloe1 said...

Does anyone remember my dad or his brothers? James (Jimmy), Kenneth (kenny), Philip (Phil), or Albert. Their last name is Dawson

Dawsloe1 said...

Does anyone remember my dad or his brothers? James (Jimmy), Kenneth (kenny), Philip (Phil), or Albert. Their last name is Dawson

Dawsloe1 said...

Does anyone remember my dad or his brothers? James (Jimmy), Kenneth (kenny), Philip (Phil), or Albert. Their last name is Dawson

Dawsloe1 said...

Does anyone remember my dad or his brothers? James (Jimmy), Kenneth (kenny), Philip (Phil), or Albert. Their last name is Dawson

Anonymous said...

what orphanage?
What years?
I have email addresses of some who have written me after
Reading my autobiography which can be read at www.vistagraphs.net/dime.html
It documents my life in St Francis Orphan Asylum in Orwigsburg PA 1942-1952
and St. Josephs House for homeless and Industrious Boys Philadelphia PA 1952-1955
Steve Mizera

Unknown said...

I am using my wife's phone so later upon contact I will give email address. I was at St John's orphanage from about 51 or 52 to about 57 or 58. I know sister helen constance my hands at times look like boxing gloves my name there was Robe mcnulty. I played pimple ball there and I would put the ball on the roof. Later I was transferred to St Joseph house for boys until 1963 when I went to the military. Father mcglade, Bernard r meehan, Mr whalen , Mr helms the English teacher who smoked like a chimney. Well if some contacts this email of my wife's I will give the my email. My name now is Jesse Francis James. Glad to find this so I can see if someone knows me.

Unknown said...

Hi, my name is Na'ima and I'm researching st john's asylum. I was wondering if their was anybody who went to st johns in the 1950's that coul answer some questions I have. Email me at naima.ball@yahoo.com. Thank you

Anonymous said...

I had Sister Helen Constance for 8th grade as teacher and care giver. This was at Catholic Girls Home in Philadelphia 1966-67.
She was very strict and could be very cruel. All of us girls were terrified of her.
There was a rumor that she was transferred from St. John's Orphan Asylum for Boys because she had severly beaten some little boy.
Can anyone that was at St. John's verify this?
By the way the full name of the Girls Home I was in was also called Catholic Home for Destitute Children. How was that for building up a child's self confidence,huh?

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
An Unbelieveable Autobiography said...

Read my autobio at
Vistagraphs.net/dime.html
Chap 2 is about most of whom you mentioned at St Josephs House

Steve mizera
Vistagraphs@gmail.com

Unknown said...

The picture in J Dorm which shows the desks was taken when I was in there. Bill Singley is the young man in the foreground and Sister Carmena is also show here. My bed is to the right in this picture and I'm not shown but I remember this day. She was on good behavior because we had a photographer from The Inquirer who took this picture... it's also the only day we got bacon for breakfast in all the time I was there.

Judi De Yoe said...

I was told that there was a documentary on "The Boys of St. Joseph", and I thought it might be the Catholic Boys detention home in Albert Ontario. I have written a book based on that school called "The Weight of Innocence", which is based on fact but altered to a novel format and some incidents are fictionalized as well as all names. People do survive, and all respond differently to the same trauma. In my book there are three young boys, brothers, who go to this school run by Catholic Brothers. I think the time has come for this institution to admit to its sins.
J.A. De Yoe

Anonymous said...

My dad and his brothers were at St.Johns in around the 1930s. He must have caught what they were doing to the kids there because he was a mean SOB. Now reading this I know why. RIP Dad :(

Unknown said...

That picture of the kid at his desk reading a comic is me, WilliamSingley

An Unbelieveable Autobiography said...

In my unbelieveable autobiography From a Dime a Dozen to Priceless, I write about my experiences at St. Francis Orphan Asylum which can be bought from Amazon or read free at vistagraphs.net/dime.html
It is a bit of a horror story but it is true.

It has also been published under the title: Pedophilia: A Cause and a Cure.

Thanks for this site for helping to tell the truth about American orphanages in the 40s and 50s.

Steve A. Mizera

BC1950 said...

Conclusion of BC1950's post:

The only reason I am posting this blog is more terrorizing dreams continue to happen and the frustration of not knowing nine years of my childhood (which any normal child would remember) is still hurtful. I hope my comments will help others in one way or another. I have one sister, that I am aware of, but it would be nice to know that other siblings have managed to survive the pain of our childhood. I believe I had an older sister named Ann.

May God bless each and every one of you and teach us the gift of forgiveness! And, I pray that each of you will live each day moving forward in a positive light toward Christ and have the best life possible…one day at a time! It is only through maintaining a close, daily relationship with God that has kept me on the right path.

BC1950
jbartfitz1950@gmail.com

BC1950 said...

Part 1 of several posts from BC1950:

Sixty-six years ago I was said to have been left on the doorsteps of St. John’s Orphan and Asylum for Boys in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, between the ages of four to eight weeks. So, I would have been there from late summer/early fall of 1950 through approximately 1959. I have no vivid memories of my life up until the time of my adoption at the age nine; but, I do have vague memories of a very dark place and have haunting nightmares of the abuse that was inflicted upon me by one or more perverted priests and some mean catholic nuns. I have risen above the devastation of my youth, but it has been a long journey. What I do remember is that in the darkness, two of my older brothers were there. I think one was called Francis or Frank, and I’m not sure of the other name at this point. The air was smelly, darkness prevailed, and occasionally I saw men dressed in black attire. Throughout my life I’ve had flashbacks of that dark place which includes being sodomized, beaten continually, and never seeing the outside or light of day. I was continually reminded by someone dressed in black to keep my posterior clean for a Father Jack. I have no memories of food or fun, just relentless fear.

I’ve been told that I was one of 12 children born to Camilla d’Atillo (of Italian descent) and Emmanuel Cechino, also called ‘Manny’ (of Spanish descent). My mother was said to have suffered from post-partum depression, which was not treated appropriately back in the day. She spent much of her life in and out of mental asylums. All my efforts to try to find information on my origin, to get a valid birth certificate, or to talk to anyone who knew my family has all been futile. Even Catholic Services would not give me any information on any part of my childhood, and I know they falsified my birth certificate. I was told in 1985 in talking with Sister Bartholomew of Catholic Services that it would be like opening “Pandora’s Box” to learn of my childhood. There was a court-sealed envelope that Sister Bartholomew refused to reveal to me. So, who is being protected?...Not me, for sure. What was the big secret all about?…To protect the integrity of the Catholic Church or individuals? What on God’s earth could anyone reveal to me that would be more damaging than what I have experienced?

(to be continued)

BC1950
jbartfitz1950@gmail.com

BC1950 said...

PART 2 of 3 of BC1950's post:

About a year ago, my wife and I came upon the St. John’s Asylum website. From there we read blogs from 2012-2015 from boys who had spent their youth in the same torture that I experienced. When I read other blogs I realized the beatings, sexual abuse, and experimentation of drugs on us was rampant in not just one St. John’s Asylum, but worldwide. To think that the perverts and Catholic Church and its supporters allowed this treatment to occur has destroyed my trust in the Catholic Church. I am a devout Christian today, far from perfect, but I profess my faith daily. In prior years, my adoptive family was not supportive of my needs. For many years I was self destructive, attempting to take my life more than four times. I used drugs and alcohol to mask the pain. For 24 years I have been blessed with the gift of sobriety through the grace and love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Of course, I am no longer affiliated with the Catholic Church.

NOTE: PART 3 of my 3 posts IS POSTED FIRST...then Part 2, followed by Part 3, due to lengthy post.

BC1950
jbartfitz1950@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I was in St John's from 1965 for 4 years then St Joe's house for three years I also suffer from PTSD from those years

Pray the Rosary said...

Does anyone remember Miss Ann Roarty who worked in St. John's kitchen and Dining room? She worked there in the 1960's. Her last year was 1970. When a boy(s) family would not show up, she stayed instead of going home. She lived at 52nd & Walnut. And many of my toys and my older brother's would find their way to St.John's orphanage. She loved those boys. And I know they loved her. One of the orphans wrote her every Christmas till her death in 1984. She was very special, especially to me!!

Unknown said...

Yes i knew a kenny dawson at st johns we met yrs later ,we both joined the us navy

Unknown said...

Does anyone know if any children ever went missing from St.John's in the late 50's?

Judy said...

Was anyone reading this blog there with the Peter Pan kids, 1960-61? I have a cousin that was there and would love to know more about this specific group.
Appreciate those sharing their experiences here. Thank you.

Unknown said...


Around the end of 1947, my brother pat and I were dropped off at St. John's Orphanage Philadelphia,Pa. All the comments by everyone has brought back the very same things we both endured. I won't go into all the details. However, I prefer to talk to people by cell phone. In 1950 we were transferred to St. Joseph's home (THE HUT). Among the many many things that happened to both of us (which I won't go into the all bad things at this time) There is one thing that I want to clear up with anyone who knew us... Our last name is pronounced 'SCIRROTTO' not 'Scirrotti' for years after I got out of the "HUT" I swore I would tell all of my friends about the correction. I had some great friends in both homes and till this day I miss them. If anyone remembers me please email. Louie Scirrotto. P.S. I did get to see my old friend Eddie Dougherty before he died, we had a lot of laughs together. I miss him. Send email to louie0539@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Sorry, it should be my Brother PAT. Louie Scirrotto

Unknown said...

Hey guys see if you remember: Sorkins at broad and allegeny,MAJ.Mr.Loughrin and Mary,how about the zo's with the pink tire rubber,smoking on the grates, John Goggins, the cruddy crallers,The weekend dances,merit and demerit list,the shoe shop, city beans,Jake mcgraten,BEEBEE Grant,Buggy Haydoch,Billy Shilling,A great Irish priest who could shoot a foul shot underhand every time, Joanie D, Percy, The dormitories, Mr doney,Mr.Whalen,Pall Mall cigs, Christmas with the Cavanaughs funeral home, Coffey, Johnny Egan, Sister Eilean Dalores, the man who threw money and candy from us from the fire escape on sundays at St.Johns, Mr. O Conner, Father Brown, Mr.Mc Carthy, Bad prefects,good prefects Bad Nuns, good Nuns,Mr.Hedlms, Sea Isle city in the summer, the lady who fitted us with donated clothes and shoes. A good soccer coach John Balmer a great baseball player, The brass rail on the steps at the "HUT", St.Anthony's, St Patricks, St.Joes, St.Mary's Dorms, locker numbers. Now at age 81 I'm getting tired. Take care all my "Homies", Louie Scirrotto

Michael Voight said...

I was at St John's from 1964 to the summer of 1968 (1st to 4th grade)
My brother Ken was there before I got there, and left for St Francis I would guess around 1966. I had a younger brother at Don Guanella, and an even younger brother and sister at St Vincent's. The good things: Adam West (Batman) came once, but not in costume, Soupy Sales at a Xmas party at United Airlines, The Christmas I spent with a family in the suburbs, learning how to swim when I was 7, a 76'ers game at the Spectrum, movie days, holiday parties at the mob hangout Palumbo's Restaurant (just one block down the alley from our house on Montrose St in South Philly). Bad things........Spending so much time outside in the winter we had to hangout in the bathroom to say warm, lack of privacy, lack of attention, being forced to eat corn beef and celery though I did get a liking for Fishstick Fridays.
Michael Voight - mrtravel@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Hi Michael, Glad that you read my comment about the homes we were in. I was in St. John's home early in 1949 ...got out of St Joes in 1953. I am in contact with one other person that had the same experience. I recall vividly all the hard times we had. Please stay in touch. I would like to hear from you again. Take care HOMEY, LOUIE Scirrotto (THE HUT) !!!!!!

Jstrez said...

Two of my great great uncles were briefly at St Johns in 1900. William and Daniel Young . We know William made it out and returned to the family but no one seems to know about Daniel. He was born in 1891 or 1892 so he would have been about eight .