Does anyone remember the girls reform school ???

[wendi marshek ewins]

Ruth Montenguise wrote:

<quoted text>
Hey is this the Jeff I am hoping it is... I have been looking for you for years.. I sure hope so...

omg ruthann! I remember u! U had a boyfriend at the time u were crazy about named Fernando! I also remember sally!

[wendi marshek ewins]

Annie wrote:

Thanks for sharing that very personal note. I was there in the 70's as well. No it really didn't help at all and my family regrets going down that road as well. I'm glad your mom has been one that life turned out good. I too can be thankful for the life I have made for myself. I often wander about some of the girls and how they are doing. It's difficult to find any of them because I'm sure they have married and moved on but not forgotten Mitchellville. I was there for running away from home, not drugs or anything else bad just running away. We were in with girls who had committed armed robberies, murder and all kinds of bad things. I'm almost 49 so your mom is a few years older than me. You can tell her I was in cottage 3 (I think)it was the cottage where Rec Center was held once a week where we played pool and hung out with the other cottage girls. My counselors were Barb Beckly and Art Dutcher.
I'm glad to have chatted with you and tell your mom hello.

my counselor Was also barb beckley. I was able to contact here recently and she is 81 and very well!!

[carmia]

i was in mitchellville from the mid 70s to the late 70s. i often wonder about alot of the girls i was there with. i also remember alot of the staff members. i remember jeff hanover and one the staff at my cottage was judy perry. i was in cottage 3. so if you were there when i was please send me an email at [e-mail] thanks

[Jayne Staebell]

I was in Mitchellville twice in the 70's. In the cottage next to the infirmary. Cathy Cornell was
my counselor the second time (1979). Yikes! That was a scary woman. The first time I was there was around 1976 and the second was in 1979. There were no boys there the first time, by the time I returned for the second time they had remade one of the cottages into a boys cottage. I can remember Jeff H.,the director in '79, he was always trying to get me to go to his church and be baptized. He always had a bunch of girls hanging around him that he couldn't seem to keep his hands off of.

Seems like in between the time I left the first time and the time I came back, there had been some sort of incident. Some of the girls had tied up Judy the houseparent, and run off. I don't remember much more than that, it was so long ago.

I also remember Darcy Birch! Didn't she have short wavy blonde hair, glasses and a cute pug nose?

[Toni]

Jayne Staebell wrote:

I was in Mitchellville twice in the 70's. In the cottage next to the infirmary. Cathy Cornell was
my counselor the second time (1979). Yikes! That was a scary woman. The first time I was there was around 1976 and the second was in 1979. There were no boys there the first time, by the time I returned for the second time they had remade one of the cottages into a boys cottage. I can remember Jeff H.,the director in '79, he was always trying to get me to go to his church and be baptized. He always had a bunch of girls hanging around him that he couldn't seem to keep his hands off of.
Seems like in between the time I left the first time and the time I came back, there had been some sort of incident. Some of the girls had tied up Judy the houseparent, and run off. I don't remember much more than that, it was so long ago.
I also remember Darcy Birch! Didn't she have short wavy blonde hair, glasses and a cute pug nose?

Please email us (women who have been in Mitchellville). We have been collecting stories and history. at a Yahoo site. We are working on a project that will shed some light on the history of Mitchellville, connect us with other survivors, allow us to share our stories, validate each other's experience, and eventually help at-risk girls. We were recently interviewed by the DMR.

It's a private site and only women who were adjudicated to Mitchellville have access.

Join us!

I was there in '71 and '72.

[e-mail] (for more information and site)

Toni

[Stephanie G]

I remember my mom talking about Jeff H. Special favors got her special meds.
My mom went on to have 3 daughters, I'm the oldest and was born 1 month after my moms 18th birthday.
She went to college and worked as a legal secretary full time and taught aerobics.
Then when I was 9 she lost her marbles. No one seems to know why. She lives in an assisted living facility for the mentally ill. I'm glad I have memories of my mom before she lost it. She still talks about Mitchellville from time to time. I'm not saying it made her crazy, but it certainly didn't help. Our youth today have so many better options today. She was there somewhere between 1969 and 1974. Her name is Kathy Clabaugh, she was besties with Debbie Briggs who died in a car accident when she ran away from the school. I see my sister in another thread Valerie, was looking for information too. Anything would be great. [e-mail]

[Debra Norman -Walters]

I was in Mitch around 74-77.Bill, Gail, Cathy were a few of the house -parents that I can remember. Carta was one of the last cooks I remember. I see Jane S.com mented, we both came 1147from S.C.

[mary]

Hi Debra,
If you would like to join a group of us that get together by email or skype.
We are all Mitchellville alumni so to speak.

Email me at moonlstr at moonlstr.com

I was there in 1966 but there are more that were there during your time.

Mary

[vern]

Hi Mary... some people are going to the moonlstr.com page instead of emailing and there they click on my email. LOL

[carmia alexander hilt]

i remember you debra norman we were i the same cottage you were friends with kim jones if i m not mistaken i also remember when they took us all ice skating i have a few good memories of you when we were together in mitchelleville please let me know if you remember me

[Debra Norman -Walters]

carmia alexander hilt wrote:

i remember you debra norman we were i the same cottage you were friends with kim jones if i m not mistaken i also remember when they took us all ice skating i have a few good memories of you when we were together in mitchelleville please let me know if you remember me

[Hi! I remember you. Seems just like yesterday in my mind, time sure does go by way too fast. How have you been? I remember some things, you doing okay? I hope so, write me back!!]

[carmia alexander hilt]

hi debra norman i m so glad you remember me i m doing really good i m living in denver so how are you doing i hope you are okay i have lots of good memories of us in mitchellville you were a good friend to me thanks for that

[Debra Norman -Walters]

carmia alexander hilt wrote:

hi debra norman i m so glad you remember me i m doing really good i m living in denver so how are you doing i hope you are okay i have lots of good memories of us in mitchellville you were a good friend to me thanks for that

[Hi carmia, good to here from you, I'm happy that you're good, you were a good girl and a good friend to me also. I live in texas, for the past 25 year, I didn't really have a bad time at Mitch, I think it really probably saved my life!! I have three daughters and a bunch of grankids! My life is pretty full!! Write back! I'd love to hear from you, have you heard from anyone else?]

[Carmia Alexander]

Hi Deb,

Hope all is well in Texas. I'm living in Denver. I have 2 sons and 1 grandson. Have had some ups and downs over the last 20 years but doing good now. I don't know if you remember Jayne Staebell she's living in Denver also. Ask her if she has a facebook page or an email address. I'd like to send you some pictures of when we were in Mitchelville and how I look now. Keep in touch. Hope you have a nice day.

[Ruth Montenguise]

HI Annie,,, I was there around the same time.. My counselor was Barb too. Jeff Hanover was the director.. I havent checked this site out in along time... Im still reading them all. Didnt have a computer... I will get back with you.

Annie wrote:

Thanks for sharing that very personal note. I was there in the 70's as well. No it really didn't help at all and my family regrets going down that road as well. I'm glad your mom has been one that life turned out good. I too can be thankful for the life I have made for myself. I often wander about some of the girls and how they are doing. It's difficult to find any of them because I'm sure they have married and moved on but not forgotten Mitchellville. I was there for running away from home, not drugs or anything else bad just running away. We were in with girls who had committed armed robberies, murder and all kinds of bad things. I'm almost 49 so your mom is a few years older than me. You can tell her I was in cottage 3 (I think)it was the cottage where Rec Center was held once a week where we played pool and hung out with the other cottage girls. My counselors were Barb Beckly and Art Dutcher.
I'm glad to have chatted with you and tell your mom hello.

[Ruth Montenguise]

wendi marshek ewins wrote:

<quoted text> omg ruthann! I remember u! U had a boyfriend at the time u were crazy about named Fernando! I also remember sally!

Yes I did have a boyfriend named Fernando.. wow Wendi I do remember you...It is so good to have made contact with you. Remember the boys came from Eldoro for a short while.

[Ruth Montenguise]

Yes Sally Phipps.. I use to get to go to her home overnight for Christmas.. Because I didnt have any parents or THV.

[Ruth Montenguise]

wendi-marshek-ewins wrote:

As I said barb beckley did. I remember her fondly.Would u have any information that could help any of us obtain any records? We all came away from there carrying something. Some good some bad. But the experience ran deep for us all. If u can help I know I for one would appreciate it greatly as I'm sure would others.

Wendy you were very special to me.. I remember wanting to always hang out with you.. It was nice to have you with me... we had some good times there together.. Remember the fire...

[Ruth Montenguise]

Jeff wrote:

I remember most of those names---and some faces. I think the Barb was Barbra Nunn---I think from Davenport.

So this is you Jeff H. HI

[Jeff]

Ruth Montenguise wrote:

<quoted text>So this is you Jeff H. HI

It's hard to believe we could make contact after this many years. I thought about you often and our "jogging time" at noon. I will not post much due to some of the hurtful and untrue things that have been said about me and other staff but I would like to find a way we can communicate without using this blog.