I work for DCFS and will be moving into one of those cottages in a week. Believe me, they should be torn down. :-)

I lived in one of those cottages, that was called "Cottage Two", and my cottage parents were Mr. and Mrs. Rex, whom we called "Mom" and "Dad". I went there in July of 1968, being transferred up from Child Haven in Las Vegas, after a failed stay at St. Jude's Ranch. Mr. and Mrs. Rex were older at the time I came, and had spent their entire lives there, dating back to the original orphanage buildings. They were unable to have children, and had come there as a young couple from Texas, signing up for what must have been one of the biggest, and longest term, parenting job in history. Their job as parents never ended - and they always took us little ones with them on their vacations too.

It's ironic that the Sunny Acres sign lasted such a long, long, time. We had no idea what it meant - we thought it might have something to do with the driving range next door (on the other side of the bowling alley and motor pool garage), or perhaps the cattle grazing in the fields between us and Snake Hill, where sat the prison.

The front door of Cottage Two lined up directly across the street from J.C. Fremont elementary school, which is now (or was last I visited) a postal annex. We had fabulous flower beds all the way around our home, with a big sunny porch that faced the ball field. Mom (Mrs. Rex) was an osbsesive gardner, and we would drive their little truck out to a sheep ranch every fall, and load up on manure to spread on the garden beds for the following spring. She had one several prizes for these flowers - and we all shared in the glory.

The side door was off our laundry room, and my bedroom was two windows in. I imagine some state worker sits in that room now and wonders what it was like. It may be hard to believe, but it was home, and I have very fond and warm memories of the wonderful times, including our Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, that we would share.

I remember the gymnasium well. It had some older, and mostly dangerous, metal playsets, including a giant slide, and a spinning merry-go-round type of equipment that had hanging chains with rings on it. Next door to it was our favorite pastime - the bowling alley!

The Nevada State Childrens Home, and the organization within the State of Nevada, that rescued me as a child is a testament to the good, decent, and loving people of Nevada.

God bless you all - and thank you.

Michael Corrieri
2006

I am Kenneth Mackie, I also lived at the home from about1964 till about 1976 along with my brother Herbert, I stayed in every cottage at least once I remeber mom and dad rex. My last cottage parents were mom and dad Head. I wasnt a very good kid and looking back every one teally tried to help me but I didnt listen very well. I would like to find everyone and put together a reunion of the rest of our brothers and sisters we all grew up with. They were all my brothers and sisters and I would like to know how every one turned out. Anyone is welcome to e-mail me at any time e-mail address is kennethmackie@yahoo.com Iwould realy like to hear from everyone.

My name is Brent McAllister. I lived in, if I recall correctly, cottage 1. I was there from 84 to 86. The cottage parents were mom and dad Wilhelm. Over all I enjoyed my time at the home. I wasnt really a bad kid, but I did have my share of grounds restrictions. I remember alot of my brothers and sisters that were there and would really love to hear from them. My email address is usnrdt@kasi.us, feel free to email me and let me know what you are up to these days.

I was at the Carson City children's home from 1973-1975. I was the vicitm of quite alot of abuse in my home so the juvenile authorities placed me at the children's home to live. I was a big troublemaker there, always running away and stealing to get money and food. Most of the time in those days I got beat up by the older kids. Anyway, I was in two of the houses for boys. These days, God has blessed me and taken my difficult past and raised me up to have one of the most impactive ministries and Christian news services in California. I have found that most of us that have had troubled childhoods, like most of the kids at the home had, end up being the most effective ministers once God gets ahold of us.

I hope and pray that everyone from the 1970s is doing well and I pray that all of the kids currently at the home are in good hands.

God Bless You,
James Hartline

My two brothers and I lived at the home from July, 1954 to November, 1956. We were from Elko, NV and had been sent to the home because we were declared by the local judge as "vandals". I was seven years old when I arrived and it is still hard for me to believe that I could have been so "dangerous" that my bother's and I should be committed to a state institution. I did discover some years later that the Elko County Sheriff's office and local child welfare office had determined that our parents were simply too neglectful and irresponsible. We surely were wild Indians which suited us since our mother was a member of the Temoak Band of the Western Shoshones. I do have very fond memories of our time at the home and believe that it helped give me an insight of what life could be like instead of living from hand to mouth like we were accustomed to. I found our time there to be a very positive experience and think of it quite often now that I'm getting older.

I lived at the children's home from 1964-1973 Do not tear down cottage two without getting Louis Armstrongs Autograph off the wall in cottage two. it is in the small room between the cottage parents room and the laundry room. Yes Micheal it was a girls cottage before a boys. We moved into cottage seven when it got built in summer 1967.

All the bigger kids were good to me and taught me baseball and football. Still love it today. Its a place where I can go and always remember my children's home brother who let a girl play with the boys. Oh yeah you taught me well I taught my three boys how to play. Martha Reddick

P.S. Does anyone know where that picture went that was hanging in Mr. Aberstari's office and the new superintendent's office until 1989. It was a picture of the (girls) in cottage 2 with Louis Armstrong. I was the child on his lap and my sisters were standing off to the side and arould Louis. I would like a copy and the original sent to the Louis Armstrong Archives in Long Island, NY. Thank you!

Hello, I'am looking for someone who knew the Stricker Children, who were placed in Sunny Acres in the 1940's. There were 5 Children. My husband, Bill, was the youngest of those children and was adopted by Leonard and Dorothy Hackney, of Reno, Nevada. I have been able to obtain birth dates through the County Adoption Services and the numberof children, but little else. Bill was born in 1947, i have no idea when the other chikdren were placed in the home. I would appreiciate any information at all.

Thanks,
Brenda Hackney
bellereeve@msn.com

Hello Again,
January 8th, 2008
Since I have not received a response from my previous e-mail, I wonder if anyone knows how I might obtain a list of the children place in " Sunnyacres Children's Home ? I am really at a dead end here and would love to heqr from anyone who could help find the " Stricker " children. As previously stated, these 5 children were at " Sunnyacres" sometime in the 1940's through 1947.

Sincerely,
Brenda Hackney
bellereeve@msn.com

I lived at Sunny Acres from 1961-64. I graduated from CHS while I was there and attended UNR on a scholarship awarded to the graduate from the Home with the highest GPA by the Carson Nugget. I remember rolling green lawns (Dad Trimble or Mr. Patterson mowed them on a riding mower usually with one of the smaller kids hitching a ride), plenty of good food, caring cottage parents and administrators. I had never had a Christmas before or since like the Christmases we had at the home. Nat and Jody Goldman from Las Vegas and others provided major Chistimas gifts such as stereos and clothing. We permitted 3 major requests and usually got all three from Nat and Jody as well as many other things from other generous individuals and groups who also hosted holiday parties. The atmosphere there was so festive during the holidays. The highlight of Christmas Day was a grand banquet in the main dining hall, where all of us gathered with our cottage parents.
In 1998 the dining hall provided the setting for the reunion of former residents. Richard Little and later John Aberasturi, aided by cottage parents such as the Trimbles, the Pattersons, Mom Sanders, Martha Whitely, Grace Giffen, and Hattie Becker, the seamstress, a blessing on their memories, provided support, direction, inspiration, and, yes, fair discipline, but with affection.
We had weekly passes to the Carson Theatre and the municipal swimming pool (I never took advantage of the swimming passes, preferring to wash walls in the old building to going to the pool, which was mandatory, for an hour or two every day in the summer because I was too modest to be seen in a bathing suit.)
I was among the first group of senior girls to move into the
cottage on Stewart St. with our housemother, Martha Whitely. It was brand new and had state of the art kitchen appliances and a patio where we could barbecue in warm weather. We were able to do our own wash instead of helping in the laundry as we had done upon arrival, and each girl took a turn preparing dinner. Grace Giffen, the relief housemother, took all of us girls who were high school seniors (dressed in nice dresses with hats and white gloves), to the mother-daughter tea sponsored by the DAR of which she was a member.
There was a bowling alley when we first came.
Some of us who were separated from siblings found surrogate families there.
I still have letters from Jody Goldman and Mom (Marguerite) Sanders who was a stickler for good manners.
I remember my time, my mentors and fellow residents at NSCH with gratitude, nostalgia, and affection. NSCH "Sunny Acres" provided a wholesome sheltering environment for many of us who had been either orphaned, neglected, or abused.
I was sorry to see it close and felt sad for the children displaced by the closure. When I am in Carson, I still drive by to get a look at the old place. I am happy that the site is still used to benefit kids.

my name is craig barnhart and i was at nsch from 6/71-12/73.outside of the friends i made the experience was a lonely one.i read some of the posts and i saw one from one of the reddick girls.i want to tell her that i was 9 years old when i came to nsch and was placed in the same cottage as her brother pat.even though he was 6 or 7 years older he didnt mind going out of his way to terrorize and beat me around.i only wish i could have run into him once i became an adult so i could have the profound pleasure of kicking the living shit out of him.i remember he enlisted in the army and that was the last i seen of him.if by now somebody hasnt killed that prick i can only hope he succumbs to a long painful death.

i always wondered what became of the campbell kids,david,denise,&danny.if anyone can has any information please contact me at csmdb1995@yahoo.com.Thank you,Craig Barnhart

This is some great historical info about the State
system with the state run foster homes.
Thnaks to everyone for sharing, and thanks
to Scott for this fine website...
I think the state homes were still open when I moved to Carson in 1990. There is plenty of material here for a documentary, sorry to read some of you had a
hard time there, others seem to have thought
it was an okay place to live.
~Bob
www.randomnevada.blogspot.com

I can't believe it has taken me so long to figure out that I could do this.
I lived in cottage 5. 1984 - 1985. I was 13 when I first arrived.
I was picked on in all sorts of ways. Scares that have lasted me a lifetime.
I once wished everybody ill will. Now I'm more curious than anything. I think people treat others poorly, because they were treated poorly, and/or were never taught how to care or be kind. It's sad that "we" have to be taught that.
I now hope everybody has someone to love them, and someone for them to love. Even if it's a pet. Pet's are great. God is now my biggest fan. Molding me, to be who He created me to be. God loves me, He cares, He's gentle. And He's removing 1 scar at a time, 1 day at a time. A.S.

I too lived at the Northern Nevada State Childrens Home. I went in on my 16th Birthday. I remember being grounded that weekend until Monday morning when I could meet Mr. Aburesturi, and cottage 5 parents Mr. and Mrs Osborne. Hattie Becker was my surrogate cottage mother. I remember Lorna Wardwell, Sue Manning, Sandra Solcume and many others. I became the oldest that summer of June 9, 1974, I stated until June 9, 1976. I made the good behavior list, 7 months before I turned 18. It took me a while to settle down and do the program. I remember fighting with Vicky and her sister, and being disciplined for smoking with Chris Rios who was also from Winnemucca, Nevada along with my self. If anyone wishes to contact me, please do at nanosnama1@yahoo.com. I just found out about this site and I would like to correspond with other residents.

Hi everyone, I had entered a detailed comment but it somehow was deleted? Anyway, it's nice to see all of the comments. In short, I enjoyed my time at the 'Home', especially knowing what my alternative was at the time. There was so much that I initially shared, but disappeared.I now have to rethink my points and post at a later time.

Take care all.

Eugene

Some of the comments paint a nice picture...Be forever blessed that
any of you were not in the big home in the 40s...If those walls
could talk they would weep...Will take those sad times to my grave.
I harbor no ill will against any one..Am in my 70s and still live
the daily abuse handed to me daily there...so be it....
Took me 50 years to come back for a visit....

we should get together.

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY HAVING LIVED THERE 14 YRS. I SAW SO MUCH PAIN AND CONFUSTION.THE CONECTION WE ALL SHARED WAS ABUSE IN ON WAY OR ANOTHER.FOR ME THE ABUSE DIDN'T CHANGE. WE HAVE THIS SIGHT THOUGH MAYBE WE COULD BE A BIG BROTHER OR SISTER TO SOMEONE HERE IN NEED OF THAT. ITS COLD OUT HERE WITHOUT SOMEONE TO SHARE THINGS WITH. I SAW CHILDERN DIE OR WANTED TO DIE BECAUSE OF THE LAC OF LOVE. WE COULD ALL OF USE ONE AT A TIME MAKE A DIFFERENCE TODAY, BY REACHING OUT TO EACH OTHER.PLEASE FEEL FREE TO WRITE ME IF YOU WOULD LIKE.

I was trying to keep it positive in my original post, but I know it was not all roses.

I also received the worst beating of my life there... perhaps deservedly, as I had punched a nun at the Catholic school on the hill, and beaten another child in the classroom to the point of hospitlization with a heavy book! Unquestionably in today's society the perpetrator of my corporal punishment would've been charged with criminal abuse, as I was beaten with a plastic hose to the point of unconsciousness, however, I think Mrs. Rex carefully weighed the options; the most obvious being that should I do this again I would be sent to the reform school in Elko (a big step closer to a life of crime). Personally, I think she made the right choice - I never needed corporal punishment again, and became a well-mannered student.

I think we all need to recognize that this orphanage was ground-breaking in many ways, and there should be little question of the good that this family-like institution provided for many of us. I think most of us were there because the alternatives were totally unacceptable.

I have started a website for us (1/5/2009 so give it a couple days) at http://www.NevadaStateOrphans.org and I will be setting up forums there shortly.

I look forward to seeing all of you there!

Michael Corrieri

I setup discussion forums for everybody communicating on this site about their stay or involvement with NSCH.

The new forums can be accessed here: href="http://www.nevadastateorphans.org/forums/index.php" title="">Nevada State Children's Home Discussion Forums.

Hopefully this won't be too hard for most to figure out!

Enjoy,

Michael

I was a surplus child from las vegas, drunken family sent to carson city.where I was picked on and treated like crap until I learned to be mean, mad dog mean and I stayed that way most of my life, I never let any one close enough to love me. The home was a crap place mr abistary was an asshole
I ran away and kept on running, been running ever since

Hello everyone: Although my stay at Cottage was a rather short stay 2 years from 72 - 74.... It blesses me that those who did stay there are reaching out. Although no one ever knew what terrible things were going on at home except maybe the state . I made for the first time in my life "friends". I actually was able to eat 3 times a day... and although Mom and Dad Head were not always the easiest to get along with.... i will remember them until the day i die.. Ken mackie i remember you and your brother Herbie, Steve Pope, Tim Jacobson, Kevin Opatz ,I especially remember Jennifer Zuniga, Mitch Tobey, Frieda Hooks and her Sister Tonya, I remember the Rex's,
I remember the New tennis court and when they made it, the Bowling alley, and i loved playing in the Gym and the outside basketball court. All the good food , and i also remember the incidents that scared me too , the wrestling of boys to the floor , boys too young smoking , and the unbelievable activities that took place between the children..... But in retrospect there wasnt a person there that i didn't care about and found that as an adult its a part of my life that i treasure... only because i came to find out what it means to really love and be loved.
My home was filled with violence , beatings with 2x4s mercilessness, Whitenburg Hall was a refuge from that violence , Mom and Dad Head proved that they not only cared for me but every boy there.
I had my "first" kiss there i played baseball , and football, smear the Queer, went fishing in the carson river, but the reminder of what could lie ahead was down the road at the state prison. I remember it well....
Everyone in this blog .. we share something in common we were wards of the state , some of us were there when the old building still stood , and some of us were in the cottages.
but it was a better alternative then ELKO ... I am Steven Doherty and anyone who would love to talk e-mail me at judyshubbythatsme2003@yahoo.com

wow

i go there now its the boys and girls club
this is really news to me. and sad too.

sorry if you went here.

hello my name is ron shure, my brother mike both lived here, does anyone remember the jacksons, the hooks, david heath, the tobeys,the maines,robert king, kevin opatz and his sisters, dave welch , mom and dad head, bodine, brooks, herb mackie, alan norcutt, luis baliotis,mike dowling,jeff conway, i was there in the mid 70s my email is rshure001@yahoo.com

Dear Ron
I lived in the cottage with Mom and dad head Allan and i had a fight and of course he won. Kevin and i crossed paths when i was in the Navy , i Talked to Frida hooks in 1990 something LOL. or was it 80 .... not to sure but . If i am mistaken correct me but was it Mitch and Vicky Tobey? I had fond memories there and i miss alot of the friends i had there ... well it was the only place in my life where at that time i really mattered !! I have Mom (Edith Heads) obit if amyone is interested !
Suzan Opatz if i am right and they had a little sister too .Kevin told ma a story once about his Dad and how his dad chased him and his sisters around with a hammer and actually hit him in his head. He and i were good friends in the Home. Let me throw a couple more names out there Jay Barber, Ronald noosey i think , Tim Jacobs. Mike Homney Steve Pope <- that poor Kid his mother would come and get him on some weekends and bring him back and he would have one big Fit ... I really felt bad for him .

Hi every one , My Name is Howard Cates, I was raised in the childrens home from September 7, 1947 till about 1956, Also have a brother and sister who lived there. we were some of the children who changed the name to Sunny Acres we all voted it that way, it was to sound better than childrens home. yes, I loved the old place and was sorry they took the old building down , had alot of great times while there, and if punnished, I deserved them . but we were family then and every now and then we will meet again. I went to 1 family reunion at 4 H camp at Lake Tahoe, but the superintendant and his wife Mr and Mrs Vandermission have passed away since then, I sure do miss the family. If some of you read this, would love to hear from you, My e?mail address is nvpaulbunyun@yahoo.com To answer some of your Questions about the kids, the state should still have the names and dates they were there.

i am sure i have the right childrens home. My father Donald Clifford was placed here back in the early 1960's til he graduated from high school in the early part of 1970's. I know he did attend some college around there in Carson City. But anyways my father past away August 2006 from cancer. Before he passed on he told us that he might have another child out there from a girl that he knew from high school while he was in the childrens home. His last dying wish was for us his children to find out if the girl he dated in high school in fact had a baby. He never got to find out because she moved away. If anyone knows my father and possibly any of the girls he dated then i would appreciate the information. I can be reached at Naomi.Esparza@gmail.com

Hi all not sure if this is the right one...was wondering if anyone rememberd a Mike Oswald,Geroge Oswald , Matt Vukovich or Hillary Oswald I belive they were there in the early 70's Thanks

Its sad vic children need to work and stuff, i wish i was a rich vic child

Wow, what a trip.Read all the entries and reconized so many names ! First off I need to get it right. The "Rex's" were mean ,nasty,abusive drunks. I was in cottage two for a couple of years. I got to NNCH in December 73 and Don and Mary Smith were the cottage parents. The Rex's came back to work in cottage 2 when the Smith's left. Don died soon after from cancer, I loved them very much. I then went to cottage 3. Carman Tobey and his bro Mitch, me and my brother Dennis Brough, Norman, Danny and Chip and Ricky Jackson. Funny thing though, I haven't heard from all the girls that were basicly gang raped by 40 messed up boys there. I think back on some of the shit we did and it makes me sick. I remember being beat like a man from the social worker dude named Carter and the dad from cottage 6 Richards for much of nothing. One summer I was out mowing lawns with my buddy Russel Smith, he had a brother named Rod and a sis named Tasha, anyway Russell cut his toe off via the lawn mower, poor guy never could break dance after that. I went to work for the Department of Prisons in 85 and saw way to many homies locked up.That sucked. To all my old runnin partners and my partners in crime, Ken Gande, Tim Alexander, Chip and all the rest of you I salute, most of us survived. I saw an earlier post mentioning Louis Baliotis (Cottage 2 ) He broke all the rules by gittin with the cottage mom Kate Foody. The stories we all could tell. Danny Brough Tahoebrough@yahoo.com

hello. MY NAME IS FRED ALLEN.
I WAS IN COTTAGE 6 MOM AND DAD BROOKS.
I have lots of good memories.From being there.All the names, Jerry Witlock,Tom Babcock.Rod Witts.Tess Hobson,Julie Gold,Barbera Winworth, And many others.Iwas there From 1979 to 1981.Left when i was 18.
1. Story that comes to mind.Mills park right across the street from High school.Tom Bacock , Rod Witts ,couple others and I fred allen.cut class got our hands on some bacardi 151.We sat at the park all afternoon got blitzed .got picked up by police taken back to our cottage. and to this day still remember the punishment.We had to scrub down the bathroom in our cottage with tooth brush.OH what joy. also remember the girl i dated there. Tess Hobson .leona sexton.Well ill be checking back in to read some more stories.thanks for memory lane.
married now 25 years 3 great kids. loving wife. also 2 grandkids.
quik-2009@hotmail.com

Hello.

My name is Shonda and I lived at NNCH from 76-81 along with my brother Howard and sister Michelle. I smile whenever I think back on our lives then.

I had wonderful cottage parents. I was an angry little girl and a real challenge. We had the best holidays.

I remember Lisa, Christine and Tess Hobson, Tina, Margaret and her brother, Annette and her twin sister, Betsy Mason, Kristen Fox, Mom Peggy, Mom Tina and Mom Kelsey.

I pray life has been kind to all of you. Though it has taken years to emotionally recover from the reasons we were placed in the home I am grateful for the love and kindness given.

I am a college professor with 4 children and a wonderful husband living here in CA.

Best wishes to you all.

I remember the building! My mom drove me to school on my first day of kindergarten at Freemeont (I believe) the little brown brick school house across the street that is still there! The old rock building was an impressive site ... 48 years later I can still see it. What a wonderful post and a beautiful collection of comments! I just had to say thanks for sharing!

I lived there from 1969-1973 - in cottage 5 then 4. The Osbourne's with Hattie Becker as sub in 5 and the Henson's in 4 with Mrs. Miller as sub.

I found this site because I was trying to find out the name of the man who started sponsoring Christmas in about 1971 - I thought his name was Mr. May - and that he was an owner of May Company. When I looked that up - I come up empty. Anyway, what magnificant Christmas's we had. Harrah's Casino in Reno sponsored us, and then "Mr. May" started too. Plus the various women's groups/churchs that would make us scarves/hats, etc. I always tell people how wonderful those holidays were. At least until after the gift opening was over - and many of the kids got to go home or with a relative. "Mr. May" also sponsored a couple of the kids - the Williams kids and then Vicky Tobey I think. I hope that gave them back some advantage and they have been able to be successful.

Another highlight - our summer trips to the Girl Scount camp at Tahoe. Remember the contests after every meal where we made stuff out of our plates, etc and they gave us huge candy bars when we won? I remember making myself sick eating all that chocolate - taking the bus down the mountain and them having to pull over so I could "visit the side of the road". Ugh.

And the annual vacations - it was something to look forward to, and mostly fun. Can't imagine how those poor hotel staff felt when 70 rowdy kids decended on them.

FYI - you can get your records - they will send you a copy of whatever they have on file (except court records) - you want to contact the Nevada State Library and Archives, 100 N. Stewart St., Carson City, NV 89701 775-684-3313

I found my records to be very interesting reading - funny the things that they felt they should record and the things they didn't. Throwing 10 year old children into jail at the county police station as a discipinary measure never made their documentation - nor did beatings. Opinions were allowed however. Interesting how it works - and how things have turned out.

I am making a project of collecting stories of children (and staff if they want) - stories of how you got there, what happened while you were there (good and bad) and where you are now. I know that there have to be success stories out there. You can send your stories to: nsch.stories@gmail.com - and Michael, your website isn't working right now, but when it is,please send me an email - thanks.

I think my Grandmother and her sister might have lived there a while after their mother died of tuberculosis and their father took a new wife who didn't want his half breeds. This was likely the 1930's Vivian and Carmen Young. If anyone knew them that would nice to hear from you ... I'm trying to trace Grandmas history - she was a native Indian I think her mother was Coast Salish from Vancouver Island. Would be nice to know more. I remember her telling me once after a few drinks, that while she was there the nurse/nun/missionaries would try to scrub the indian out of her. Which I took to mean bath time sucked.

Just wanted to make a comment. I went to school with some of the people that lived at the childrens home. I pulled up this site because I am a school teacher and I was telling my class about the children's home and how our class president was a kid that lived there. I told them how hard he worked and the good grades he made.I mentioned Madalyn Colautti and how smart, beautiful she was. She had the coolest beehive which we all admired, so I read her letter to my class. What a great example this very successful people are.
Lynda Dark Phillips

I was there in the early 70's, I lived with the Morrells and Mom Miller, big woman she was, but had a loving personality. My best friends was Freida Hooks and Richard Zamarrippa. Does anyone know how I can get hold of these two individuals. In reading the posts, someone talked to Freida in the 90's. My stay was a wonderful experience. Frank and Grace Morrell were good people, except when I got in trouble, then of course that old style phone book would come out and the door would shut and I knew I was going to get it. My name at that time was Maria Solorio, please feel free to contact me at Giftgivinangels@comcast.net. I would really like to see what happened to those that I spend most of my younger years with.

I decided to post another, looking for Natasha Smith and Russell Smith, they also had another brother I believe his name was Rodney Smith. If anyone out there knows how to get ahold of these three individuals please email me at Giftgivinangels@comcast.net. Thank you and God bless all.

wow its a miracle any of us are functioning adults at all.some of you guys can b.s.your selves all you want into thinking what a wonderfull place the home was, the truth is most of the cottage parents were abusive drunks and the kids were so messed up most of them needed serious help.My heart aches when i think of all the unloved children. children need to be loved.I remember a small boy being held up to a wall by his throat by mr carter..who went to jail for being a wife beater etc. I wish i could turn back time and make it all better for all of you.. but i cant..all i can do is pray for all of you and hope that you all found someone to love you and you now have a safe warm place to call home. shalom..Coby

My name is Jeff Conway. I was in Cottage 1 with Mom and Dad Head starting in November of 75, and ending my "stay" in June of 78 with Dad and Mom Bradford. I found out later that he went to prison for molesting the girls in cottage 5 I think it was. I remember visiting after I had left the Bradford's at Cottage 5 (or was it 6), and remember noticing then one of the girls sitting on his lap. I thought even then, "this ain't right." I had dinner with them, never had a problem with the Bradford's. The Heads were a little more strict, but as an adult with 4 children myself, I appreciated more what they did, and a lot of the fun times I had there. I remember feeling a lot of shame, and didn't "feel normal" when I went to the local junior high in Carson, but like I said, overall it was kind of a trip. I was friends with David Heath, Robert King (Bruce Lee Fighting Club!), Jim Nye, Kevin Opatz, Candy Opatz, remember Ernest King, heard he died selling Crack in Vegas. Mitch Tobey, and his bad-ass gold gloves champ brother Carmen, and thier beautiful and nice sister Vickie. How about Shauna Urban, my first, who I heard was found bound in barbed wire, dead in the Nevada desert. Hope it's not true. Steve McArvey, Joe Adams, Bruce Pochinski, the Jackson brohters, Chip, cool dude. I remember him and Mith Tobey having a couple of nasty fights, they were pretty evenly matched from what I remember. Contact me at: jeff_conway@yahoo.com

Its amazing to see all he different stuff that had happened to my fellow residents. I was fortunate enough to have mom and dad Head as cottage parents. I the seventies as we all know child abuse (s) was just getting attention. And the methods used to correct children was also in the midst of change.
To those who suffered needlessly and had been further abused by the people the state gave you to I am truly sorry , and that should have never taken place.
But also remember the fellow residence who would break into houses , be disrespectful, out of control and would challenge any kind of authority no matter who they were. I never was beaten , molested , and in fact i had more trouble with "some" of the children trying to tell me to break the law and , a couple of times I did. the only difference was We didn't get caught.
History I was being abused at home . My father had 8 children . 6 from his first wife and 3 from his second but two of them died at child birth.
My "normal" home life consisted of beatings with a 2x4 beyond any of measure of discipline. I was lucky to get 1 pair of pants a year and that was for Christmas, i was so hungry that when i went to school i would grab left over sandwiches out of he trash can that the other kids would throw away. I never knew when i would be getting hit with "the stick" as it was titled or made to sit on the wall .
Try this: put your back against the wall , slide down it until you are in the sitting position, put your hands straight out . and hold it try 5 min, ten , and keep going until you just cant do it better yet remove the wall. My two older brothers and I were forced to do this for hours on end , and now as an adult to this day i cannot sit Indian style, my knees are damaged as well.
And the doctors have asked me if I sustained any head injuries when i was a child because that would only explain the reason why in 2005 i had to have surgery on y neck and its now fused together metal plates and screws.
Although I have forgiven my father for this the memories are just as vivid today as if they had happened yesterday.
I knew it was wrong because of what little friends came to visit they never were treated hat way. So I started skipping school, and getting in trouble. that finally lead to theft running away, then the final straw was i hopped into a car with an older man and we took a Joy ride to lake Tahoe.
That year my family celebrated my birthday while i was made to stay in my bedroom. One of my parents back handed me soo much until my nose was bleeding. I sustained damage to my left ear drum after the hand was cupped and the force of the blow punched a hole in my eardrum. I developed an ear infection and was out of school for 2 weeks while i recovered.
My oldest brother was forced to beat us with the 2x4 when my father got tired or he would get it too. But one day my brother stood up to my father and he was never made to do it again. Mom and Dad Head and did the best they could , they enjoyed the children they watched over, Although some attacked Milton he for the most part knew that the children in there were not there because they had normal homes, some had been abandoned, abused , were one step away from ELKO and the place for girls in Boulder.
Whittenberg Hall juvi hall was a palace with locked doors for me.
3 squares plus more a day, TV, I was introduced to Rock and Roll music there . My parents thought that Rock and Roll music was from the devil.
I remember some one who forced me to the ground and tried to force me to smoke a cigarette,and that same child tried to show me what sex was all about.
There were times I was afraid of the children more than the cottage parents. I never knew what would tick some one off and they would come after me . I was only 10 .
There is no excuse for anyone abusing anybody. I never saw nor did Mom and Dad Head abuse anyone ... but what I did see was the opposite.
But i had heard stories about other cottages and how rough it was to live there.
Mostly though i know that I never wouldve been able to see the worlds fair in 74 or gone to San Diego either with my folks.
Its Ironic though that i served in the navy in San Diego and i got to see Charlie the tuna "the Beluga whale show" again as it was 5 years earlier. Watched that show get removed and something else put in the 20 years i lived there .
I had a crush on Jennifer Zuniga too, although she never returned it I though she was he sweetest and most beautiful girl i had ever met.
I held onto the 1974 junior high school year book until it was stolen with my Navy Uniforms.
I am glad and fortunate to have survived this long and to have known and been truly loved by another human being enough to dull some of the pain of my child hood.
But i dont think i wouldve been a better person if i had not gone to the childrens home.
Because there I knew i was loved by Mom and Dad Head.
And some times i really do miss the friends i did make there. And I have to make a correction to one of the names i mentioned Mr. Ron Nusse.
I wish for all my fellow residents that they all find love, peace and a life that has true meaning, happiness beyond what the human heart can contain, but especially healing and understanding, not excuses for the people who have abused , or harmed them in any way.
Trust me on this one that anger and bitterness will only leave your life on a lonesome and aweful existence until you die.

Take care and write here i love this page :)
Steven Doherty

does anybody remember the Elder brothers

does any1 remember boyd jenner

Hey Steven D. I remember you like it was yesterday. My bestest of friends was Jenny Zuniga. My name is Maria Solorio, shoot me an email at Giftgivinangels@comcast.net. Have you heard from her? She was a beautiful Indian Girl, one with a big heart.

I remember the Elder brothers.

hey maria..i remember you... skinny little kid...tough though.. and smart.hope you did well..I was in cottage 7 with Jenny Zuniga, Rhonda Carter, Beverly Stevens, tereasa buyers,tonya and frieda, tina marshall, chris rios, tony sears who got pregnant with danny jackson and a few others the cottage parents were roy and rusty Richard..."mom" was always waisted drunk..My best friends were the Elder Brothers..John and Charles they had a brother Steven who i was told is in a mexican prison for killing a cop..no one has heard from him in over 10 years. One day about 25 years ago i saw Beverly stevens down town las vegas..she was a junkie..I heard tereasa buyers disapeared with out a trace..never heard from jenny or Rhonda..i looked for both of them...I found John and charles Elder on my space.. wow did they have a rough time.. drugs prison ect..alive though..We were such close buddies we were like family..home kids were so lonely they formed tight bonds with there good buddies... created there own family sort of... afer not seeing the Elders for over 30 years..i went to visit them.I dont know what i was looking for..a piece of my past or a connection with "family"...I guess life has changed me so much when i saw them and visited for awhile..i realized..this is not me any more..it just goes to show the old saying is true "You cant go home"..while i visited with them they told me Zephas Hooks killed people..Mr.Carter killed his family.my good friend Ricky Humphrys killed himself...I hope there are some good things that happened to some of you..Any success stories? c.lesperance

I posted a pic of me and some of the other cottage 3 boys in the photo section of this site. Check it out.

hey, i reconize ricky, chip and danny jackson...who else is in the pic ?

Hello again.
I am reading all these post.One question comes to mind.Did these placement homes ever help anybody.
I mean look at what is being said.Me i was going in and out of homes sense 9 or 10 .1st chasen in arizona .2nd A.P.W in reno . 3rd full circle school for boys in california. and final home CCCH to 1981 .went to jail a few times. then carson city prison for 1 year and a day.And now im 47 married with 3 kids.drug them through hell for 20 plus years.Never provided a stable home for them but do love them very much . Never beat them not the way i was when a child.Just seems to me that anyone went to these homes or placement homes never came out of them a better person.

Just a thought. fred allen

Hi guys. I found this site while researching about the area the school grounds is on. I saw the fields and thought it might be a good place to go metal detecting because it looked old. I ended up here reading your stories, and it breaks my heart knowing how some of you grew up. I have 2 sons myself, and I couldn't imagine them going through a fraction of what some of you endured. If I dig up anything sentimental, or with a name on it, I'll post the info here. God bless all.
G.P.

In the Pic of Cottage 3 Boys Left to right Danny Jackson,Danny Brough, Ricky Jackson, Chip Jackson and Mitch Tobey. I'm the white boy!

when i lived in cottage 3...there was carmen tobey, mitch tobey... ricky, chip and danny jackson... wadsworth or chadsworth , i forget his first name...norman ...mike dowling...and me, ronnie shure. i remember once rickey hit me and took my radio...so, i informed the staff, i think it was hattie becker, she said, what do you want me to do about it...if he hit you, hit him back. i was 13...ricky was 17, and 3 times my size...the staff were not in charge at that time....however,i made it through, today, im a pit boss at a giant casino in las vegas, with a wonderful daughter, and a home of my own...

none of the staff were trained to deal with kids.. most of those assholes would be in jail 2day 4 treatn kids the way they did..i remember when the psych would come and i had to see him. by the time i left his office i wanted 2 kill..all he ever did was threaten me..that big rats asshole mr abagutt was only after a job .Mr carter was an abusive s.o.b.who used to beat the shit out of kids and mrs mann.. well she was a big void...i think of all the abuse at that hell hole and my heart starts pumping too fast...the staff were only there to collect a paycheck..i remember when we were on a trip to san diego and the dad from cottage 6 punchd charles elder in the back of the head for not answering him fast enough...some vacation..and a nice way to ground a kid..throw them in the city jail...that does wonders for a kids self asteem..i got in a fight at school once and mr carter had to come to school to get me..he threatened me with jail and i jumped on it.. i begged to go i acted like i was goin to disneyland..i even asked how long do i get to stay.. and he pulld the car over and grabbed me by the throat.and told me if i said 1 more word he was going to break my neck..a nice fond thing to remember from my child hood..did any of you ever here that mr carter eventually killed his family and himself

i remember when you first got there ronnie.. those big guys in your cottage treated you like shit..a slave.. and then you got moved to cottage 1 and i think that 1 guys name was jerry wadsworth

I lived at the Northern Nevada Childrens Home from the end 1989 to the summer of 1991. My name was April Hoeg, my sister Katie and brother Rick also lived there. I lived in cottage 3 the Moores were mom and dad ( I believe Jan and BOB moore). Katie lived in cottage 4 and Rick lived in cottage 5 or 6. My exsperence here was quit pleasant I mean coming from where I came from it was pure happiness. I do not think my brother could say the same and my sister seemed to always be in trouble as I was too but on a smaller level, I was 10 and she was 14, when I first arrived there Katie had been there long before me. I was sent there because I choose to leave my mom again, I had been in foster homes from the age of 5 and tried to live with her again, but it didn't work she was still was the same person I didn't even make it with her a year and I called my social worker and begged to be placed somewhere away from her. I remember faces but few names, Skeeter ( I think real name Robert) and John, Danny the girl and mom Peggy who was everyones favorite, I know live in Cali and have a wonerful husband and ! crazy boy who is my world, my mission/purpose in life was to be the mom to him that I never had, I never want him to feel the pain and loneliness I have in the past. My out come was good, I am happy I am also very lucky, to have been given these strugles that I have overcome. Others are less successful and my heart will always feel pain for those.

i remember that story...that carter choking a kid, and saying he would break his neck if u said one more word....we did call him mr abaGUT..lol ...i forgot about that.. i remember charles elder telling me that the cottage paret punched him in the head on our vacation...whats ur name ?