When my Mother passed away my Father and my maternal Grandmother kept the Monson household going as a unit for a year or two. When I was around seven years old the three youngest Monson boys were placed in institutional homes. George 15 was placed in the George Junior Republic in Chino, CA. Warren 11 and Chuck 7 were placed in the Mckinley School for Boys in Van Nuys, CA. I believe that I was there for about a year. My stay there has always been in my memories. It was not a bad place and I had some good memories. During some recent research I obtained a dvd video of a movie made in 1928. My stay was around 1932. Seeing the pictures has been a fascinating experience. These pictures are from that dvd. My memories of almost 80 years ago now had pictures.
Van Nuys is in the center of the San Fernando Valley. When I was there it was mostly farmland. I can remember watching a wheat combine at work. The area now is full of freeways and skyscrapers.
I can remember eating in a dining hall with at least 200 boys.
There was a busy kitchen.
There was stage at one end of the dining hall that was used for church services, programs, and weekly movies. I remember silent Douglas Fairbanks movies such as Robin Hood and the Mark of Zorro. Once the Home took busloads of boys downtown to see a new WC Fields movie. I believe there was a circus in the film.
The main building was a large impressive building. I remember spending a lot of time in the library. I read the Wizard of Oz on a window bench.
The dorm buildings were also large.
I can remember sleeping in a room with ten or more beds down each side. I remember laying in a wet bed dreading what the House Mother would do in the morning. I do not remember a big scene or punishment.
There was a farm at the Home.
And a print shop.
I got pneumonia while at the Home and was sent to Los Angeles Children's Hospital. Upon my return to the Home I spent a few days in the Clinic. I really remember the large spoon full of cod live oil I had to swallow every day! That is not me in the bed.
