Old Guestbook

Hey "O'Connor", I recall how we were all addressed by our last names in St Agatha's. I also remember yoiu when you were an upper classman and I was in a lower grade. I was in the 4th grade when you graduated in 1940. I think that my teacher then was Sister Mark. Do you recall her? She broke her hip on an icy Easter Sunday morning when she slipped and fell. Tom Maloney was prefect of the 3rd & 4th grade boys at the time. Walter Kelly had the 5th & 6th grades then, I think... while Charley Lee had the 7th & 8th grades. They all lived in St Joseph's Dorm... Mr. McCutcheon lived in the town od nanuet with his family. I imagine that you may remember the time that the home kids were bused to the New York World's Fair in 1939. And of course, all the kids were also bused to Bear Mountain for a day trip at the end of the school year. Do you remember the letters that we kids wrote to "Christmas Daddy" and received the most welcome gift that we asked for? One year, I was happy to receive a flashlight. Another year .... a sled; or a pair of roller skates. It was the only gift that many of us received. Of course, some of the kids who had "friends" ito visit them on Sundays did get other gifts... but most of us did not have visitors regularly. One year, I received a navy blue soft woolen helmet style hat with flaps that buttoned under the chin. But an older kid from the 8th grade quickly latched onto it. It was such a beauty that I can remember it to this day. Do you remember how we would make our own "skateboards" by separating the front from the back of a single skate and attaching them to either end of a 2x4 ? And, constructing a "scooter" by attaching an orange crate upright to the front end of the skateboard? Skating in the yard... and roller skating in the "bandroom"? We also dumped pails of water from the boys' toilet in the yard onto the concrete surface and let it freeze so we could "Ski" down the yard slope on "barrel stays"? Do you remember McCutcheon's shoe room in the bandroom where our shoes were repaired and/or replaced. Also, movies in the bandroom about once a month or so. Sugar Daddy candy on a stick? Picking up clutter and leaves under the gardner, Joe ViVi? And weeding in the agricultural fields under old man Haggerty/Flynn? And then was summertime fun swimming in "The Brook" after walking down the dusty road past the barn, the chicken coops, and the pasture where we had to be careful to avoid stepping into the "cow flop". Since the older boys did not fraternize with the younger boys, you may not recall me. I was best known as the kid who sang..."I'm an old cowhand from the Rio Grande, Never roped a cow, because I don't know how" etc. Remember the Print Shop and the Carpentry Shop? Fish cakes and meatless spaghetti with sauce of Fridays. A banana with corn flakes on Sunday morning... and coffe cake type buns with our Sunday supper. Hard rolls with breakfast on Monday and Wednesday mornings. Going to confession every teo weeks without fail? I am now 77 yaers of age and guessing that you must be about 80-81. In those days, the boys were either reunited with their natural families; sent to Sparkill; or sent to the CC Camps. There were some "runaways" who would falsify their age and join the "merchant marine", or join one of the military services following Peartl Harbor. Take care and count every blessing bestowed on you and our brothers from the homes who are into their senior years. We have "made it" and Life has been good to us!  "Wagner"
Robert Wagner
Monday, March 12, 2007 4:47 PM(PST)

Greetings from the Cortez family.... Jose, Zaida and Ralph doing fine. This website with memories is, like everyone has said, really great.... the pictures (there was one of us at my brother's first holy communion) are good to see. We did share some good times at St. Agatha's that won't go away even if the buildings do. Thanks for the hard work that you all have put into the website to make sure this is true for us.
Jose Cortez
USA - Saturday, October 14, 2006 at 11:31:56 (PDT)

It is funny that there is no mention of Cottage 150 that was on Convent Avenue. (I believe). There were approximately maybe 10 to 12 girls in that house and some of the names that I can remember are Michelle and Shiela Bobbit, Melinda Reyes, Myrna Betancourt, sisters named Dorea or Doreah and Grace, Nelly Rodgriguez, she had a sister named Vivian Rodgriguez and a girl name Cookie (I know that doesn't help much). The counselors there at that time that I can remember are James and Fred (They were brothers) Jim and Kevin, the cook was named Miss Virginia (A short woman who the girls loved so much...she was like our mother) a woman named Dee who actually took us to her home and taught us how to play backgammon. I know how to play today because of her.
I also remember there being a teen center and on Friday's we would go there and dance and have fun. This teen center was runned by a man named Donald Cooper. We had a talent show one evening where it was the girls of Cottage 150 against the girls at Depaul. I believe DePaul was a female cottage at that time. My first summer job was at St. Agatha's working with Donald Cooper. I am not remembering exactly what I did, but I remember receiving a paycheck. (Smile)

At night, we used to run around the grounds and have security chase us around campus. I know who Richard Royster is and he hasn't change much.

The school I went to was Nanuet High School, but I wasn't there for long before getting transfered to a group home in the Bronx in NYC.

I just wanted to pass my photo and some information along that I can remember. Maybe someone will remember those days.

Thanks,
Beverly Sellers-Robinson
Capital Heights, MD USA - Sunday, August 13, 2006 at 22:53:53 (PDT)