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January 30, 2010 Cherie Bombell 13 comments

I am fascinated by people; what they know, what they think and what they believe in. Everyone has a unique life and experiences worth sharing. Please leave a comment or contact me with any questions you have or stories you’d like to tell. You are more than welcome to send me your legacy stories so I can create a page for you and your loved ones to read. I look forward to hearing from you.

Cheers,

Cherie

If you know anyone that might have had connections with Illinois Department of Corrections, Juvenile Division in the 1970s, please tell them I’m here. I look forward to us learning from each other.

#1 | Written by B A on January 21, 2016. Reply

I was a resident in Geneva from November 1963 to December 1964. I left there after graduating with a degree in Cosmetology under the direction of Mrs Tabor. She was a lovely person. After Intake, I lived in Hope Cottage, and then Fabian (the Honor Cottage) ?? Go figure??! and then maybe to Elm. Not sure as it didn’t matter by that time. My starkest memory (Nov. 1963) watching on TV the burial ceremony of President Kennedy and remembering how deeply sad I felt for his little children and for Mrs. Kennedy. And then I never thought about it until much later in my very adult life.
#2 | Written by Sarah Henkel on April 8, 2015. Reply

I am doing a research project on the Wyatt family from Streator, IL. Viola Wyatt, age 18, died in 1924 and her death certificate listed Geneva, IL as location of death and identified her as “inmate.” I am wondering if she was at this girls’ home? If anyone has suggestions on who to contact for file, please post. I read the earlier post asking the same.

Thank you.
#3 | Written by Barbara R on February 25, 2015. Reply

Hi Sharon ,I was also sentenced to Geneva @ age 12 for staying out late one nite,I was there off and on till age 18 . 1958-64. I can relate to your story ..spent a lot of time in the unit as I was a very angry child and had had a horrible childhood prior.
I think the isolation of it all… being locked in our rooms for long periods of time,no one to talk to ,out for meals but not being allowed to talk ,it left a big scar that I have not resolved to this day ..I am angry that the State of Il stole my teen yrs and treated me like a criminal ,locked me up ,because they could and I had no one to care or look out for me,life long scars to say the least…don’t even want to discuss the restraints,,lots of clueless mean spirited people worked there .I’m glad that they turned it around in the 70’s…..
- #4 | Written by Linda Tart on August 16, 2015. Reply
  
  Barbara, I was in Geneva from 1961-1962. I am sorry you had a difficult time in there. I didn’t. It was like heaven to me. My “home” was a dark, bottomless pit, full of ignorance, promiscuity, and poverty, neglect and ABUSE. I was 13, when I went. Prior to then, I was in the Audy Home, 3 times and Chicago Parental School once. All of the people in those places, were pretty nice to me and I was HUNGRY for love, thus, all was good. I kept running away because I did not like being cursed, beaten and dogged and who would, especially, if you are a child? During the times I was in my room, I read and did my homework, therefore, I made good use of my being locked in my room. During the time I was there, we were allowed to talk at the dining room tables, just couldn’t get to loud. Once again, I am so sorry that you had a bad experience in Geneva, but try (and I know it is EXTREMELY DIFFICULT, TO SAY THE LEAST) to forget about it, ONCE AGAIN, I understand, that it is hard BUT you can do it. I have had to deal with the same thing, in relationship to my birth mother. She NEVER like me, and not only did she TELL ME THAT, SHE SHOWED ME THAT. I grew to HATE HER ALSO. Prior to her death, she told my adopted aunt, that she was sorry but it was to late by then. MUCH TO LATE. I still try to forgive her but it is difficult. I give thanks, to my EXTENDED FAMILY, (which includes, some of the matrons in Geneva) everyday. I could not have made it without them.
  I have had decent jobs and I have a Master’s Degree and a Realtors License.
#5 | Written by Mary Small on August 17, 2011. Reply

I have been told that my birth mother was an immate at Geneva School for girls and gave me up for adoption. Is there a way to find out. I have her name
She would have been there in 1942.
- #6 | Written by Cherie Bombell on August 20, 2011. Reply
  
  Mary, I don’t know how you can find out. People are wanting to access their records but I don’t know if that’s possible except through a Freedom of Information process. I wish I could be more helpful. I live in Australia and don’t even know the laws around this information. If you do any research and are able to find out how people can gain information, would you please share with us? I wish you well, Mary. I hope you are able to find the answers you seek.
  Was anyone that visits this site, in Geneva at that time – 1942? If so, please let us know. That might be a help to Mary.
- #7 | Written by Sharon Randall on February 8, 2015. Reply
  
  Mary ~ there is a possibility that you can gain access to those records if they are still in existance ~i was in Geneva some years after your mothers time ~ however it was a well known fact that many of the babies were forcefully taken from their mothers ~ that in itself was a crime against humanity ~ i remember how the girls would cry a lot when it came closer to the birthing time ~ because the babies were taken right from birth and many mothers never even got to see their babes before that were stolen away ~ so any papers that may have been signed were under threat/ duress ~ even so you may still need to hire an attorney ~ in my time if you had a familiy member who the state deemed as fit who would be willing to take the baby then they got to keep- it in the family ~ otherwise they were taken away and placed up for adoption ~ also heard that there was profit being made by the institutions administrators at one time ~not sure if any of this information helps ~ however sealed document should only pertain to legal adoptions ~ some were legal and some were definitely not ~ Your Mother is probably gone by now and hope her spirit rests in peace
#8 | Written by Marilyn Brandt on August 13, 2011. Reply

Hi Cherie,…..just now seen this comment from you,…..(TOLDDDDDD you, im no computer genious LOL) youve heard of computer dummies? well,……im,.a computer IDIOT!! But anyway, i dont know why it is,.. Cherie,.and im the first to admit it, but…..when i see the picture of Geneva Girls School..(the one YOU sent) i cant hardly stop stareing at it ,and remembering different things,about it etc etc.,,,,,,,,and actually feeling a little “homesick”,for the place!! Isnt that weird?? I did,have some good times there too,tho ,..ya no,…and lots of good friends. And,i just LOVED “ma campbell” the Matron on Campbell Hall cottage where i was…and yes i really do,wish it had never been torn down,…they had a lot of different jobs,and skills for the girls to learn while there. It just seems to me,that as with almost everything now days,.money is involved. SOMEONE,…SOMEWHERE,. had the pull,and dollor signs,in thier eyeballs,to get that place demolished and sell for a arm and a leg to homebuyers. Where do juvinile girls go to now?? To Dwight womens prison? I think this really upsets me mostly because,..just like all the Mental Instutions,..in Illinois,has been closed down now for years..like Kanakee State Hospital….and etc. so now, all the folks that really need mental help,…..dont get it, thier just put back out on the streets,to do whateverrrr…..Im sorry, but i just disagree with the tearing down of the girls school. Im not saying terrible things never happened, there,.. like maybe when it was first built,..or way back when,…(but it just wasnt,like that in the 50s, when i was there) just,wasnt. The laws have changed a lot sence the school was first built,..and im sure,with the new administration,that was put in place,those,really bad things came to abrupt,end. Im not saying,Geneva was any Marriott Hotel,… no way close even,…but, by golly i just cant lie about it and say what a horrible place it was either,…i mean,of course,..we ALL were very young and,wouldve much rather been OUTTA there,…but not because we were “beat” or tied up in chairs,..torchured etcetc,… so,to all the other girls,that may have been incarcerated there also,…..be honest,…dont try to make it out like something,it really wasnt, of course,..wed all like a big hug,and told how sorry they was that we was innocently confined to such a house of horriors,…LOL……(cant help it,..its funny)lol………i was a wild brat,that thought she knew everything,…and never listened to my MoM,.about anything…and deserved everything,i got.,.. Which was a yr.in Geneva…which obviously,wasnt time, because after just a few months of freedom…i got myself sent right back,for another year!! And then,…i grew up…(sorta lol)…sortaaaaaaa..NOT! lol
#9 | Written by Marilyn Brandt on July 21, 2011. Reply

Hey gal,…wherefore art thou?? lol.. i know your really busy,so please dont think im trying to rush you..i look everyday,under my name in true stories to see if youve added anything,yet….nopeeeeeeee,..not yet,..lol im anixoius (M S),..to see the rest of it because i forgot what all,i wrote now…(lol!!! its hell!!,to get old!!) my mom,used to always tell me,…oh Mary..(all my family,used to always,call me,Mary) “oh,Mary”,shed say,…”dont,EVER!! get,old!!” i never did listen,to that Lady,..lol..so,i guess this is,my punishment,huh. but,anywhooooooooo,…comeon,woman,…get wiff dee program,…start typing,…oh! and,…..that picture YOU,put up on Geneva?? telling about where you parked,..etc and explaining,the best you could, how you,remembered it?? Now THAT,picture was great^^ i think i stared at it for a hour,or so,…i did,reconize the diff., buildings etcetc.like it was yesterday. I still,think its a crying shame they tore all that down!!! geeshhhh!!…They offered a lot of different job training,and,noone was ever “lashed” or tied,down,in chairs for punishment etc. etc. i think sometimes ,some folks, like to add some made up drama to,stories about,Geneva. The worse part,of being incarserated there,was just being homesick.I was always a lil on the wild side,and never took anything,from anybody,…id fight,at the drop offa hat,so,.if anyone deserved a “lashing”, trust me,…that wouldve been me..Never happened,….never heard of it happining,to anyone else,either. So,lets give the Devil,its due…it just,wasnt,that bad. I,personally,think,we need places like Geneva,….especially nowadays….for wayward teens,…of course theres always,exceptions to the rules,..and those lil 11 and 12 yr.old girls definetly,shouldnt have ever……been sent there. ok,just wantted to get my 2 cents in,…..i think,.i gotta whole dollors worth,tho..lol………..ty for hearing me out sweet lady,.as always,..Marilyn
- #10 | Written by Cherie Bombell on July 27, 2011. Reply
  
  I’m not so sure others would agree that places like Geneva should exist, Marilyn. Maybe a place for abusive parents would be more appropriate and effective! Thanks for sharing your memories from the 50s, Marilyn. I don’t know anyone else that has experence of Geneva from that far back. I really appriecate you writing it all down for us.
- #11 | Written by Sharon Randall on February 8, 2015. Reply
  
  Marylyn ~ Geneva was different when i was there ~ and i definitely did not have the picnic that you seemed to have found there lol ~ Geneva changed administators at least twice in the 5 years i spent growing up there [both of whom ran the place completely differently] and even without reading all the stories i can tell you that some very bad things happened there during my time ~ i am sixty one and not about anyones drama deary ~ i had good and bad experiences in Geneva ~ and i WAS put into full restraints on several occasions for fighting and for trying to escape ~ just because you didnt see it happen does not mean it is not true ~ we fighters were put into restraints in a part of Geneva which we referred to as the UNiT [solitary confinment] ~ which were the cells beneath oak cottage ~ i remember it like it was yesterday ~ if oak cottage was there in the 50s then so was the unit and you would be familiar with it as well if you were a fighter ~ having said that ~ there were girl in Geneva who only had short stays and maybe there stay was not as bad as some ~ and managed to leave Geneva unscathed ~ good for you ~ happy you do not have the lifelong scars that place has given me ~ peace and love ~ Sharon
  - #12 | Written by Linda Tart on August 15, 2015. Reply
    
    Sharon, I am sorry for you bad experience in Geneva. Yes, I do remember the unit but I did not know where it was. I got into a fight there but I was put in my room for a couple of days, I never tried to escape but I had several friends that tried. They were caught and place in the unit. They said it was just a mattress on the floor, with a toilet and wash basin.
    I can only speak for myself, but Geneva was much better then being at “home.” Three square meals, clean clothes, education, recreation, social workers, WORK, friends, it was great for me.
  - #13 | Written by Cathleen Heerman on April 2, 2017. Reply
    
    Sharon I am doing research for the family of Renea Dennis who just passed at age 60, Did you happen to know her? She may have used last name of Compton or Hightower. She was a tiny black girl, She was very secretive about her life and her daughters just want to know more about their mother.

Cherie Livett Bombell

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