In the 1880 the Texas state prison had an interesting problem, what to do with the convicts to sick, lame or old to work in the convict leasing farms. Prison officials figured they could make as much per convict with state run farms then lease farms. They did, $500.00 per convict verse $175.00 per convict lease annually. So good was the profit in 1877 Texas Legislators agreed to purchase more land for state run farms and one of the first purchases was outside of Gatesville. The surveyor reported back to Austin; it’s a most beautiful valley suitable for raising cotton and food crops and the town is eager to supply workers. August 30 1887 a story in the Dallas Morning News “Gatesville Triumph, Reformatory for vicious boys to open”. Right from the start the reform school was stigmatized with vicious boys who will provide free farm labor for the state and surrounding farms. A far cry from what the Victorian reformers had in mind.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatesville_State_School
After 90 years of scandal the doors finely shut on Gatesville’s house of pain and the facility was turned over to the Texas Department of Corrections. Today TDCJ houses female offenders in our old schools and among the well known stories that are told; the spirits of the little boys who are still there.
http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/mediasvc/connections/SeptOct2005/features3_v13no1.html
So common is the talk of the essence of former inmates of that place, the Little Boys, that while visiting a female offender, she turned to the guard walking by, and referred to me as one of the little boys. The look on the guards face and her response said it all. The guard responded, we all know how rough it was for you, it appears you are doing all right?” There I was, in the converted bunk room of dorm 10 at Mountain View, a living member of a legacy etched in the prison lore of Christina Crain Unit, a member of Gatesville’s Little Boys.
I WAS IN GATESVILLE , AUG 12 TH 1966 TO FEB 12 TH 1969 WHILE I WAS THERE I WITNESSED A LOT OF CHILD ABUSE . THAT I WAS COMLPETELY TERRIFFIED OF THESE DORM MEN , SOME OF WHO WERE PROTECTING US OF ONE ANOTHER WERE ACUALLY ABUSING US FOR THEIR OWN ENTERTAINMENT. I LOOK BACK ON THIS TODAY , THESE PEOPLE SHOULD OF BEEN INDICTED CRIMINALY.I WITNESSEDSONE THINGS THAT MOST KIDS THEREB TRIED TO FORGET
ReplyDeletePlease visit my web site www.tammieghenderson.com. My fiance' was in Gatesville from 1968 to 1971 and I wrote a book about his life called "Beyond A Battered Life" subtitle: Gatesville to God. It just released 2/7/2012 and is available to purchase through barnesandnoble.com or amazon.com. I am a first time author and looking any anyone that was in Gatesville around this time to share their story with me.
Deleteoh get over it, its been a long time ago
DeleteMy name is Ms. D. I was a resident of the Mountainview Correctional Facility back in 1992. I served my time. While I was a resident at the Mountainview Facility, I experienced a spirit of a child and so did several other women who were also residents. They're called sleep walkers and they talk to you. My little spirit's name was Chad. He said he had been waiting for me, and I was his Savior, and then it began to sing the song Where Have All the Flowers Gone. I'm starting film school soon. My new and upcoming film.
DeleteI was in Gatesville State School for Boys around 1972 to 1974 not sure of the year but around that time. I was at Terrece dorm 5
DeleteI was sent there at 15 years old for skipping school and burglarized a motel to have a place to sleep. I was told I was only going away for 3 months but every 3 months they review your case. Each time I would get 3 more months. I stayed there close to 15 months before I was released. I was a cook in the kitchen and worked my way up to head cook. I learned to defend my self so guys would pick on me for sure. I held G over all of Terrece and what that means is your the guy not to pick a fight with. The staff could be good but could also put you in check real fast too. Did I learn anything. Yes I did. I'm 63 now and been married 44 years with a great life and kids and grandchildren.
If you look at the map real good at the live oak school you can see evidence of a side walk what once came out of B company , it was a brick building by itself, i used to replant birds of paridise on the sides of the walkway before it became a women prison and put up fences everywhere
ReplyDeleteIs B company the building in front of the old chow hall? I had upholstry shop in the day room of that building. Wasnt that a black school back then?
ReplyDeleteyes
DeleteMICHAEL SCHWINN;;; ( B ) COMPANY - LIVEOAK IS THE BRICK BUILDING TWO STORIES HIGH IN THE CENTER OF THE LIVE OAK GROUNDS ,THERE IS A SIDEWALK COMING IN AT AN ANGLE THAT ALSO ENDS UP IN THE HILLTOP SCHOOL. THAT SIDEWALK ENDS AT THE FRONT OF THAT BUILDING ABOUT 25 YARDS FROM THE ROAD ITSELF. THE MAP OF ALL THE SCHOOLS ARE LISTED ON THE ANOTHER PAGE OF THIS SITE. LIVE OAK IS ALSO NEXT TO RIVERSIDE SCHOOL, F.Y.I. LIVEOAK WAS ONCE THE OLD RIVERSIDE WHEN IT WAS ALL COLORED !...AND MR. HAYNES WAS THE EVENING DORM ATTENDANT IN THE WEEK DAYS ALL OF 1968 & BLUM IN THE MORNING IN THE WEEK DAYS.
ReplyDeleteYEA ,MR.ROY BLUM , HIM AND I KIND OF MADE FRIENDS ,I SAT NEXT TO THE FRONT DESK IN (B)COMPANY LIVEOAK IN THE MORNING. BLUM" WE CALLED HIM ,WAS COOL , MAN DID HE EVER LOVE THAT FUCKING STOGEE THOUGH . MOST OF US HAD REAL GOOD TOBACCO HABITS , AND WE KIND OF KNEW IT TOO. AND SO DID THE MAN !TO GET CRUMBED ON A WEEKEND WAS BRUTAL ( THAT MEANT THE WHOLE DORM WASNT ALLOWED TO SMOKE) EVEN IF THERE WAS PROBLEM FROM A DIFFERENT SHIFT THE PUNISHMENT I REMEMBER STILL CARRIED ON INTO ANOTHER MANS SHIFT HED INFORM THE EVENING THAT THIS DORM WAS ON CRUMB. WHAT WAS WORSE IF YOU ( FARTED MR. HAYNES MAKE THE WHOLE DORM PULL GRASS OR SHINE THE FUCKIN FLOOR WITH TWO OLD PEACES OF BLUE JEAN I USED TO ASK MY SELF BACK THEN ( WHY DID THESE PEOPLE HATED ME AS A WHITE KID SO MUCH . JUST BECAUSE I WAS WHITE , I MEAN THE DORM MEN , ONE DAY THEY HATED ME, AND DOWN THE ROAD A FEW WEEKS IM PLAYIN DOMINOES WITH THESE COLORED DORM MAN , GATESVILLE STATE SCHOOLS YOU ROBBED A LOT OF KIDS OF AN EDUCATION IT SEEMS TO ME ON PURPOSE. BUT WHY?
ReplyDeletethe guy who was in from aug. 12 1966 to Feb. 12 1969, just wondering if you might have known him, Ronnie Bumgarner is his name, from Amariilo, Tx.. Respond if you dont mind, thank ya.
ReplyDeleteI must say I did hear that last name before BUMGARNER,
Deletei have pictures off a bunchh of guys with my dad u mite know a lot of them
DeleteAnybody reading this i would like to know if you was on Dorm 4 at the Terrace unit from 1967 to 1968.A guy named Roger Ryles and i escape one night ,The clothes room guys staged a fight and the dorm men went to the clothes room and we both took off out the door because he forgot to lock the door that he had opened to let the mop room boy go to get the mops from outside.We got away that night but got caught the next by the dogs halfway between Gatesville and Waco.If you remember this make a comment.
ReplyDeletemy dad was in that dorm his name is joe escamilla
Deletei was in dorm 2 1n 1969 at the terrace facility. mr. Duddley was the morning man and if you fucked with him and he caught you, he put you against the BOX , that was an electrical pannel box , he'd grab you by the ears and slam your head against it . that would wake you up .and give you a head ach, the rest of the day. what a negro asshole . he too sucked on those stogees . and call you names
ReplyDeleteI was on dorm 5 in 71 or 72 Mayberry, and Clark were the coolest dorm men. I was head cook and served 15 months and held G over Terrece
Deletedoes any one remember Donald dagget he was sent to the MOUNTAIN VEIW facility in 1967 from the well known ADJUSTMENT CENTER up on the hilltop, or lock-up....
ReplyDeleteMy name is Tammie G Henderson, fiance' to Melvin Long that was an inmate in Gatesville at Hilltop from 1969 to 1972. I have written a book about his life including his time in Gatesville called "Beyond A Battered Life" subtitle: Gatesville to God. You can read more about it at my web site www.tammieghenderson.com or you can purchase the book at TatePublising.com. I have a link on my web site that will take you directly to where you can order the book. It talks a lot about what happened to him while he was in Gatesville. I am thinking about writing another book depicting stories from other inmates that were in Gatesville. If interested please email me at henderson_tammie@yahoo.com .
ReplyDeleteI was on Terrece dorm 5 for 15 months in 1971 to 1972
DeleteMy dad was in one of the units there in Gatesville in 1968 I was trying to see if anyone that was there during that time might know him,his name was Wiley Dale Boone
ReplyDeleteMan i had forgot about that place till i looked it up on the net,i was surprised to see all the articles on it,i was at LaLoma(Hilltop) 3/69-8/70 Oklahoma ll and man it was a trip,do y'all remember these guards, Mr.Rutherford, Mr.Sparks,Mr.Miller, Mr.Blum, and Mr.Austin he would throw a softball at ur head if u went to sleep in the day room while watching TV, it was funny if u weren't on the receiving end lol,plus all the kitchen help was in our dorm so when they brought fried chicken he would pick the pieces then hand out the rest, all the other guards would throw it away, assholes!!!! but them cooks could make a bad ass peach cobbler, even if they told us it was hooked we would still eat it, it was worth the corte(beating on your back) they gave us.i guess it was a fucked up place, but as long as you weren't a punk it was cool.i know you learned how to be a good criminal with all the schooling other dudes gave you lol. the beatings the guards gave u was something else, but what i hated most was polishing the floors squatting down and having your hands in cut up jean pockets, man that was a bitch, i wonder if any of those guards are alive today,our matron was Ms.Hall she was cool as shit and talked to everybody. o well that's some of my story from my time in LA CORRE ,take care carnales
ReplyDeleteMy father in law was there in 1969. I was looking for info about what he might have experienced there and if anyone knew him. His name was Ernest and I believe they called him El Gato.
DeleteI was there in from 62 -65, out of Del Rio, Tx, got the name Snake while I was there got it while trying to low crawl cross the maze field. was in Terrace 1, 2, 4 and 5, when to Hill Top Washington Hall. the guards like to use you as a punching bag. was there when Jerry and Al broke out and stole a guards car and gun,
ReplyDeleteI was on Hilltop Uni in Gatesville,Texas.In 1993 to 2000,.Duing my time there I was abused by many guards .Ms.Jernigan,Ms.Vasquez would. love to tear up bunks becouse she was jelous that her man then Mr.Terry was sexually involved with the female inmates.Ms.Burdiss was a gay bitch.MsTina Donaldson was the same.Warden. Bodkins was a lier.All the black guards would. try and get on my good side to scam me for my money on my books .Hilltop unit was Hell and everytime I try to sleep I'm back in prison.The woman there are crying out for help just live
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteYou must be that inmate that married her wealthy pen pal and his family was upset because you got his estate.They came and visited and had a picture,which didn't match the person they were seeing,but couldn't prove yous the woman was you in the picture.Big thing. Better be quiet.
DeleteBud from Austin. I was in terrace dorm 4 from 66 to 67 I was a counter. Intergration was being implemented so a lot of fighting went down. Was sent to sycamore as a 2 timer in late 68. Ran from there and new warden transferd me to hilltop new York hall. Was a barber therefor afew months ran one night with 2 other barbers. Escaped the dogs and horseback guardsand ran to downtown gatesville. We hid under a house for 2 days then boosted a car and drove to Dallas. Roland one of the guys had said he knew a guy who would put us up.went there but the guy was a freak. Robert called his dad who came and took him home. Roland and I drove to Laredo. We crossed over spent 2 days in boystown. Mexican police started eyeballing us so we crossed back over to drive to Austin and wrecked the car. Cops took us back and put us in the gatesville county jail.my family paid bail and I was out. Went to court there 7 months and received 2yrs probation.
ReplyDeleteHey Bud I think we met several hours before you posted the above post. Nothin like ridin your scooter gettin a number 5 special and a cold beer in the free world in these later days.
DeleteThis is Bud. Dont know if we met before I posted. Did ride my scooter to local bar for dart tourney. However I was some podunk south of houston.
DeleteWell Bud, talk about coincidence I must have met your partner because I heard a similar story from an old state boy up here in Dallas Texas hours before you posted. That’s pretty cool.
DeleteBud I remember that night. I was space ghost.all hell broke looseat bed count. Mr. Ed the night guard had thought you guys were in. The barber guard had forgot that mr. Ed never called to say you 3 guys were in. Big fuckup on their part. All kinds of shit was going around about you 3. We heard ya'll killed the dogs. Then that you raped some women and stole guns and shot at the cops. Then we heard ya'll were caught and sent to ferguson farm at Huntsville.
ReplyDeleteMan I was at Hilltop school from 66 and 67 click click click still doing it out here 68 years old and still a Trucking thanks for the education state of Texas being a good good boy believe it.
ReplyDeleteMan I was at Hilltop school from 66 and 67 click click click still doing it out here 68 years old and still a Trucking thanks for the education state of Texas being a good good boy believe it.
ReplyDeleteI was there in 1985. On the Riverside unit. I worked kitchen/dock, so I had to get up early. There were many many nights I would wake up to the laughter of children. There was a way the guards would wake you up. They aren't suppose to touch you. But you get to know them and they would shake your foot...instead of tapping the bunks. Which would wake your roommate. Well there were several times I was waken by my hand or fingers being pulled. Caused a few arguments with my below bunkmate. Then it got to fingers being pulled and hearing "come play with us were loanly" I thought on top of the stress of being the 2nd youngest woman there. I also got the nickname of surfboy. I thought I was loosing my mind. I talked to my captain in the kitchen. I had been told she was working there back when it was a boys school. She told me about the ghost and the children that were put to rest on that land. She said there was also missing boys that where never found. She retired while I was there, loved and respected by even the hardest & coldest of the woman that were there. It was a horrible place but those ghost believe it or not helped me get thru it. I'm just sorry for what they had to go thru.
ReplyDeleteHello, I am doing research for a book I might co-author.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know much on the men that ran Mountain View?
I think the last name was Morris?
yes the perverted bastard was named mack morris pillar of the commnuty bastist church deacon shiners bigwig by day beater brutal morders of young boys by day.reseach the disappearance of a kid named marice salter in 1971 he and his sidekicks the masseys killed him and another kid they said escaped
Deleteu
I had Mountain Veiw and Gatesville closed , started in 1971 when I was released by then gov. Preston Smith and fed. Judge William Wayne Justice with a full pardon, and then a few years it was closed.
Deletei was also released in 1971. the legal aid society filed suit in judge william waye justine courth and released. the brutal puke mr.massey carried me to court. mine was one of the first cases against the tyc and mountainview.i glad i was released because if we had lost that day i am convinced they would have murdered me benny mitchell
Deletewell unknown i also was released in 1971 by judge william waynejustice and my though's were the same. i'd been murdered. i was only 17 but the next day i ran and joined the army.
DeleteConversations here are mostly men. I entered the prison system at Mountain View in 1990. I had experiences with "the Boys"(ghosts). New there I hadn't heard the ghost stories yet...I used to sleep with a sock over my eyes and earplugs. One night I was laying on my buck after lights out when I was hit solid on the left side of my upper chest. It felt like a hard rubber ball. Not fist like. Ball like. I jumped up pulling the sock up quickly to see what or who hit me. No one was there. Nothing had been thrown at me either. I pulled my earplugs out and heard a whispery childlike giggle. Seeing the dorm boss I went to ask if she'd seen anyone near my cubicle and explained why I asked. She said, Get used to it. It's the boys...' and she told me some stories about the hauntings. I'm sensitive to things, presences and often felt "someone" near me. Once my covers were pulled hard. After a UT I went to Hilltop Unit...Wow! A lot of ghostly things happened there. I was doing a life sentence and having ghosts around seemed...natural because if Texas could keep me I'd die in TDCJ. They tried but failed. TDCJ took over the Boys Schools but continue to abuse inmates. I got there after the Ruiz Ruling changed prison conditions. I'm blessed I wasn't there before the changes started. I became interested in civil law to "try" to help myself and others. I was a jailhouse lawyer. I knew the Boys would of loved having someone help them while their abuse was given at the hands of their "guards", so called "protectors". Abuses will never stop in prisons. I saw plenty...and know the deaths caused by cruel uncaring keepers and medical staff. It's insane! Not all personnel are evil...it's the ones who treat the inmates with kindness that keep inmate casualties to low percentage. After 26yrs I was paroled. I'm a wrongfully convicted person and I'm fighting to get my wrongful conviction overturned. It's not easy for a female to get that help...Yes, I tried the Innocence Project but when they asked for files I sent in an Open Records Act Request and got sued by the district attorney to keep me from getting records.I felt defeated too many times but the spirits of the Boys and determination to to be free kept me strong. I lived through everyday as the story of "Footprints in the Sand" says...He carried me. I am out of prison but I will not be free until I'm exonerted! Horrible people hurt and murdered those Boys but the strengths of their spirits can help others in a living hell be stronger...just be still and listen...a child's laughter will guide you...
ReplyDeleteReading about this place and how they use to treat the boys here makes me sick. My mother is in jail right now in one of these units and she writes letters all the time saying how bad it is there. She has told me a lot of stories but the most interesting one was the one about the children she can hear laughing or the little had prints she finds on the photos of my younger sister and I.
ReplyDeleteMy father was sent there when he was a young man, and it was horrible. He didn't like to speak about it much. The horror and abuse these young men or boys endured is sickening. My father escaped from there on two different occasions. My oldest sister is now housed there many many years later, and my father could not bring himself to go visit her. Because he had escaped on two occasions she had to get special permission for him to come visit because they never changed some of the floor plans. He was still not able to bring himself to walk through the doors of the buildings. My mother went as often as she could, and I know he would have liked to see his eldest daughter but the memories were just to much. It was a horrible place and it ruined many lives. Luckily my father was able to overcome and become a very good man, father, and grandfather, but many young boys were not as fortunate. I pray for all the men or boys who ever were unfortunate enough to be sent there. I pray for my older sister who is housed there now. Best wishes to all
ReplyDeleteMy brother Hayden Brewer, Jr. was there in 1947. His life was totally screwed up the rest of his life. I remember riding the trains to Gatesville with my sister to pick him up after his release.
ReplyDeleteI am looking for Robert "Bobby" Fisher/Fischer that was in there in the 50's. If you have any information please email me at kbonneville0112@gmail.com. Thank You
ReplyDeleteI did time at mountain view from 1995 to 2008. I went in at 16 and was tried as an adult. I was on how squad chopping rock when I uncovered many Graves and young skulls and bodies. As I uncovered them a how squad boss on his horse , gallups to me and runs me over with horse knocks me out. When I come too, I'm chained to a t pole in the hot ass sun by my hands held over my head. Oh do I have stories of that unit.....
ReplyDeleteMy Dad was there in the 50’s Israel Machuca from San Benito he never really talked much about it, maybe some one knew him. He would only say Gaitsville State school for boys or La Corre.
ReplyDeleteMy father was there in 1959-1960
ReplyDeleteHilltop, company Nevada
From Waco,Texas
Name: Julian Marquez
Is there anyone out from that time frame?
Well my story isn't like others on here I was a CO at Riverside 93/94 IV seen and heard the boys playing and talking one pulled on my hair one time and pulled on my foot as I set in highchair in one of the picket about 3am . I stopped working there I was just to compationte to deal with some of the things I saw and heard we are all human no matter what
ReplyDeleteI was at Terrace 4 & 5 in '77-'79. I was sent there for escaping other schools. I escaped one night with two other guys and achieved what every guy dreamed of. I was never caught and turned 18 a free man.This story is much more involved but I got to choose my path. I decided when I was leaving that hell hole. Peace out Big Duke, Mr.T, Mrs. Haywood and Mrs Brown. I'll always admire those dorm mom's and dad's that put up with us.
ReplyDeleteI was here 2001-2004, made it to trusty camp. Place looks like a old western town! Yes, it's haunted, lots of bad stories and I bet more haven't been told. "Pig farm uncovers bones all the time, and once they found a mumified baby in attic of one of previous state school property; fr!
ReplyDeleteI think my father attended here in the 50's or 60's. Family won't talk much about it, but I would like to know more. Is there a list of all the names of boys that attended?
ReplyDeleteGatesville was segregated in the 50`s. Caucasians & Latino`s were on one side of the highway. Blacks on the other.
ReplyDeleteAs I recall we sometimes watched Sat.movies in the school auditorium?
Anybody remember Steven Mangum ? Went to gatesville in the late 60s or 70s ...
ReplyDelete