Haven’t wanted to blog about Gatesville in the last several months, since a recent trip to the aria numbed me to the subject. It’s a nice ride south on 35 out of Dallas then back roads from Lake Whitney through the prairies of North Texas into the hills of the northern part of the Edwards plateau. From Crawford Texas it’s a nice hilly swervy road, the Coryell road. This is the road that ran alongside Valley School and diapered into the hills up by the caliches pit. The state put in a Hwy 36 bypass to keep traffic from rolling through the facility on Hwy 36. There is a store at the corner of that road and the bypass. We parked at the store over looking Terrace and Sycamore schools, you could see boot hill down the road. It was creepy. It’s a big TDC complex now, lots of boss’s coming in and out of the store.
There appeared to be a heaviness that overcame me as we were parked at the store. I just shrugged it off as internal weirdness from seeing that place again after 35 years. Later that night the group I was traveling with spoke about how we all had that heavy feeling, from the time we rolled up to the store and especially at the museum to see the state school exhibit, until we left town. We chalked it up to a spiritual darkness that each person with me said they could feel in their very soul. The people with me had never been near this place and yet they could feel that this is a bad place where bad things were allowed to happen to orphans. This town of Gatesville whose people whose ancestors built their wealth on the blood of state boys continues to thrive on the misery of others. This central Texas town, whose claim to fame is the spur capital of Texas cries out with the blood of orphans and widows.
The real history of Gatesville Texas is its 120 year legacy dispensing misery and pain to orphans and widows.
I felt that same way ( the place reaks of evil)when I drove past it back in 1977 I could'nt stop I was with my wife now of 36years and 3year old daughter. I made it out of on parole trap till your 21. I'll relate at another time
ReplyDeleteThis is a great site I also started a site on Face Book at (Gatesvile tyc )it would be nice to have these sites linked together as face book is becoming more popular.
ReplyDeleteCan understand the "heaviness" you guys experienced when you did your trip to Gatesville. I'm headed to Wimberley/Austin Feb 28-March 4 for the first time since I was held there at the private, Meridell-owned, facilty as a 12 yr old girl. Just the thought of it is heavy alright. Not having much luck finding people who knew about it, but Ken Wooden's book helped to better understand the extent of the corruption. I'll be alone for the trip since it seemed too hard to share the experience with friends who didn't go through it. Although I'm not not sure what I'll find at Wimberley, but I know what was taken from me there. Your blog and the words of the survivors helped to give me strength. Thank you for sharing these painful stories and for the light you are shining on this darkness. You guys are awesome. P
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who was in a facility near Wimberly. Was it co-ed? His name is Mitch.
DeleteHe was there around 68-70 ish.
Did you know Mr. Robert G. Drake? Doing A short Documentary on him. Would like to know what kind of person he was. djpistola2002@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteThanks.
THERE WAS THIS THING CALLED STATE TALK,,, DOES ANY ONE REMEMBER THAT! THE SAYINGS MEANT TO DOWN SOMEBODYS MAMA , OR THEIR RACE ,OR THE WAY THEY MIGHT WALK, ALL PUT THESE COLORED BOYS IN A WEIRD MOOD . IT WAS KIND OF LIKE THEY WERE SPEAKING A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE BUT IT WAS ENGLISH, HERE GOES ( YOU CHOKE YOUR ASS. MY BALLS TO YOUR JAWS ,FREEWORLD DROP . YOUR MAMA IS A FREEWORLD DROP. A CIGARETT WAS CALLED A STRAIT , ASK FOR SECUNDAS , WHICH MEANT SECONDS ON A CIGARETT , OR THIRD SHOT ALL THESE SAYINGS CAME WITH THINGS TO DO OR SAY TO CAUSE DISCOMFORT AND UN EASYNESS ABOUT BEING THERE ESPEACIALY WHITE KIDS ,BUT THEY PLAYED THIS GAME OF TORMENT TOO. IF YOU HAD TO RUN BECAUSE OF BECOMEING HOOKED -UP YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO KISS THE FREEWORLD GROUND . THAT WOULD UN HOOK YOU .( WHAT BULLSHIT) THESE KIDS PLAYED ON EACH OTHER AND WHO HELD THE (G) THAT WAS THE TOUGHEST OF THAT RACES GROUP .
ReplyDeleteABOUT THE TIME STAR TREK FIRST STARTED THAT SERIES IN 1966, I WAS AT THE VALLEY UNIT IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE ACERAGE THAT THE STATES SCHOOL SITS. I WAS IN GEORGIA HALL . A NEW MAN COLORED, NAMED MR. FINLEY . TO DISCIPLINE SOME OF THE YOUNGEST BOYS THAT HOUSED IN THIS DORM . FINLEY WOULD PRACTICE HIS JUDO CHOPS ON THE BACKS OF ANYONE WHO GOT IN TROUBLE , LIKE FALLING OUT OF FORMATION OR NOT KEEPING UP IN LINE GOING TO THE MESSHALL. OR TALKIN OUT OF T PLACE OR WHAT EVER TRIVIAL REASON TO HAVE THE EXCUSE TO PUT A HURTING ON ONES BACK . WHAT A FRICKIN JERK. THIS WAS CLEARLY TORTURE . AND FOR AND ADULT TO DO THIS TO A JUVENILE, FOR AMUSEMENT IS APPAULING .ESPEACIALLY AS A CORRECTIONAL METHOD .
ReplyDeletei visited Gatesville back in 2000. I visited the museum, and drove up and saw Valley School and some of the other schools. Some things just remain the same. the same buildings are still there. It was my first time back since 1971. I got a bad feeling about the area. i felt depressed and uncomfortable. That place screwed my head up.
ReplyDelete