But did you know that 'Green Acres' was also the name of the Lorain County children’s home?
According to a history page on www.childrenservices.org, “In 1898, the voters approved a measure authorizing the Commissioners to build a children’s home.
“The Commissioners purchased 15 acres (at the corner of Oberlin Rd. and E. College St.) for $3675, and the Green Acres Children’s Home was built at a total cost of $32,500.
“Three siblings, ages 6, 8, and 12, were the first children placed there on August 4, 1900. 445 children had been admitted in the first 10 years. 411 of them were subsequently placed elsewhere. Family breakdown was the main reason for placements. A few were orphans, but most were placed due to "drunkenness or infidelity” of parents. The original Children’s Home was capable of housing 65 children at any given time, and during World War II there were as many as 100 housed at a time. The garden, poultry, and fruit trees were depended upon to help feed the children, and the children provided much of the labor to keep them going, and heating fuel was provided by two gas wells on the property.
“In 1969, with a campaign of “Once in 70 Years” the voters approved a special levy to replace the old Green Acres Children’s Home with a modern one."
The article at the top of this post, which appeared in the Journal on Feb. 3, 1971, notes that the new children’s home would provide 18 additional beds for children between the age of 6 and 18.
It’s interesting to see an actual photo of the original Green Acres Children’s Home after hearing about it for so long.
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By the 1990s, it was no longer cost-effective to operate Green Acres, and according to www.childrenservices.org, the facility was becoming too impersonal and lacking in the home atmosphere that children need. The facility closed in 1995 and was returned to the County Commissioners.
The city of Oberlin acquired the former Green Acres Children’s Home site in 2011 and contracted for the demolition of the buildings in order to redevelop the property.
19 comments:
Welcome back Dan.
Hope everything went well. I remember passing Green Acres on our way to Oberlin, and wondering what it was like to live there.
Thanks for the welcome back and other good wishes left on the previous post. The situation has improved, hope to get back to normal here!
Welcome back Dan - my coffee tasted better this morning thanks to you! Todd
Thanks, Todd!
Welcome back!!!
Hi, Dan - Belated welcome back!
Thanks, Buster!
Welcome back! I was So happy to see this today! I’ve been enjoying some past posts.
Amy
Thanks, Amy! I appreciate it!
I will never forget this hell hole were are my records thede house parents beat.the living hell out of us
I was here for almost a yr. My brother died and neither of my parents wanted me and my other brother! I hated there! I liked a few house parents but others I avoided! I honestly felt like I was in prison!
It was like prison we were locked in dorms. No privacy 3-4 kids in a room sometimes more. Definitely not a place to be like the tv show
I live at green achers from 1963 to 1969
With 6 of my siblings...we were all treated with care. We did have some house parents that were abusive.but they were put out by Director Keplinger.we were fed and clothed housed and educated. My whole life changed because of this place.
I’m not sure when you were there but I spent 10 months there in 1974. We were allowed to play outside whenever, got 3 meals, a snack before bed, had field trips and talent contest, skateboarded on the front sidewalks etc.. I cannot remember the married couples names who were house parents but they were great, did I get spanked when I was a little Sh*t yes. I loved hanging out with all the other kids.
Nick and Janice were the Parents, just came to me.
I was placed in Green Acers Children’s Home in 1963. I was 7 years old. At that time there was 15 boy’s between the ages 13 to 17 on the first floor & 15 boy’s between the ages 7 & 12 on the second floor. If I’m not mistaken I think Denver Keplinger was the director of Green Acers Children’s Home. I don’t remember who the house parents were but they really enjoyed smacking us around. I can go on & on about that place. It was a hell hole & destroyed a lot of young people’s life’s.
I was there in 74-75. Nick and Janice were the best thing to happen there. I saw them a few times after I left, but lost track of them. The Nichols were the worst! He was creepy and she beat kids with a race track! We had chores and we received an allowance on Saturday, where we would walk to Ben Franklins and buy penny candy. We had lots of activities and outings. The stigma of living there was hard, as kids at school make fun of us. We made our way and grew thick skin. I think about the kids I spent time with there and hope to maybe to cross paths again.
I wasn’t aware of the history, thank you. Would love see photos of the three winged modernized home that I attended.
I was a two time resident. Years 80-82 age 12- 14, with an attempted foster home in between. We had many freedoms and also rules for conduct. This home used a 1-5 level system at the time. Both while in the coed Jr. dorm and Sr. Girls dorm, most of us walked to and attended public school. Glorious! I loved it! Many did not.😁
As with any living situation as this, problems are bound to arise. Structure, meals, clean comfortable living spaces and plenty of recreation were the biggest parts of it. Laundry was taken care of and there were morning chores divvied for all to attend to.
Yes, in the senior dorm there was one bedroom that held at least 4 girls. All others used were 1-2.
I saw zero beatings! Of course there was always a degree of mischief, drama and squabbles for students and sometimes staff.
For the most part, it was a safer place to live until future plans could be found. Some did not do as well with structured living. It was not intended to be of permanence, rather a stepping stone. When longer terms were needed that is when the OVCH (Ohio Veterans Childrens Home) came into play. Mainly for those that became wards of the state. More and more it became a catch all for the purely unruly. I don’t know, maybe they were trying to keep the numbers down in detention homes or didn’t act swiftly enough.
I think it’s rather unfortunate that this option of institutional living for children have been diminished in our state. The need remained prevalent.
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