“Orphans Learning Crafts”
On the previous article “Schedule – page 5” – I was saying – that I had old “Newspaper Clippings” and this is one of the “BOYS” in their learning craft class with Sister M. Michael.
Sister M. Michael was one of the NUNS – who won the hearts of most of the “ORPHANS” – she was a “FUN” person to be with and – I know that she also liked both of my brothers – very much! I know that my brother Denny visited her when he was living in Illinois – and Sister M. Michael moved back to the Mother House in Wilmette, Illinois.
Sister M. Michael was the NUN who was with the children on the Boys Side Dining Room at Dinner time, twelve-noon. There were three rows of tables – and the first table as you enter the room was assigned to the Porter Family – this row of tables is down and along the inside of the building. Skip the middle row and the third row of tables down and along the outside (front of building) wall – the first table was the McClarren Family table.
Gail Porter was and still is my very good friend – but when we were at St.Vincent’s – we would always have so much to say – and sometimes when Sister Michael wanted silence from everybody – seems that Gail and I would always have so much more to say and would continue talking across the tables which Sister Michael did not like that! “Not at all!” So, one day she said – “You two will still be talking – 40 years after you are both dead and buried!” I got such a “KICK” out of Sister Michael saying that – that I just could never forget her saying that to us. I’m guessing – she just may have been a little upset with – Gail and me?
P.S. Guess Gail and I should know – where each-other plans on being buried? How in the world will – we be able to continue talking? Sometimes – when someone makes a statement like that – that turns out to be true – and all without knowing – what in the world – is – anyone talking about???
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Schedule – page 5
There is one thing that any “old timer” – that would be me a “GRANDMA” – takes note of today – and that is – that you do not see the young girls of today learning to do embroidery, crocheting and I do not believe that any one uses a “SEWING MACHINE” – I’ll bet “sewing” is not taught in “HIGH SCHOOL” – like when I went to school? What about the young boys – are they learning “Wood-Working” and do they have a “Shop” class – or a “Hands-on” – something so the boys have a variety of “CRAFTS” other than just the “BOOK” knowledge?
So, on the “MONDAY” schedule – while the girls were into all phases of sewing – the “BOYS” also at the same time were in the assigned rooms on the boys-side of the building to learn “WOOD” working and a whole variety of “CRAFTS” – making many things from almost nothing – but into something beautiful and useful and everything that was made – was for “SALE!”
My brothers were making different items and one of the very first – were bottles that could have been trashed – but with a fancy way of multi-color paint – this bottle is turned into something collectible and useful and then to make it a real work of “ART” – added some foliage! There were some plants on the Orphan Home property that grew into a fan-type of spray – I do not know the name of this plant but every once in awhile you will see them and – they just look like a huge vase of flowers – planted in the ground. The stem is very tall and strong with the plumage waving so graceful in the wind – just looks elegant to view. As these grow they are a tan-bamboo color – so, the boys had cut these in different lengths and arrange these in the vase that they have prepared.
When they have the size and number of pieces needed for their individual vase – take them to a place prepared for the painting. Some were done in a multi-color effect and some were done in solid colors – so that you would end up with – a “MASTERPIECE” and these were – since my Mother and my Aunt Irene Riley bought several of these “MASTERPIECES!”
In my collection of newspaper clippings that I have – will post pictures of the boys in their different “CRAFT –CLASSES” and my brothers are in those pictures – that’s why I have saved them all these many years. Seems – to me – if you save some stuff – someday you will use it. I’m “Grateful and THANKFUL” that everything new and exciting in LIFE has had a very beneficial use – just for me. Just goes to show that if you live long enough – save a lot of stuff – someday you and the whole world will get “news” of it and or “read” about “IT!”
Also, in the news clippings – there are pictures of my brothers – building their soapbox for the races that were held in Forest Park, Saint Louis, Missouri and all was sponsored by the Chevrolet Company. I sometimes wonder if anybody ever thinks to give some of the “COMPANIES” a “THANK YOU” for all of the wonderful charity work that they do for Orphans and Widows. With that said – and if it is not too late – we, the “McClarren Family” – give a special “THANK YOU” to all those who give so generously!!! (MORE TOMORROW!!!)
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Schedule – page 4
What I remember most of the time when in the Orphanage – and, I’m betting that anyone that was there, for any period of time – would agree – that you did not need a wrist watch to know what time it was at any time of the day – or even what is the day in that week. Meals were always at the exact same time of day and the very same type of meal was on that particular day each week. Where you were and exactly what you were scheduled to do – you did the very same each week – for six months. A few changes in where you would be working each 6 months – were so easily put in place – that the schedule really stays the same.
So, when dinner is completed in one half hour – we all stand and stay the same after meals prayer and leave toward the playrooms – and those that had the chore of working in the “DINING ROOMS” would immediately report there as well as the workers for the Kitchen and Bakery. All others would be in the playroom for a short time and getting ready for school – which would be starting at 1:00 PM – we would all be dressed in our school uniforms – in our two by two column – in the Playroom – before leaving for school – a short prayer first and then we march quietly to the Classrooms – which were on the – Boys Side of the building and on the second floor. Four rooms – each room held two grades – immediately at the top of the stairs on the left was the 7th and 8th grades and teacher, Sister Gilbert – next on the left was the 3rd ad 4th classroom and teacher, Sister Florence – coming up the stairs and on the right was the 5th and 6th grades classroom and teacher, Sister Alvira – there was also a small corridor off your right and going down there – past the area for Sister Alvira’s classroom – would be the 1st and 2nd grades classroom and teacher, Sister Damien, whose classroom is where I was first placed and began the first of my seven, long years – just starting – in the second grade – in 1945
If this were a MONDAY – the girls would stay in the PLAYROOM on Mondays only and from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM would learn to do needlework. Sister Columba, who also was the NUN in charge of taking care of the Chapel area and making the HOST for Communion – and she also took care of the linens for the alter and all those garments that needed very fine and detailed sewing. I should say she had an eye for perfection – in all things – this I know because when I first started doing the sewing on Monday afternoons – she had made start with a “CROSS Stitch” – a learning piece, which I had to rip out some of the stitches so many times that I soon got the idea – do it exactly as she wants it done – or keep on redoing and redoing!
In the first couple years of learning how to do embroidery work and crocheting – some of the “items” that I made were purchased by my Mother and my Aunt Irene Riley. These items – that they bought – I inherited and still have and all I can say is – that they still look beautiful – and I am very glad to have these items now – for myself and to be able, also – leave to the next generation! Everyone knows that the items that are made by hand “out last” anything “STORE” bought. To learn – to do these creative things to make with your own hands – when you are very young – are lessons that you will never forget and can always be able to make the “BEST OF BEST” gifts at any time you want! (More good information to come!)
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Schedule – page 3
It is now – NOON TIME – and everyone is in their correct Dining Room. So, on a Sunday – we could be having meat-loaf, mash potatoes and string beans and piece of bread and cup of water on Mondays – (have to try to remember) – on Tuesdays – we had what they (NUNS) called stew? This was one meal that none of the children would call stew, on Mondays the Nun in charge of Church, would make Communion on the special machine to make unleavened bread. She would use another machine to make the round “HOST” – and after making would have excess cut-out material and some of the unbaked dough – which was sent down to the “KITCHEN” – and this is the good part. In the KITCHEN – they made some kind f a “WHIE BROTH” and included these scrapes from Church and added sliced half-inch hot-dogs – and this was called “STEW!” Kids like hot-dogs and so we could hardly complain – as that was the dinner meal at NOON each week!
Wednesday and Thursday cannot think of anything special – one must remember – I was a small child back then – sixty years ago? But – now on Friday s – we have the same “Whit Fish” -mash potatoes and string beans. The vegetables could change – there was corn, peas, and string beans – but since the girls would peel potatoes, 10 buckets full – each day after getting out of school – potatoes were an everyday item! Every Saturday, you could set your watch at 12-NOON -dinner time was “Spaghetti” – standard – no change!
For – New Year’s – Christmas and Thanksgiving Days – the older girls working in the Kitchen would de-feather and clean fresh Turkeys, which were baked in the Bakery Oven. They were de-boned and all of the meat for the children was broken up and put into gravy – which you would receive on your plate with mash potatoes and string beans. No one really liked the Turkey all torn up in such size pieces – it was hard to think that – that was a Turkey Dinner – but with time you learn to accept – that which you get – as if there was an alternative – maybe you would be getting nothing? And “WHO” likes notating at all?
The reason I could not think what we had on MONDAY – WEDNESDAY and THURSDAY – was – because those were meals I could not eat at all! We had Butter Beans, Navy Beans and Sauer Kraut – and those foods made me sick. So, I was “LUCKY” that my brother, Denny liked everything. So I would say to Denny, -“Your friend over there is trying to get your attention” and as soon as he would look away – I would take my fork and push almost all of the food that I did not like on to his plate! Sometimes – I would get away with that – and then there were times – he didn’t want any part of what I was trying to do? So, in that case when the NUN, that was in charge and waking around was not near our table – I would just push a small amount in this direction and that – but away from our table! Some of the other kids were doing the same thing – with what they did not like. I still do not like Butter Bears and Sauerkraut and do like Navy Beans in a pot of soup with a nice meaty ham bone. Black beans and rice – I can eat today –because over the years – have read that they are good for you – and also one cancels out the other. By eating them together – you do not gain any weight? (More excitement, tomorrow!)
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Schedule – page 2
Could you say – that you said some prayers before and after your meals??? Of all the good things that we were taught – it was to say prayers – so I’m guessing that the Almighty did hear our prayers and I believe that 95% of all the children that left Sr. Vincent’s Home were able to make a good life for themselves and their families – as I am one that has seen answer to prayer!
Everyone had some assigned chore to do and at a designated place in the HOME – and your assignment lasted six (6) months and then you would report to another NUN and be told what – you would be expected to do? So, if you were assigned to the third floor – where the dormitories were under the direction of Sister Seraphine on the girl’s side – and under Sister Michael on the boy’s. Several children had this assignment and one person would be assigned to each of the dormitories and someone to the corridor area and to the Clothing Room. You would use one of the Floor -MOP-Duster’s – to reach under each and every bed in your area – collecting dust and anything that had dropped on the floor – then take and shake it out – put back in its designated area and then some of the assigned – would clean the bathrooms and sinks that were used during the night – then dusting and making sure each and every bed in your dormitory was perfectly made – just in case “Visiting Outsiders” decided to take a look through the building.
Each floor had different types of jobs to do done – so wherever you were assigned to be – you went there after Church and before your breakfast and again after breakfast – before school – which started at 9:00 AM – by then you would be done. If you were done before school started – you would return to the PLAY ROOM and get yourself dressed for school and go to your classroom – and if you did not know your lesson in “Religion” – you could try to finish learning it – so that you could recite it before class started at 9:00 am – before everyone was really paying attention to what you were saying – just in case you really needed more time to learn. There are things that – as a Catholic – you need to learn – put to memory – so as not to forget – so therefore – each grade you were in – you had new lessons – in your Religion!
Around 10:30 AM we would leave the classrooms as the girls go to the girls side and boys to their side of the playground for “Recess Time” – one child would run to the Bakery , where – Sister Augustella would have a very large basket full of do-nuts or cut pieces of cake or hot-cross buns – and if nothing special – each child would receive a slice of “Raisin Bread!” – In the afternoon – there would be a “Recess Time” – and again we would have the same basket of treats – with an exact count – so that each child received – one per child.
Maybe – ten minutes before NOON – we would leave the classrooms for the Play Rooms – to change into our play clothes – and those that had the chore to work in the Kitchen – Bakery and Dining Rooms would run to their designated area as fast and do what they needed to do? – Just minutes before NOON the rest of the children would form the two by two columns and pray the “Angelus” – then go as we did for Breakfast – to your assigned dining room for Dinner! (And we will continue from here – next time.)
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“What kind of “Schedule” did the ORPHANS have?”
While I was writing about some of the “GOOD OLD DAYS” at the Orphanage – I was asked by someone – “what kind of food and or meals did you have and when did you start your day?” This came across to me as something that maybe more people would like to know about – as there just are not too many “ORPHANS” around from the Orphanage – that is from the 1940s and 1950s – only a good handful that I Know – that are still living!
Since this was a Catholic and German Orphanage – there were very strict rules and punishments that would follow for a variety of offences – so at whatever your age – you soon were keeping your eyes open and your mouth shut! For everything that would happen – at the specified time of the day – there was a “BELL RINGER” – so, to start the day that “NUN” rang the “BELL” at 5:30 AM – and immediately – everyone was getting out of their beds and in each dormitory you were saying the standard morning prayers – as you were making your bed. You would as fast as you could make your way down three flights of steps to the “WASH ROOM” – there were 24 sinks in the center of the room and around the wall – you would find the hook with your number above it and your wash cloth and hand towel – getting ready for CHURCH.
Each child had a place to sit at one of the 10-foot long picnic tables in the “PLAY-ROOM” – at your designated spot – you would finish getting your hair combed and dressed into the school uniform that was worn for school and Church. All other times you would change into some play clothes that you would hang very carefully in your designated locker – which you would have for a six-month time frame – as all locker changes were made in September and February In the month of June when the “Graduates for that year would leave the Home have taken all of their things out and now are leaving lots of lockers empty – the children would now move their private belongings down the line to the newly vacated lockers by the previous class of children – who were lucky to leave!.
Just a few minutes before six o’clock – the children would form into a two by two column –all saying a certain prayer aloud and then march quietly down the corridor and then up to the second floor and file in to the Chapel and into their designated seat and kneel down. At six o’clock sharp – Mass would start and lasted one half hour. After the Mass – the reverse of what we did so – and to the “PLAY-ROOM – and now we would all change to our play clothes and run as fast as you can to the designated area for you to work – until it was time for all the children to return to the PLAY-ROOM to file into and to the “DINING ROOM for you and your family – at your designated and assigned table for all your meals.
If your family had as the eldest in the family a girl – your family all went to the “GIRL’S Dining room and the same for If a boy was the eldest – your family all went to the BOY’S Dining room. This is the same procedure for all meals – Dinner at twelve noon sharp – and Supper at 6:00 PM and we did not get to the good part – what did we have for the meals???
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