SCOUTING
FIELD NOTES

Forgotten Ruins in Dobbs Ferry

01/11/2010

At first glance, it would be hard to figure out what this bland modern nursing home…

…has to do with these haunting, castle-like ruins:

Incredibly, they are actually within 20 feet of each other! You can see the castle just off to the left:

The establishment pictured is the St. Cabrini Nursing Home, located in Dobbs Ferry, NY (a few towns north of Yonkers). The nursing home dates back to the 1900’s, when it was housed in an Italian villa on this very spot. Unfortunately, that building was torn down in the early 1970’s to make-way for a more modern structure, which I believe was replaced in turn by the building pictured above.

However, something special managed to avoid the wrecking ball. If you drive into the parking lot of the nursing home and proceed to the rear, you’ll see an odd castle structure poking up, completely overgrown with trees and weeds.

You might be surprised to find that this is just the first of three levels, which descend the steep hill toward the Hudson below. For anyone who takes the Hudson Line train, you can catch a glimpse of the castle just south of the Dobbs Ferry station (click the pan to see it in full size):

According to the great ruins website, Hudson Valley Ruins, this building was built in the early 1900’s as part of the St. Cabrini novitiate, a training school for the nuns who ran the hospital and others like it. No clue when the building was boarded up, but as of 2001, the nursing home was actively planning to demolish it.

The top level features two turrets lined with crenelations (the alternating blocks on the edges, which I suppose would offer nuns ample protection when firing weapons at anyone attacking from the Hudson). The turrets are separated by a large open court:

If not for the overgrowth and assorted trash, this court would have a fantastic view, as it overlooks the Hudson at its widest portion (note: that’s a very long drop off to the right).

I completely agree with HVR’s Robert Yasinac when he suggests it as worth restoring simply so residents of the nursing home can sit out and watch the river on summer days. But sure, tearing it down would be a great idea too.

One of the turrets:

I love the arched stone doorway:

Strangely, the towers don’t match. Not only is the right one larger than the left…

It also features different style doors…

Another view:

You can make your way down to the lower levels of the castle via a brick staircase on the left. Note the gothic windows, which have been sadly closed up with cement blocks.

You can also see an open doorway. Why didn’t I go in and take pictures? Several questionable noises from within led me to strongly believe someone was inside, quite possibly someone who calls it home. I decided not to intrude.

Here’s the reverse view, convincing evidence that we may have actually de-evolved in our architectural progress.

Finally, this is the front of the castle (I can’t stress how incredibly steep the hill is). Both floors appear to have once been lined with enormous windows, which would have afforded incredible views of the Hudson. A shame this has fallen into ruin.

I scouted this place hoping that it might work for a medieval scene, and that the studio would be willing to pay for some level of overhaul (removing the overgrowth at the very least). Sadly, the scene was ultimately written out of the movie, and we had no use for it. Here’s hoping the nursing home comes to their senses about demolishing it (check out HVR to see how bad the decay has become since 2001)

-SCOUT

Many more posts in the archives!

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gloria andolina

07/22/2013

I was at SHV from 1953 to 1962. I still often have dreams about the place. The formal front staircase reminds me so much of the one in Harry Potter. My memories:

Mother Stellamaris as principal in her front office. The scary Open-Heart Jesus and that black and white tile entry floor. The breakfast room for the priest. And the smell of furniture polish everywhere.

The little nun who stamped out the hosts in the tiny sacristy and babysat me after class til my parents came to pick me up and let me eat the extra edges. . Being beat up by the second grade nun (Mother Felicity?)for reversing my teen numbers. ( It turns out I am dyslexic.)
Mother Tecla who was actually a very good teacher in 3rd and 4th grade and got interested in science and history. The dreadful horrid Mother Thomasina who beat me up quite often in 6th grade and should have been arrested for child abuse. Remember that punch thing and how she’d attack with that darn ruler?
My wonderful 7th and 8th grade teacher — Mother Mercedes. Who almost made up for it all. I remember sitting in assembly in front of that Victorian stage and watching astronauts on a tiny black and white TV. I glanced out the terrace and saw an eagle floating by the river on an ice floe and no one believed me til it was on the news.
I had to board there when my mother was sick when I was about 6 or 7. That severe nursery nun was not very good with children and i cried myslef to sleep .
I remember the scary attic where someone mythic lived among the scenery and costumes and the off limits places like where the nuns lived on the third floor where we were convinced they wore hair shirts and scourged themselves.
I remember the horrible food and boiled mystery meat. We made buttered lettuce sandwiches to keep from being too hungry. And getting cookies and milk and juice in the large pavilion off the playground. I remember Matilda and Lena.
Best of all I remember the other part where we were not often allowed to play. An adjacent Italianate abandoned mansion on the other half of the property where we gathered acorns. The lawn ended in a cliff where there was a rickety log octagonal summerhouse jutting out into nowhere which we were forbidden to enter. And all did, of course. I don’t know how we are alive today.
The other amazing place was the library with those long gorgeous oak tables and that pair of genuine victorian curved glass curiousity cabinets with strange Harry Potterish specimens. Watching that movie kept bringing me up short. I kept thinking what if the audience knew there was a school that resembled it.
The lovely wooden chapel and the gruesome stories of the martyrs every rosary time in May.
I also remember screwing up the Christmas play when I was 6 because we each held up a letter and the teacher having switched me with an other girl didn’t realize my speech was for the wrong letter and how embarrassed I was when the audience tittered.

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Paulita Rivas

07/28/2013

Wow a friend of mine found this blog and knew that I attend Mother Cabrini Home from 1960 to 1963 (from age 4 to 7 1/2) when my grandparents took us home. There were four of us. My sister Mercedes and I were placed at the home at the same time (She was 3) while my older sister Miriam came a year later (at age 6) and my youngest sister Aceneett also came around a year later. She was around 2. I know that my sister Mercedes and I were in the same section as we were close in age. My youngest sister Aceneett was in a section for two year olds. What I remember most about the orphanage was play time. I remember some of the nuns being really nice and other were scary. I do remember that when any child had a birthday, we would know because they did not get regular dinner but instead were given a bonus, cake and ice cream cone. I remember Mother Madeline who was a nun and disciplinarian who did not wear the usual nun clothing garb. I remember Mrs. Clapper who was my second grade teacher. On Sundays we would watch Lassie in the big room before bed. I know we all had chores and I was also responsible for watching over my youngest sister (Aceneett) in the yellow group section. I remember being in plays and especially remember being the third little pig in a play “The Three Little Pigs. I remember the parades as I was a ballarina and during the winter after school changing my school clothing quickly so I could get a sled to share with my siblings. I remember the playgrounds where we swang on swings and jumped over the fence. The merry go round. We were tomboys at that time. I also remember the cowboy and indian reenactments up the large hill on the other side of the school. I was given the position of a nurse. I do remember the Hudson River where we would swim. I do not remember the castle. My grandparents visited us at least once a month on Sundays. We finally did leave the home in 1963. I know the orphange (which we called the home) was an all girls orphanage and became coed once the state took it over. I do not have bad memories of the orphanage but my older sister does. When we finally did leave the orphange, one of the nuns gave me a big doll that walked. It was a great present for a child who did not have much. Thank you all for sharing your memories.

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1. Hector anaya
  
  11/02/2014
  
  Yes I heard you put on a Nun’s habit and tried to take over the place lol!
  
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Susan Reda

08/09/2013

Just read a few more of the postings and it seems like a few of you may have been there around the same time my sister and I were there. For us, as stated above, it was 1954-1960 which for me was K-5th grade and for my sister it was the 2nd-7th. Based on what you said Gloria, I think you were a year ahead of me because Mother Thomasina taught the 5th and 6th Grade and yes, she was awful and very hard on us and especially on the boarders (at one point that year we boarded) and I remember her being angry because the class had been talking and she made us write 1000 times “I will not talk etc” while the day students had to write it a lesser amount. Mother Stellamaris asked us what we were doing because it was a Wednesday–the movie night and bless her heart she told us to finish up as much as we could and then go to the movie. That was only one of the many things I remember about Mother Thomasina but thankfully she was asked to leave before the school year was over. I heard that she was resentful because I think she thought we all were rich brats, but financially at least for us was far from the truth. I do hope that she found her calling elsewhere and was happier wherever she ended up. It is amazing the things we can remember and yet (at least for me)I sometimes can’t recall what I did yesterday!
I am glad though that we seem to have some happier memories of our times at Sacred Heart Villa. The Christmas plays and I still remember my first play (age 5) when I was the “M” and said “M is for Christmas merriment, you feel it in the air, Jolly jokes and secrets for children everywhere”–so Gloria you and I may have been up there at the same time since you said you held up a letter. In other plays (not sure if in correct year sequence) the class were dolls who had been broken after falling off our Mother’s knee, Candy Canes and one year my friend Gretchen and I were Majorettes-can’t remember after that.
There was the Easter egg hunts and the square dance we did one spring maybe it was near or around the mansion and I also remember some of the girls sneaking over by the wall that divided the property from the boys school I think. Well, I probably could go on and on, but for now that’s it. To our childhood memories the good and the not so good, may we cherish them always.

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1. gandolina
  
  09/20/2014
  
  I can tell you that Carolyn Corasaniti and Ann Tedeschi help up some of the other letters. Carolyn and i went on to Our lady of Victory at the same time. I still have a scar on my knee from falling during an easter egg hunt. And I was the one who crowned the virgin in the Grotto when i was in 8th grade wearing a peculiar wedding dress. Does anyone know if that grotto is still there? it was so beautiful. I kinda remember you and Rosemary by name. i always thought your last name was Reeder. New York accents,m I guess.
  
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  1. rosemary
    
    01/03/2015
    
    Mrs Tedeschi was our Confirmation sponsor .
    Remember going to see movies in town walking along with the Mothers
    Thought of that first time I read Madeline books, lol
    I remember you and Caroline by name
    
    . Loved Mother Thevla, mother Irene and Mother Rosaria(principal when I was in first and second grade)
    
    God bless you
    
    Reply
  2. rosemary
    
    01/03/2015
    
    You must have been in my classrooms,. When they were not happy with me it was,RITA this or that , go figure.
    
    Did you read my post about the broken nose. They were great in caring for me when it happened, fourth grade maybe . But after that I was an example of what happens when you run on stairs , lol , swollen nose and bandages and all !!!lol
    
    Reply
Rosemary

08/14/2013

HI ALL

Just read a few posts ..Gloria Andolina ..I remember your name .

Anyhow,I had,Mother Concerts. First and second ..Mother Thecla ..third and fourth..Wonderful Mother Irene ..the next two .
Then c a me the Dread pair ..Timothy and Thomasjna,..God forgive me ..they SHOUlD NEVER have been nuns ..or allowed witH Children.

Mother Felicitas. Taught sis in first and second ..BUT SHE was also in charge of the so called babies dorm

I remember all with love..except for the two T s .

Maybe they were FIRCED to be nuns ..

MOTHERS..THECLA ..IRENE AND ROSARIO (early principal )) very strict but I love them to this,day.

,

I just came across a book called PAGAN BABIES by Gloria Cascione. .so far it’s,funny ans spot on.

The funniest I ever read was Virgins by Caryl Rivers ..But about a mixed school

Ok one story ..I broke my nose running out to the playground ..had a saddle cast on still when mom takes me to pick up homework.

Mother Thecla. Asks mom how,I am..borrows me to the classroom ..makes,me stand up in front of class, says,..THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS to bad girls,who run out of the school ..

God bless her

TAKE CARE all ..And God bless our kids,and grand kids

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Rosemary

08/14/2013

Vicki

You’re right it was MOTHER VERONICA,for me in Seventh ..we moved in Eighth grade ..She was nice ..But no one compares with Mother Thecla..And the poor dear was,losing her sight ..

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Joan Lucas

08/19/2013

Hi, I graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in 1950. I would love to connect to anyone from that time period. My maiden name is Joan DiGioia. Hoping to hear from you.

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Margie Perez (aka Lafuente)

09/15/2013

I remember SHV fondly. Memories of skating at the pond and running up and down the diet kitchen staricase and doing pots and pans in the kitchen under Mother Dionysius’s eye are just a few. Mother Stella Maris was my principal too and although a little zany she had some smile. I remeber May Day and the grotto. It was still at the front to the left of the new Cabrini place when I saw it last about 15 years ago. I remember the movies on Sunday’s and the Boys town next door and the castle as well although we dreamt lazy dreams of knights in white armor we never played within. I remember the dormitories and my dear Mother Tecla who I loved. I remember her nursing me one weekend when I was too sick to go home. I remember singing all the songs I loved especially the “Magnificat” in the chapel and under the chapel and in the dorm bathrooms where the acoustics were fabulous. I remember Mother D’s famous lentil stew that I loved and everyone else hated. I remember douing pots and pans in the kitchen and putting the dishes back in the 2 floor cabinets adjoining the dining rooms. I remember Mother Tecla’s cubicle across my bed and the 8th grade dormitory which was unbelievable and a privilege to finally get into and the fabulous view of the Tappan Zee Bridge. I learned how to make hospital beds and polish wooden floors with commercial polishers. I studied piano and loved Mother Margaret and hated Mother Ursula who I heard later left the “nunhood”. Thank God, she was a witch. I still get in touch with some of the girls who I graduated with and went on to St. Mary’s in Sloatsburg. All in all I loved it and have pictures although Packed away. It was along time ago and now at 62 some memories a little dim but never forgotten. I was there almost 5 years and loved it–graduated 1964. If anyone I know wants to get in touch just friend me on Facebook. Love ya ll.

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1. Dalia Rosa Halpern
  
  07/14/2014
  
  I remember you very well Margie. I am Dalia. And I had a mad crush on a neighborhood boy of yours that I met at a party you gave. It came to nothing. But I pined for him for months. I share your great memories of SHV. But my group never had to do the dishes. I was there for 6th 7th and 8th grade. I do remember the delicious pastries the nuns would put out for us when we were at evening recess. They were placed on a basket near the downstairs kitchen. So many memories. All good! I love the more in memory than living them. I remember getting homesick. And I remember Mother Ursula. If she left the nuns I wonder what she did afterward. My favorite was Mother Thecla. She used to call me “chooch” donkey in Italian. I felt it was a term of endearment and loved it when she called me that. I used to dust the tables with all the little curios on them. I was given that chore the entire 3 years I was there. I was in the main dormitory for 6th grade and when on to the little one in back with the 7th and 8th graders for the remaining two. It was really for the 8th graders. But one of them behaved badly and she lost the privilege. Mother Thecla made us switch. For me it was a great honor. My night and morning duty was to switch the lights on or off once the bells tolled.
  
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Josefina Castro

10/27/2013

Hi Jennifer Nieves,

I saw the article on the Castle form Sacred Heart Villa months ago but only now saw your comment asking for name so the SHV girls I keep up with. I don’t think I remember a Jennifer but that doesn’t mean anything ’cause I do not have perfect memory.

If you were there in 1967-1969 you may know the following:

Gina Perez – Georgia

Yara Perez

Giselle Chamizo – Florida

Lillian Mallo – North Carolina

Allison (Heather) Steele – Arizona

Miss O”Brien – Florida

You can find us on facebook.

I was on the 2nd floor dorm. Some of the other girls I remember:

Sylvia Ruiz

Maria Lopez

Maria Arias

Sabrina Mayer (deceased)

Mary Renaud

Liz O’Toole

Rosanne Sprague

Nancy

Jeannie Onorato

Nina Bowles

Seynab Bernard

Maria Alfaro

Gemma Hernandez

Edith

Maria Rodriguez

Ina

Dora

Gloria

Robin

Ally

My e-mail is Joval2011@aol.com

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Jennifer (Carmen) Nieves

11/13/2013

OMG. I haven’t been checking into this site for replies for a long time,and was so pleasantly surprised when I saw posts from this year. Josefina, thank you for responding. I do remember some of those names. Such as Maria Arias, Maria Lopez, Allison Steele, the Sprague sisters, I remember them as both being very tiny for some reason.
Do you remember Vanessa Olivieri, I absolutely loved her. I remember a Sylvia,but I’m not sure of her last name, I don’t think it was Ruiz. I think it was Perez.
Anyway, I was so happy to see more recent posts from this year from other people who went there. Some were there much earlier than I was. I was 1965-69.
It is so difficult to find any pictures of the school on any sites, but I’m glad that there’s this site at least. I have so many memories,good and bad of the school. But there wa something grand and magical about it.
Lets all stay in touch.
My e mail is jtveyes@yahoo.com for anyone who wants to send pictures or stay in touch.
Best wishes to all.

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1. Nina Royal
  
  08/27/2014
  
  Hi Josefina…omg…How funny to come on this page. I was Nina Bowles, now Royal. Below is what I wrote on Ancestry. Btw, I did not know about Sabina. How did she die? The last time I saw her, many many years ago, she was very depressed and had a strange life. I ended up going to Marymount in NYC..along with Leslie DiMaio, who was a year ahead of us.
  I went to SacredHeart Villa in the 4th and 5th grade. I am trying to remember the exact years. Mother Casimir was my 4th grade teacher…I think we sat with the 3rd grade as well. Maybe 1965-1967. My name was Nina Bowles. I remember Gina Perez, Sabina mager, who was my best friend and Seynab Baydoun. Marie Renard…Josephine Castro…Leslie DiMaio. Roseanne Sprague…Alison Steele (who’s mom was a famous DJ of the same name.)
  When I was in 4th grade I was in the dormitory with Mother Dionysius..OMG, yes, she was really mean! Mother Ursula, a younger nun, was principle then. She was super sweet and confident. Beautiful too.
  And then I was put in the other long dorm for 5th grade. What was her name? Mother ALBINA! Cranky nun, too! Mother Aloyisius was the meanie principle.
  Remember Lena in the kitchen?? She had all those warts on her face and was so sweet to us. Lentils..omg, so gross. Oatmeal was awful too.
  I was always causing trouble. We would walk around the edges of the chapel roof from our dorm room.
  Movie night…remember OLD YELLER?
  Candy every afternoon.
  The really fun to ride merry go round that went up and down.
  The swings.
  Chapel if u were bad (I was always there!)
  I have to say I really hated it there. The nuns were pretty mean. I missed my parents. I was glad to leave:)
  It was extraordinarily beautiful, though. I loved the Hudson River views.
  Anyone have any other fun memories, let me know!
  
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2. Nina Royal
  
  08/27/2014
  
  I remember you, Carmem:) It is Nina Bowles…look at my reply below to Josefina. Big hug…Nina
  
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Maricarmen jimenez

01/08/2014

Hi girls! Finding this site had given me some closure to the fragmented memories I had of the school. Most of your memories are kind of positive mixed with the reality I experienced ! My stay was in 1958 third grade boarder I remember the castle, the play areas and where we were given the cookie brought from our families! As I said my expereince was very sad, I would cry every night to sleep and Mother Tecala would hit me with the ruler because I did not know the time tables! she would make us open our hands stretched out so it would hurt terribly. She was a nasty and bitter person without any compassion, any way thanks to all of you for sharing your memories, I can be reached in face book Maricarmen Jimenez-Sors

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1. rose
  
  01/12/2014
  
  Oh dear ..that’s,not at all how,I remember things,Maria, and I was,there around,that time …though ahead,of you .
  
  …I remember Mother Thecla, and she did in occasion use a ruler
  
  As very strict …Lol..She,used my broken nose as a class,lesson..NOT TO RUN on our way outside,
  
  …But I loved her dearly…She,was a dear lady .
  
  Boarding was always a sad thing as it meant no parents,…our mom had been sick and then our dad died in 1957
  
  But most of the nuns,were like mothers to us,..with the exception of he two younger. Ones,who came in the sixties,..
  
  I guess,we a had different e experience…
  I had Rosaria, Concetta, Irene ..Felicotas, Stella,Maris,…with good feeling ..mostly and,Thscla and Irene and,Rosaria were my favorites..
  
  I’m sorry you were,so sad…You might remember Susan ..my sis,.
  
  GOD BLESS,you all.
  
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Marilyn Marie

01/15/2014

I came across this site and see there are quite a few people here from Cabrini, I was in Mother Cabrini Home in West Park NY. 12493 if anyone here was from this Cabrini Home from the 50′s and the 70′s we have a web site on FaceBook called Mother Cabrini Home, we are looking for all who were there, we have pictures posted there also so if any of you were there in these years please check out the site,
Thank You

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(Mary) Lisa Orlando

06/11/2014

I too have been checking back. Thank you, Maricarmen. You seem to have known the same Mother Thecla I knew. Mother Thecla almost caused me to lose my mind when I was seven. She accused me of something i didn’t do, then pinned me against the blackboard–we were alone–and told me she would never let me go, unless I admitted that I’d done it. Just as i felt her take over my mind–I started to doubt my own memory, and think maybe she was right–a miracle happened. My brain felt like it popped, and I realized what I had to do: I lied for the first time in my life and “admitted” that I did it. Thank You, Holy Mother.

And then there was the potato salad in the napkin, under the dining table, and I was accused of that, and they made me kneel all night on the hardwood floor in the hall. But they couldn’t make me cry (thank You again). As my sister (who was 5, and utterly traumatized by witnessing this stuff) reminds me, that wasn’t the only example of outright torture. She remembers a little girl who wet her bed–they made her stand during breakfast, with her pee-soaked sheets draped over her head.

Do the rest of you not remember this kind of shit, or do you think it was okay? It feels like most of you lived in an alternate universe. I lived in a convent run by Nazis and collaborators. But I also remember that they were always nice to my sister (like Hitler was nice to dogs). She’s spent her life trying to make up for her guilt over that.

Given what’s finally come out about this wonderful religion, I guess I should be grateful I wasn’t sexually abused.

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1. Maricarmen Jimenez
  
  10/23/2014
  
  Dear Mary, it’s ok now but looking back to that year just brings to my mind “Why us” ? Some of the other girls seemed were in another place, far far away from where we were. This has helped me have some kind of closure to that year. Un abrazo
  
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2. rosemary
  
  01/03/2015
  
  I remember the structures and sheets for bedwetting ,
  We had to board when my mom was very ill and it was scary , but Rosaria ,Concerts and yes Thecla, strict but like Mothers when ours couldn’t be and I still have a letter about my dear Father from Rosaria. Mother Justine and Mothers Thevla and Irene were so loving when Dad died.
  
  Mother Thecla had eye problems as we got older , I had heard she was almost blind .
  
  Sorry you had such a hard time.
  
  Many of us were children away from home ..I would not want to relive it all but I remember most of the nuns fondly . GOD bless them.
  
  And YES NOTHING untoward happened there ..they were just strict
  
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3. Rose
  
  06/04/2016
  
  I think many of us came from homes that were different or shattered by illness maybe.Or death .
  I remember the punishments, but I remember more the loving mixed in with the strictness. I’m trying to remember which nun,principal ,I cried in her lap for a long time, after watching Miracle in The Rain, wanting so much to see my father again !!!
  Must have been a Wed or Sat Night . I cry now just thinking about it .
  
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4. Saadia (Vargas) King
  
  07/03/2016
  
  I previously found a read-only thread through Ancestry.com & my sister who did not attend this school found this one. I attended 1962-1964. The parallels with the interior setting in Harry Potter have been noted. I’ve often thought of the Hayley Mills Trouble with Angel movies as well. Although my memories & experience were far from that movie series idyllic situations. I remember many areas including playing in the courtyard space of the castle structure, the playground, the grotto (always a safe & peaceful space), the dorms, chapel (full Latin mass each day), dining room, kitchen (the “chefs” needed lessons), stage (I would get in “trouble” for not smiling-seriously), porch, staircases that led to the classrooms & dorms, as well as those that led to the rear circular staircase populated by statutes & portraits of saints that also led to the bell tower. The rear staircase desk areas were often assigned to the frequent flyer students to the principal’s office (Mother Stella Maris). I remember ringing that bell many times with the nun/handyman that served as custodian. The family circumstances that landed me in this school were never well understood or revealed. I was often the only child left for a weekend or the last one picked up. My return to school was often accompanied by my loud protest, crying, kicking & screaming-literally. That nightmare ended when my mom remarried & I was able to attend school locally for 5th grade. I too have memories of a student that was shamed by having to wear soiled sheets & stand in the dining room table on display. I have prayed that that student had the resilient DNA that I had. I too was often a “Statue of Liberty” on the dining room table for refusing to eat food that was burned, too processed or that simply did not appeal to me. There was often an attempt to force-feed me, which did not end well for the nun. In their face, on their head or on the floor & soon I was up on the table again. Mother Dionysious (sp?) aka Mother Dinosaur is remembered for her terrorist tactics and frank abuse. She was particularly abusive when a child was sick. She would try to apply remedies that supported only her twisted mind. I was a good kicker in those days & thankfully resisted her “treatments” that I know today as a clinician were harmful. Mother Techla thought nothing of striking one child after another in front of the blackboard when they made an error. I was often at the end of that ruler, which was not small and left large welts, bruising & broken skin. She also induced fear in line with the Cold War thinking of the day. I remember her vilifying a magazine picture of Karl Marx & marching up & down the aisles pushing the picture in front of random students that even from the eyes of a child was just over the top. Some of the “fond” memories discussed in some postings are Fantasia-maybe it was different in the 1950’s, but it was abuse central in the 60’s. I could only imagine the abuse handed down to students that actually misbehaved in the classic sense. I often snuck into the restricted room of Saint Mother Cabrini-easy to do when you’re the only kid on campus-to pray that she set these nuns straight. There is a reason the Catholic Church has been inundated by abuse claims. My faith has remained intact, however the custodians of the Church have failed the faithful for some time. These nuns were provided with a license for unmonitored abuse. Just because abuse did not happen to you, does not mean that it did not occur.
  
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5. Saadia (Vargas) King
  
  07/03/2016
  
  Mary just saw your post today & I shared my thoughts on this blog, but bottom line we had a common shared experience. The fact that this place no longer exists is a good thing.
  
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D Meleski

06/19/2014

My mother and her 2 sisters lived in this orphanage between 1922 and about 1932. They were children of an Italian immigrant who could not care for them. My mother is no longer alive but I remember the stories she did share about the home. They were not particularly happy memories. I would love to get more info about the home during that time period. Although my mother had a very difficult childhood, she was the most wonderful person in the world. She was a determined, loving, devoted mother and I only wish I could be the person she was. I am sure most of those residents of that era are now deceased but I would love to connect with others who know of that time.

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Marili Ruano Ellis

07/27/2014

I graduated from the 8th grade in 1955. Mother Rosaria was the principal, mother Tehcla in the dorm and mother Andrew was my piano teacher. My father was a musician and travelled all over, so I needed to be in boarding school.
I loved my years there. I was the editor of the school paper. Is there anyone out there who remembers this? I’m looking for Pat White and Eleanor Murdock (she was the only Protestant, however attended Mass every day)
I’m a mother of three (one in heaven) and the grandmother of three. George, my beloved husband died recently. I’m a social worker, live in Rome, work with 500 homeless. Please write to me, I’d like to recuperate a little of the past.
Recently I found mother Andrew, now called Marie Petersen. She is in the Cabrini home in New York, 86 . I call and write Regularly and we exchange many happy memories. Does anyone have the 1955 yearbook? I lost mine but would like to know the names of my class. Love to all. Marili

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1. rosemary
  
  01/03/2015
  
  We started in 54 or so but I loved those nuns Rosaria and Thecla, and several others .
  God bless those dear ladies
  
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Marili Ruano Ellis

08/29/2014

Somebody please write…..

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1. rosemary
  
  01/09/2015
  
  Hello.
  
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Susan Reda

01/04/2015

Just trying to catch up on the latest posts to see what others had to say about their experiences at SHV. Obviously we all had our own good and bad moments there and for those of us who boarded, I think at times it was maybe harder because we also missed our families. Strange how certain nuns reacted to certain students. Yes, Mother Thecla did use that ruler and I am glad that I was not the only one she accused of doing something that I had no idea what she was talking about, however for the most part she was nice enough to me except that one time. (I agree that I do think her poor vision came into play on some of it I think???). As stated in one of my earlier posts there were 2 nuns that came to SHV for the 1959-1960 school year and one of them taught the 5th and 6th grade –(I was in the 5th grade) and I can only thank Mother Stella Maris and whoever else may have made their departure happen prior to the end of that school term because they sure did not belong at SHV. I guess just about everyone has a story or 2 about their life at school no matter where it was. Growing up can be difficult because we all have different challenges but I have to tell you I would rather be in school when I was then how it is now in some of these classrooms. It was a shock when I started working in the school system because nowadays the students seem to run the show in some cases and teachers don’t necessarily have control at times nor the support from the administration. I just hope that it doesn’t get worse. May God Bless us all and watch over our children and grandchildren.

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1. rosemary
  
  01/09/2015
  
  I hear you there.sis.
  One thing can be,said for the mother’s,there, aside from the comfort they gave us in bad times,
  Strict as they were…we learned ..
  
  In 10th grade public school English I was learning stuff we had in seventh grade and before!!!!
  
  Nowadays,it’s all PC and self esteem , which is ok but seriously school is,for learning and a preview,of reality and common sense. The idea that twelfth graders can’t read is beyond bird, yet if no one is allowed to teach or discipline , the inmates declare how time is spent . Sad for kids with a NEED to learn .
  
  God bless,you all
  
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Susan (R)

02/04/2015

I am trying to check this every so often to see if I missed new posts. Sis, though you and I talk it is nice to see your posts here. Just thought I would add a thought or 2 from time to time. Two other memories have kicked in at this time. One, was all or most of us going into the city in rented buses (I believe it was Radio City Music Hall) to see the 10 Commandments and to this day I can still remember my feeling of awe when Moses (Charlton Heston) parted the waters. Back then it was a spectacular site and even now watching the same version, I still find it amazing–not sure but I think it was when it first came out in 1956. The other memory I have is the parade we marched in and if I remember it correctly it started in downtown Yonkers (South Broadway) but not sure where we ended up it that is correct, I just know it was in March I think because it was cold. I think I twirled that baton (the one I used in the Christmas play when I, along with Gretchen were Majorettes), but that could be wrong.
As for people, I remember Elizabeth Ann De Paolo (not sure of spelling), but I know she left after we did and moved to Florida (I think it was West Pam Beach). We visited with each other one time and that was it. I know there were others I had friendships with that slip in and out of my memory because we all spent time together not only in class, the dining room, church but outside and of course at times the dorms. The problem is that sometimes I can’t remember if people were at Sacred Heart Villa or St. Anthony’s the school we ended up at in Fort Lauderdale but after 8th grade we went to public school. The change was a little shocking though back then there was a strict dress code, they said the pledge and the Our Father during homeroom. Obviously, that doesn’t happen anymore and even with the pledge (though it may be said) there are those who are disrespectful while it is being recited. Bottomline there is still something to be said about Catholic Schools (and some other private schools), the respect and the structure are hopefully there for the most part.
Well for now that’s it and I will check back again to see if any new posts. As for Facebook, I don’t go on there but for those who do, I hope some old and new friendships have been made. God Bless

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1. rose
  
  02/04/2015
  
  Now I remember walking into Dobbs Ferry (like in the book Madeleine) with Mother Thecla and other nuns .
  If your movie was in the City, that one must have been Ben Hur.
  
  She also loved Perry Como which we got to wAtch on Saturday night in the Auditorium if we were boarding
  
  I just found some of those raisin biscuits we used to get after school , which you cannot buy in stores anymore .
  Amazon has them !!!,
  
  As for the parade, it was freezing AND I got the mumps after ….!!!!
  
  The,only person I remember After 1962, was Christine Lewis who came to visit …
  
  Take care,everyone and enjoy your grandkids.
  
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rose

02/04/2015

Lol I think we are talking to ourselves ..

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Judith Doolin Spikes

03/31/2015

Very nice presentation, Scout, and very interesting comments. Last year, for the 125th anniversary of the arrival of Mother Cabrini in Dobbs Ferry, NY, I researched an article (published by the Dobbs Ferry Historical Society and also distributed by Cabrini of Westchester) on Mother Cabrini and her foundations in Dobbs Ferry. I had the benefit of documents and photos owned by Cabrini of Westchester, a partial copy of Mother Cabrini’s diary, other primary sources dating to Mother Cabrini’s presence in Dobbs Ferry, and interviews with present-day members of the organization. I can say definitively that “the castle” is actually a “folly” (a sort of “garden ornament” on a large scale that was common into the 19th and early 20th-centuryon the grounds of palaces and estates in Europe and America. This one was designed by Mother Cabrini herself and built of native stone left over from construction of a nearby church, Our Lady of Pompey. “The castle” is still standing and does not appear to be threatened by active destruction or passive neglect.

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rose

04/09/2015

http://www.cabrini-eldercare.org/

Here is that website,with the nursing home montage .keep looking you will see,the grotto .
God bless,

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