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The Ugly Double Doors

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For decades Maclaren Hall in El Monte California housed  thousands of children which at the time were considered "Wards of the State" or "Wards of the Court".  Maclaren Hall was used as a "reception facility" where children that were removed from their biological homes (usually due to physical abuse, sexual abuse and neglect) were sent while awaiting placement with foster families and more permanent group homes.   In some decades, children housed there could not go to Juvenile Hall (because they committed no crimes), did not have a foster family lined up for them, or their social workers or intervening agencies (local police departments, etc.) had no where else to put the children and they were warehoused in this "Prison for Kids".  

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Children were housed in "cottages" or dorms which in some decades had names that bring to mind Peter Pan's Never never land:  "Pixies Cottage" and "Tiger's cottage" for the really young, and Junior Boys and Junior Girls for those approaching adolescence.   There were Senior Dorms for older boys and girls, a nursery and a "maternity dorm" for pregnant children.   Sexual abuse occurred in each and everyone of these dorms.  A "point's system" was used by staff members and administration at Maclaren Hall in certain decades where children could earn "points" to use to purchase clothing, toys and other items.  This point system was a great idea on paper, but when put into the hands of pedophiles was used as a way to manipulate the children.  

 

When you listen to the "Maclaren Hall Nightmares" told by adults you can tell the exact instance when the adult reverts back to their childhood self and you begin to see the facility though an 8 year old eye's .   They marvel at the nostalgia of participating in events like the Mini Olympics and Celebrities days and recall visits from food trucks and field trips taken while housed at Maclaren Hall.  They discuss movie nights and mock dances and the kindness of strangers that visited the facilities.   Speaking of celebrities, in certain decades a powerful Public Relations machine no doubt promogulated by Los Angeles county officials themselves, sent Actors, Actresses,  Celebrities and public figures to Maclaren Hall to pose for pictures and show they were donating time to a worthy cause.  Notable names like Henry Winkler, Gary Coleman, Christina Applegate, John Ritter, Rosanne, Kid & Play, Eric Estrada, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Sally Struthers and so many others are said to have visited the facilities and donated their time.  Some are spoken very highly of and are generally thought of as good people, especially The Fonz(Henry Winkler) himself(who has been reported more than any other celebrity meaning he may have been there the most).   Victim's of Maclaren Hall sexual abuse recant the positive experiences of Maclaren Hall with a noticeable glimmer in their eye matched by their fellow brothers and sisters of shared experiences.  

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But oh those double doors. 

 

For hundreds if not thousands, those double doors bring to mind memories of so much abuse.  Under the care of adults taller then them, stronger than them and scarier than anything they saw in their own biological homes, they were told day in and day out that they were not loved or cared for.  If they complained they were told "no one wanted them" and "not to come to Maclaren Hall" if they didn't like it.  They were sexually abused and physically beaten in every corner of that horrible facility in El Monte.  Girls as young as 4 years old were given pap smears, night patrols turned into systematic assaults of children in every dorm--it was common to play dead and hope and pray you were not one of the unlucky ones messed with in the middle of the night.  And for any child that didnt conform?  Off to the Rest & Relaxation Room. 

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The Rest and Relaxation room was a Shu or Hole for children.  Children were dragged from their cottages, restrained, and thrown in a room completely devoid of stimuli as punishment for going against the grain.  With only four white walls to look at, and an observation slot in the door, children were watched as they were drove to near madness often urinating and defecting on themselves because they weren't even allowed to go to the bathroom.  The shame and humiliation was used as a way to torture the children on a visceral level.  And sexual abuse happened in the R & R room as well.  

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The county denied the allegations claiming the children were injuring staff. Many of the juvenile records that described the abuse at MacLaren Hall were said to have been either destroyed or lost.  People housed at Maclaren Hall in 2003 speak of documents being shredded, staff members carrying out trash bags of paperwork and former staff members back up these stories.  Something was definitely amiss . 

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For decades thousands of children, now adults with children of their own were under the impression that nothing would be done about Maclaren Hall and for decades they were in fact right.  Until now.  

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The facility finally shut it's doors in June of 2003 after a class action lawsuit was filed by a resident.  The county denied the allegations claiming the children were injuring staff. Many of the juvenile records that described the abuse at MacLaren Hall were said to have been either destroyed or lost.  People housed at Maclaren Hall in 2003(right before it closed) speak of documents being shredded, staff members carrying out trash bags of paperwork and being sworn to secrecy under threat of injury or death.  

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In 2019, the Child Victim's Act was passed in California giving survivors of child sexual abuse the chance to "Look Back" at cases normally time- barred by the Statute of Limitations.  The Me-too movement, the Boy Scouts of America, Cases against the Catholic Church and other cases have used the Child Vicitm's Act to get justice for sexual abuse survivors.  This law is set to expire at the end of 2022.  

 

 If you or someone you love was a victim of sexual abuse at Maclaren Hall or a like facility please contact us below to tell us your story.  You may be entitled to significant compensation and you deserve Justice and Closure for what you experienced.  This is your chance to stand up and to PREVENT this from happening again to so many others!  Open those double doors up and expose this abuse once and for all!

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We are honored to be the voice of many people who experienced child sexual abuse in foster care. Fill out the form below to learn about how we can help you.