Home Boys

The state orphanage sheltered almost 17,000 children over the years. That makes for one big family reunion.

A A A Comments (2) By Steve Jackson Thursday, Aug 8 1996

...continued from page 7

On July 21 more than 400 members of this family, former residents of the home and a few staffers, gathered at the park. They spent the day wandering the grounds, talking, hugging and promising to stay in touch. And then they were gone, scattering back to their homes and new families.

Lucero looked around. The sun was setting, lighting up the windows of the remaining boys' dormitory, where he'd once prayed to find a family--not realizing until much later that he already had one...a very large one.

Walking from the infirmary past the Edbrooke Gym to the Main Office, I looked around at the State Home grounds. The buildings were the same as I had always known them, but the place was empty of people.

The boys playground was now gone. In my mind, I could see the swings, merry-go-round, the teeter totters, rings, the monkey bars and slide. In my mind, I could still hear us boys yelling and playing. Now...everything is silent. There is a stillness on the State Home grounds. No more children yelling and playing.

The front porches of...the buildings stand empty. No more teen-age girls and boys sitting on the front steps visiting and laughing.

I know this was for good. I was leaving the State Home. After checking out of the office for the final time, I loaded my two suitcases into the state car...I felt like crying, but I couldn't.

--Phillip Montoya, who arrived at the home in 1953 and was the last child to leave in July 1971.

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David E Willich 05/17/2010 12:12:00 AM

I am 68 years old. I was born 5-2-42 and was adopted just after 24 June 42. I guess that I was one of the lucky ones. I had wonderful parents. I have known about being adopted ever since I can remember. My adopted Mother is 96 years old and in very good heath. I am married and have 3 grown children who all have completed college and are doing well. I just saw the letter from the adoption Home signed By Ralph Horner. I did not know the history of the adoption home until I read the letter and got on the internet. My best friend and my Sister were also adopted from this home. I am sure that we would like to have more information about our adoptions. Feel free to contact me Thank you for the article that you wrote.

Ray Martinez 02/20/2007 6:08:00 AM

I was at the same orphanage and relinquished when i was 8 days old during the first week of April 1952. I'd love to know about future reunions, to share with others that we do know how to become successful. You see, I was adopted at age five by parents from Fort Collins, CO. My rearing was great. I retired from the Fort Collins Police Department as a Sergeant in 1996, wrote a column for a newspaper for two years, and was elected as the Mayor of Fort Collins in 1999, re-elected for two more terms and "term limited after 2005 when I left office. Now I'm giving public talks about finding my biological mother in 2005 and our reunion is great. I discovered four sisters and one brother. My mother relinquished me as a result of being a victim of a serious sexual assault. I'm glad she gave me life instead of taking my life.