July, 1951

On a very hot day in July of 1951 I learned I was going to Maryville. My Mother took my four sisters and me to see a movie about a reform school for girls; a seemingly strange choice even to this day. The only scene I remember was when the guards severely punished the girls.  They lined them up nude and used a fire house on them – I leaned over to my Mother and asked was this how Maryville was and she nervously laughed and said no.