Stoughton people, where are you?

[Anonymous]

Where are all you people from 53 Evans Dr. in Stoughton?

[Nomad]

still here.

Damon

[Binky]

53 Evans Drive!

Wow - hey don't tell anyone, but I went by The Buiding a few years ago - had my radio on in the parking lot - smoked a butt and used LOTS of drugy slang -

 ::rocker::

I was there - 1985 / 1986 - front row to 7th Step

I remember when they switched from the 7 steps to 12 steps

~ Todd M[ This Message was edited by: Father Abraham on 2004-08-08 05:41 ]

[flyr88]

I've been out of state for about 14 years and recently returned to the Boston area.  This is my first time viewing this sight...first time I ever thought of searching.  I've been trying to forget the whole thing for years.  
I'm going through a divorce after 13 years of maraige (never told her I was there or what my home life was like growing up).  I started therapy to un-do what the program caused over my year and a half "stay" (87-88).  It's true; you just can't run from yourself or your past.  I have to deal with it before I can move on.  The program took problems I already had and amplified them as well as creating a few more...thanks!
Anyway, I was at the warehouse last week.  It's a roofing company now.  The building looks even more neglected than before.  
Even after all these years, I still had butterflies in my stomach as I crossed the train tracks before entering Eveans Dr.  I've worked hard, become successful and it's memory still haunts me.  I sat in my car and glared at the building for a long time.  They stole part of my childhood.   -D [ This Message was edited by: flyr88 on 2004-08-15 21:24 ]

[Binky]

::hehehmm::

[Anonymous]

My brother Gregg was there from June 1989 to June 1990, I was there every Friday night the summer of 89'.  We were from CT so we only had guys at our house once in a while, anyone remember him? me?  It was a long strange trip to say the least.

Gwen

[Anonymous]

I stumbled on this site somehow.  I had a bad dream about the Stoughton Place last night.  I was there for a couple of months over the spring of 1988.  My name is John.  Maybe someone remembers me.  I was an out of control punk.  Constant restraints and run attempts.  I never made it to any level and was thrown out of the program.  That was my goal.  The kids I slept with hated me because I was on suicide watch and sleep restriction (no fans in the bedroom during a very hot spring).  Funny thing is, I never had a drug problem really.  I was drinking with friends at the age of 17 and just kept getting caught by my parents.  I had never smoked pot.  I went to therapy and thought drinking was cool so I lied about the frequency (it was cool to drink a lot).  Truth was I never drank much.  I really don't drink much now.  I will never forget my intake.  That was quite a restraint as I had no idea where I was.  I only rmember a few names from back then.  I will respect confidentiality (Ken-a big tall red head, Luke-a blonde pretty looking rich kid, Rich W, and yes I remember a Greg P-?  I also remember the counselors but not the names.  One was a short preppie looking dude with quite an ego.  He reminded me of Nicholas Bradford on 8 is enough, and a good looking blonde female.  I was restrined during a parent's night!  I was planning it all day.

What do I do now?  I have a Master's degree and a great job.  Go figure.  I am still haunted by the place though.

[flyr88]

John, I think I remember you.  We both wound up there for the same reasons oddly enough.
  If memory serves, the staff knew you would be a difficult intake (parents gave heads up maybe?).  Anyway, they positioned most of the bigger kids in the hall outside the intake room just in case things got out of hand.  We could hear things going south from outside the room.  From what I remember, you put up a pretty good fight (I'm glad to say I didn't restrain you).
   At the time I was just trying to fly low and cruise out the program and it's bullshit and never acted up.  Although, I would secretly  cheer on those who would go off.  
I think one of the funniest incidents I witnessed, happened on a day I was just zoning out...trying to imagine I was somewhere else in my mind.  It was one of those days I just did not feel like playing the game anymore.  That night, one of the "counselors" was confronting a new-comer and you could tell he was not very impressed.  He just looked at him and slowly said:  "Lick me where I sh_t".  It snapped me back to reality and I spent the rest of the night fighting off laughing fits.  I actually bit my lip so hard I broke the skin.  I was on 4th phase and was terrified someone would know I how funny I thought it was (probably should have reported myself for being dishonest...yeah, riiight).  There was something about the way he said it made it by far, the most disgusting thing I'd ever heard.  But the more I thought about it, the more poignant it sounded.  It kind of said it all.
  I remember Ken.  I spent some time together with him at a host home in Leominster.  I remember Luke too, he told some pretty cool stories (masked as "relating" in group).  And also Rich (long curly brown hair?).  I actually saw him after I dropped out.  He didn't sound like he was doing very well.  I always thought he was a great guy and seemed to honestly want to help others, I hope he's OK.  I don't know if you rember Jeb, but I saw him at a party on the Cape a few months after he got out and he sounded great.
 When I finally copped out, the group had dwindled to maybe 35-40 kids.  I think the parting words from the counselor who signed my release where "you won't make it on your own".  I'd love to compare my life?s accomplishments with her now. I did make it on my own.  I put myself through  school and am an executive officer in a company I'm confident she?d recognize.
Seems strange, all these years later the place could still affect you , doesn?t it?  For a long time I tried to pretend it never happened.   However, just writing about it now brought up some feelings.
It?s  great to hear from you and that you?re doing well.  -Dean[ This Message was edited by: flyr88 on 2004-08-31 20:31 ]

[Anonymous]

I wasn't there for the like me comment.  That's great though.  That was my intake you are talking about.  It was really bad.  Talk about scary for me.  When you have no idea where you are and then you have this bomb dropped on you.  "you will be here for the next 18 months".  All that I wanted was to have a cigarette and let it all sink in.  I swear to God that if they had just let me things would have been fine.  The woman who did the intake reminded me of Cruella from 101 Dalmations.  She got off on the power.  I had another memory pop up.  I ran from the main group one day.  There was a restraint and I looked at it as an opportunity.  I ran for an exit door on the side of the building that faced the railroad tracks.  It opened and I was blinded by the Sun.  I kept falling and tripping over stuff cuz I couldn't see.  My legs started to cramp up.  I was looking behind me and I had about 20 kids chasing me.  It was like Dawn of the Dead.  I got so tired that I gave up.  When I came back I tried to fake a heart attack so that I could get to the hospital.  I just remembered another name.  Last name started with Hildr#$@.  Lived in Milford.  I stayed at his house a while.  He just disappeared one day.  Isn't it funny how you never heard what happened to people.  They would be such drones and then POOF they are gone.  Guess they didn't buy the party line huh?

[flyr88]

I remember the door you're talking about.  I think that was the direction most ran.  Funny, it seemed like everyone headed for the railroad tracks.  When I saw newcomers looking at the door, I'd get the urge to whisper "run now, because after sitting in these blue chairs for 12-16 hours a day your legs will be Jell-O, if you're gonna do it...do it now, while you have a chance!".  It was pretty hard to fight the urge to run, I had it every day.
I think I just remembered who Greg P was, I guess the nicest way to describe him would be: very emotional?  If he is who I'm guessing, the group was pretty unforgiving of him.  He would get thrown back a phase, just days after progressing.  He would constantly confess crazy "sins", and the group would want to strangle him for not being able to control his self-imposed head games.  Straight was definitely the wrong environment for him (not that it was right for others either).
I remember the blonde female counselor also, I think she was from Newton.  It was hard not to look at her back when she was in group!  I think I remember the Nicholas Bradford look-alike too, but there were two that I'd include in that category.
I don't recall Hildr#$@ but, I'm pretty bad with names of people from the program.  No kidding, I tried to completely block it out for years.
You're right, it was strange to realize that someone had disappeared; especially if they had been doing a good job of paying lip service to the program.  I remember always looking around the group in the morning and around 5:00, when kids would normally get back from school, trying to figure out who was missing.  I liked most of the kids there, it was pretty clear that many of their parents were the ones who belonged in "therapy".  I think most of us had very fucked up childhoods.  So I would usually feel a mixture of sadness and relief when people would escape.
Almost forgot, I recognize the woman who did your intake from your description, she did mine also.  She was a piece of work.  She knew exactly how to push people's (especially parent's) buttons and she did it well.  I believe she did a lot of their recruiting.  She wound up doing my release also.  I'm glad it worked out that way.  It was satisfying to tell her I was leaving and there was nothing she could do about it.  She had said something very similar to me regarding my inability to leave...roughly a year and half earlier.[ This Message was edited by: flyr88 on 2004-09-02 19:27 ]