by Paul R. Spitzzeri
The marked development and growth during the 1910s of the local branch of the George Junior Republic, a facility for troubled boys started in New York in the mid-1890s with the regional one opened in San Fernando in 1907 before relocating to Chino Hills two years later, occurred significantly during the tenure of superintendent Gerald C. Waterhouse. The improvements were such that the institution’s Secretary of State George Bailey, in a talk given at the institution in fall 1913, and printed in the Ontario Record of 30 October, praised it because “it was organized to help young citizens respect and enforce law.”
Bailey continued that,
The supreme purpose of the law at this Junior Republic is the strengthening and correction of character in order that the community welfare might be promoted . . . The citizens . . . are greatly benefitted by the laws here in many different [ways] . . . So we are all the same kind of human beings and all ought to live to become better citizens. Let’s all recognize the purpose of the law, seek to help one another and promote the general welfare of this Republic and thereby the larger republic.
There were, however, problems arising in New York as it was reported by the Associated Press and published in the San Bernardino County Sun of 19 December that “William R. George . . . attracted hostility between two factions” at the home Republic and this led to “the recommendation of the state board of charities that he be removed from all active participation in the affairs of the George Junior Republic.” The schism was between “those believing in the self governing principle . . . and those believing in paternalism, discipline and institutional methods.”
It was soon revealed that George was also accused, as reprinted in the Record of 12 March 1914, of “willful misconduct in his relation to young women citizens of the Freeville Republic,” though the ages of the girls were said to be five and seven, which led to a special committee of three determining that, while the founder was guilty of that behavior, “he had not been swayed ‘by a desire to injure or abuse’ them.” The matter was referred to the National Association of Junior Republics, the board of directors of which exonerated him of the charges.
Reports suggested that the managerial differences between George and some of the Republic directors embodied in the above quote led to the allegations of mistreatment, determined to have been unfounded, but it was also noted that the special committee was critical of the founder’s approach to managing the institution. Later, there were such financial problems, perhaps stemming from the bad publicity attending this controversy, that the Republic in New York was forced in September 1914 to close, though it soon reopened and George remained in charge until his death in 1936.
The local Republic, as with others outside of Freeville, evolved in different ways than what was inculcated at the original institution and there was a positive summary of it by the San Bernardino County Grand Jury in its June 1914 report, published by the Report of the 25th, as it commented,
The management of the Republic is undoubtedly doing a splendid work for humanity and should have the friendship and cooperation of all the people. In helping make manly men of wayward boys it is performing a most worthy function, and the citizens of the Republic are reminded that in learning to obey the laws of their own institution they are best qualifying themselves for citizenship in a greater Republic, the laws of which are of even larger importance and in which good citizenship is a prime factor of the best government.
Among the improvements made in 1914 and 1915 were a new pumping plant in September of the former year, for a more reliable water supply for the extensive farming operations on the site as well as the July 1915 completion of a brick manufacturing plant that was expected to turn out 350,000 pieces in a week, while a contract was in place for the enterprise to provide 1.5 million bricks.
A major setback, though, was an early February 1915 fire which destroyed a concrete and corrugated iron structure that, however, was finished on the inside in wood and the cause was attributed to a faulty fireplace. A library and reading room with some 2,000 volumes was consumed in the conflagration, while there was significant damage to the gymnasium, as well as the lower room where a bowling alley was located.
Still, improvements and expansion at the Republic were such that the 25 March edition of the Record, in recording a Saturday night lecture, open to the public, and following day’s sermon by Dr. Dana W. Bartlett, a well-known Los Angeles minister, speaker and writer, while mentioning that famed opera singer Ellen Beach Yaw (namesake of Lark Ellen Avenue in Covina and West Covina, where she long owned a ranch) also recently appeared there, remarked that “the growth of this miniture [sic] Republic has commanded some of the best talent obtainable in the way of musical, literary and other programs. The paper added that there was a concerted effort to invite neighbors to programs, undoubtedly to illustrate a community commitment.
On 11 June, the first Republic Day was held and included “an industrial parade, led by the Junior Republic band,” as well as “industrial exhibits,” “displays of live stock, poultry and dairy products.” After a lunch, “a program of athletic games” was offered, while “the interesting event of the evening was an operatic extravaganza, ‘In 1492,” which was likely based on the explorations of Columbus. In a way, this event presaged the current Steve McQueen Car Show, named for the film star who was at the Republic in the mid-1940s and attributed it for saving his life.
The Chino Champion, in its 30 July number, sent one of its reporters on a tour of the facility, which included the new brick factory, which was described in some detail, with respect to the power supply, machinery and process for what, to date, involved some 100,000 bricks made, with a plant capacity of early 2,000 hourly or some 15,000 for each eight-hour day. Because of the thick adobe soil, “the clay, contrary to usual expectation, is a dark brown color” and “the brick will be very hard.” It was added that “a large amount of the brick at first will be used in erecting new buildings for the Republic,” starting with 200,000 units for a hospital.
Another important observation was that the brick-making enterprise was funded by Republic Vice-President Earl Holmes Richardson, co-founder of the Hotpoint Electric Heating Company, established in Ontario four years prior and Hotpoint appliances, which began with irons and moved quickly into refrigerators, stoves, washers and dryers, are still with us, though the business merged with General Electric (GE) in 1918. Richardson provided by $2,500 seed money, but it was remarked that the first production of bricks was expected to yield a thousand dollars more than that.
After the February blaze, a cottage was in construction for a recreation building until a new gym could be completed, after which the former would become “a helpers cottage and club room for the instructors.” Meanwhile, Waterhouse and his wife were to soon inhabit a $5,000 residence with its mentioned that “the boys of the Republic did all of the rough carpenter [sic] work . . . and it was a very creditable job.” Margaret Fowler was also working on plans for a new house on the grounds, while her daughter, Kate, utilized boys from the institution for a cabin in Icehouse Canyon, near Mt. Baldy (this was where F.P.F. Temple had a lumber mill back in the 1870s), which was to be available for vacation trips for Republic charges.
The Champion account concluded,
A visit to the Republic at the present time, to one who has been there in times past, is a revelation and one can begin to see the realization of plan, which a few years ago were but idle dreams. Drives, walks, shrubs, flowers, plants and the arrangement of the buildings, begin to take on the appearance of one enchanting whole. The growth will be more pronounced from now on. It is worthy of a visit of everyone who can possible [sic] go, and those who go will be most gladly received.
In its 3 September issue, the Chino sheet provided some detail on the $7,000 Fowler house, which was dubbed Casa Colina (Hill House) and which was designed by the prominent Los Angeles architect Myron Hunt, whose work included structures at the California Institute of Technology, Occidental College, the summer home of cereal tycoon Will K. Kellogg (now at California Polytechnic University, Pomona), a wing of the Mission Inn in Riverside, the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, the reworked Huntington Hotel in Pasadena, the Rose Bowl and the home of Henry E. Huntington, now the main art gallery at the Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens.
The Champion noted that there was to be a caretaker’s cottage, guest house and garage, while “the exterior walls of the residence will be of brick manufactured” at the Republic. The house later became the first location of what is now Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare, established under the leadership of Frances Eleanor Smith in 1936, and which later moved to Pomona, where it operates today.
Towards the end of September, the Ontario Index reported that a formal ceremony was held to fire up the kilns at the brick plant, where 350,000 pieces were to be burned within a week and it was noted that “this is the first time in twenty-five years that bricks have been manufactured in the vicinity of Chino,” a plant around 1890 operated near modern Soquel Canyon Parkway not far to the south. The paper continued that “the republic plans to make this industry one of the most important at the school” and had a contract for 1.5 million pieces, though with the kilns in operation, more were expected and “the brick industry will then be one of the largest in Southern California.”
At the end of 1915, Edgar H. Price, former Chino schools superintendent, was hired to be the financial secretary at the Republic and the 6 December number of the Report commented that “the institution is launching a compaign [sic] to add equipment enough to complete its vocational departments.” Moreover, the idea was “to give each boy an opportunity to learn the thing that he wants to learn, and to carry him along in the trade so far that he can step out of the school and continue his apprenticeship in some factor or foundry.”
The piece remarked that there were three branches of vocational training at the Republic, including agriculture (field crops, poultry, dairies and garden crops); industrial (automobiles, carpentry, electrical engineering, masonry, printing and surveying—a project dealing with Chino Creek and its drainage was underway with this last); and commercial (baking, laundering and store-keeping). Moreover, it was noted that “the owners of several factories and foundries in Southern California have been interested in the work of the Junior Republic” and were said to have been interested in hiring some of the charges once they were ready for apprenticeships.
Lastly, there was a feature on “An Unique Educational Institution For Boys” in the Champion of 18 October, which recorded that there 230 acres in the facility, on which about $100,000 were expended since 1909, and included “various industry buildings, general store and office, central cooking plant, print shop, electric shop, school house, administration building, recreation building, brick plant, farm and poultry buildings and three cottages in which to house the boys,” while a school was operated within the Chino school district offering “special commercial, industrial and agricultural course” along with individual attention.
The split days of nine hours, evenly divided among schooling and work, meant that the latter involved pay of nine to twelve cents per hour for labor in carpentry, electrical work, farming and printing. The self-government model meant that there were Republic-specific laws to follow as well as the general state statutes, while “in matters religious this unique community is non-sectarian” and Sunday services conducted “with the co-operation of the different religious denominations.” Athletics were offered in baseball, basketball and track and field, while the gymnasium and swimming pool as well as “tramps in the hills,” presumably the nearby Chino Hills, were also mentioned.
Concerning financial support, there were parents who did pay for their sons’ maintenance and tuition, but other charges were there thanks to annual ($5) and life ($100) memberships, along with Junior Republic magazine subscriptions and donations. There were 80 citizens between the ages of 14 and 18 at the Republic and 20 instructors and teachers with trustees led by Dr. George Sumner of Pomona College and advisors, who were headed by Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas J. Conaty until his death just a month prior. Prominent supporters included the Fowlers, Ojai educator Sherman D. Thacher, and Mission Inn owner Frank Miller.
As to Superintendent Waterhouse, it was briefly stated that he “has proven himself most capable in the discharge of the duties assigned him” while the Champion observed that,
This institution, yet in its infancy of development, has accomplished some splendid results in the education of aspiring youths, equipping them with a thorough and practical education which makes for good citizenship.
Waterhouse remained in his position until early June 1917 when his resignation was “very reluctantly accepted” by the board and the Report of the 4th noted that “Mr. Waterhouse has enlarged the usefulness of the Republic and has been a strong factor in the life of many a boy who has been under his supervision.” The departing official, however, was “still retaining the chairmanship of the board of directors,” though, when it added that he was “to engage in agriculture on a large scale, and this will probably be in this valley,” Waterhouse instead returned to his family’s Casitas Springs Ranch between Ventura and Ojai.
He remained there until 1923, when the ranch was sold, and Waterhouse and his family moved to Pasadena, where he spent much of his youth and early adult years, while his father, William, was mayor early in the century. Among his endeavors was the G.C. Waterhouse Company, which engaged in ornamental iron work and the manufacturing of fire escapes, gates, I-beams and railings. An inventor, Waterhouse developed an automatic traffic signal that was installed in the Crown City, though a lawsuit from a Los Angeles competitor appears to have derailed this effort as the Roaring Twenties neared its end and the Waterhouse Traffic Signal Company dissolved in late 1929.
On 16 August 1933, at just age 48, Waterhouse succumbed to a heart attack and the Redlands Facts offered a brief, but meaningful, encomium:
Waterhouse was still a young man, but he had done a fine work in pioneering the Republic on its useful way. Many a lad owes the fact that he is a good citizen to the methods Waterhouse employed in the delicate problem of taking youngsters just turned toward waywardness along the straight and narrow path—doing it in such a way they liked it and stayed with it.
For a good portion of his tenure, Waterhouse had a very capable assistant in Clyde Doyle, so we’ll return next with part three covering some of the history of this remarkable figure for Boys Republic as well as more broadly. Be sure to check back in for that.