What was the edgemeade orphanage in mt. home Idaho?

Answer 1

It was a place to send kids far away from home so they could beat the hell out of them and get away with it. Bill Koon and all his counselors should be hunted down.

I don't know who wrote this but they are half right. I was in Edgemeade of Idaho from 1972 until 1973 until I was "rescued by my mother". The "school" was represented as a place for "emotionally disturbed children" and we were placed there by the courts. Most of our crimes were "adolescent defiant disorder." We were between the ages of 8-17. When you turned 18 they kicked you out because the state or your parents weren't paying the bills anymore. We lived in barrack type housing on a hill outside of town that was infested with bedbugs and mice. We went to "private on campus schools" that consisted of nothing more than being babysat. The University of Pennsylvania would do their psyh. rotations there, so we got some education during the summer. 95% of the children in this school were on heavy doses of psychotropic drugs. We would make fun of the kids doing the Thorazine shuffle. I personally was on Prolixan, Thorazine and these were the ones that I can remember. Oh by the way --I was 14 years old and these medications are counter indicated in children and young adults due to the severity of the side effects. We were given talk therapy which consisted of trying to keep the "counselor" from molesting us or we would be threatened with what they would call a blanket party. (They took everything you had, including your clothing and you would wear a blanket until they felt you were remorseful enough to submit to what ever arbitrary rule you broke. Try that in an Idaho winter!!) Most of the time it was just because you just pissed someone off. I'm lucky I survived and am a successful professional. I pray for the souls that were crushed there and I hope that there were a few like me who MADE IT!! in spite of the hell hole snake pit. (I have never told this story to anyone else except my husband, because quite frankly I doubt if anyone would have believed me.)

The stories by the second author are much closer to the truth. I can't refute the blanket party as I was not there until about 1976. The place I remember was not as bad as described. They did use meds but punishment was basically a several days to a week time out. I can only speak for when I was there but, at that time the place was a summer camp when you compare to a real juvenile correctional inst. Always wanted to touch base with anyone from there who is still alive (I am 52 now).

Answer 2

testing . EDGMEADE 1972-75