GJR (George Junior Republic)

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George Junior Republic is an all-boys institution in western Pennsylvania in the town of Grove City. It serves to house, school, and discipline 400 high school-aged boys from troubled backgrounds. Known locally as "The pub" or simply as GJR, the school is characterized by its successful athletics, most notably its basketball team. The basketball team has 2 PIAA state championship victories as well as a plethora of District-10 championships, and has graduated some notable individuals who went on to play at the collegiate level, including B.J. Grove (University of Cincinnati) and Johnny Hollingsworth (University of Akron). The school is also characterized by its many cottages that house the boys. All of these houses are modern and they give the campus the appearance of an upper-class housing development. The school has several notable alumni, in particular Antwone Fisher, who wrote the book "The Memoirs of Antwone Fisher." The movie "Antwone Fisher," starring Denzel Washington, was made about him.

Life Of The Interned In the late 1940's and well into 1951, the GJR cottages were supervised by husband/wife teams referred to by all as cottage parents and called "Aunt" and "Uncle". The GJR was probably 85% self sufficient. There was the dairy, tailor shop, barber shop, blacksmith shop and the gardens raising much of the fruit and vegetables for the institution. During this period there were 3-4 major cottages housing anywhere from 90 to 120 boys. The housing consisted of 3-4 floors. Usually the basement was where the boys remained when not outside working. The basement also provided for showers and individual lockers for each boy. The main floor was primarily the kitchen and dining room. A small TV room was also provided for those boys that qualified for TV privileges. Uncle Milty was the most desired show of the time. The third floor consisted of the bedroom for the cottage parents and several small individual bedrooms each housing four specially privileged boys. The top floor was totally open much like a military barracks. The top floor consisted of the WWII metal bunk beds stacked two high throughout the entire floor.

The normal daily routine was to be up at 6:30 a.m. and down into the basement to take care of individual hygiene. Then breakfast and off to work detail or school. Most of the boys, who qualified, were sent to the local high school in Grove City. Returning from school and off to whatever work area you were assigned. After supper was study time for those attending school. Saturday morning was equally a work period but Saturday afternoons were usually reserved for a movie in the gymnasium. Sunday was a day of worship and was provided for both Christian and Jew alike. Sunday was also visitor's day when family could come and spend the entire afternoon with their related interned.

During my internment a major change came about when the original head of the institution received a promotion to one of the larger state prison's was replaced with a more forward looking administrator. This new administrator favored total rehabilitative measures over punitive. No more physical punishment was allowed to be administered by the cottage parents; especially the razor strap beatings. No more 'on your knees' floor shinning, which had proven damaging to the boys knees. All floor shinning was hence carried out by erect sliding on 'shine rags' under the feet. Floor shinning was a punishment for some infraction such as talking during silent time before meals. Anyone caught even whispering during 'silent time' was put on the 'shine line' which was conducted after each meal.