Growing Up in Orphanages: Here in RI

David A. Brown shares his experiences

by Suzanne Ramczyk

(This article appeared in the Trinity Reporter, a newsletter for subscribers of the Trinity Repertory Company, in April, 2001. The article accompanied the two-part play Cider House Rules; the story of “Homer, a young boy from Maine who had resided in an orphanage. Mr. Brown had resided at St. Mary’s, a member of RICORP, some six decades ago.)

On February 23rd, I enjoyed breakfast and conversation with David A. Brown, an alumnus of both St. Mary's and St. Andrew's orphanages, and also a former member of the board and Treasurer of Trinity Repertory Company. The encounter was a heart-rending and poignant one, as Mr. Brown shared memories of his early life in these homes. His reminiscing attested to the high quality of care, the fine education, the ethical rearing, and love he received from the time of his infancy until being launched into adulthood.

Mr. Brown spoke glowingly of the care he received from both institutions. "St. Mary's spoiled you," he noted. "You were never spanked, only hugged and hugged. You may be told to go sit somewhere all alone when you misbehaved, but their care inspired you!"

He went on: "I was the only boy there for quite a while so the older girls would dote on me." Upon remembering Miss Nichols and Mrs. Newberry, the housemothers, Mr. Brown became quite emotional recalling how they held the children when hurt or sick, spent hours reading aloud, and Mrs. Newberry's mothering him through schoolwork.

This same poignancy emerged when Mr. Brown recalled the love he received at St. Andrew's, particularly recalling how Miss Greenwood would read to "us" at the end of the day before bed, and how she and Mrs. Plummer mended all the children's clothing and nursed their illnesses. Miss Greenwood spent her whole life there; there weren't shifts of limited hours, but extraordinary dedication!" he proclaimed. "I cannot remember being refused when I went to a teacher for help. Most of us were happy at St. Andrew's; we were a community, a very big happy family!"

When questioned about the lifestyle and day-to-day life in the institutions, Mr. Brown recalled that at St. Mary's, one of his tasks was to shine the girls' shoes, since at the time, he was the only boy. A beloved mentor, James Sisson, the maintenance man and only male-figure in Brown's early life, instilled in him a sense of quality of efforts, as well as a love for gardening. (His "green thumb" was later discovered at St. Andrew's , where he became instrumental in resurrecting the garden farm, which eventually sold vegetables in Providence to raise money for the school.)

For Mr. Brown, who had only a few chores at St. Mary's--as well as a private bathroom--life at St. Andrew's was somewhat of a shock. His new home, where the boys slept twenty to a room, possessed only four bathtubs in which forty boys had to bathe twice a week. "St. Andrew's was like running a family with a lot of kids. We all worked and shared responsibility. We were brought up to be gentlemen. They taught us to dine with manners and to dance to develop us as people with pride." He continued, "Oh, there were kids who'd pick on other kids at times, but "bullyism" wasn't rampant and it diminished over time.

People get the idea that it's like a prison with a pecking-order. St. Andrew's was not run that way. We were taught admirable values! This was an interdependent community, and we knew our efforts were meaningful because they were attached to a value system."

Recalling daily life, Mr. Brown observed, "It was a responsible work world. Six o'clock was rise time, and guys on farm duty had to get up at five o'clock. They had cattle and fowl to feed, areas to clean, and milk and eggs to bring to the kitchen. Then it was breakfast at seven o'clock. You had to be clean; your hands were inspected. If you were late, you had no meal.

On Sundays, the children walked a mile to St. John's Church in Barrington, no matter what the weather was.

The only thing Brown noted not liking was having to eat tripe. The farm kept cattle and absolutely nothing was wasted. School was closed for only two weeks each summer, and everyone, but those with farm and maintenance duties, went to Camp Kickemuit. "We just ran and played all day, of course cleaning our cabins and sharing KP duty. This was our vacation; then it as back to home!"

Culminating a very enjoyable two hours, Mr. Brown shared a poem that he felt was one of the "acorns" of a philosophy of life possessed by those who oversaw the likes of him. The poem speaks of an old man who builds this bridge at evening tide over a vast, deep chasm, because

...in the path I've come, There followeth after me today,
A youth’s whose feet must pass this way."

Due in no small way to the valuable upbringing he received at both Homes, Mr. David Brown, as demonstrated in his great generosity in giving back to his beloved institutions and the Rhode Island community, embodies this same philosophy no less than did his beloved house-mothers and mentors.

This interview was conducted at the suggestion of Steve Sorin, Trinity Rep's development director, formerly the director of development at St. Andrew's School. St. Andrew's was founded as a home for homeless boys in 1893.

Suzanne Ramczyk is a professor of theater arts at Bridgewater State College.

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Revised: 7-Dec-07

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