A DIJrFJERJPUL OF HUMANITY {The Chadwick Adventure in Education}

Margaret Lee Chadwick

Anchor Press San Pedro, California Copyright «:> 1978 by Margaret Lee Chadwick

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Printed in the U.S.A.

Anchor Press San Pedro, Califo rnia

" A DllrrERfUL OF HUMANITY {The Chadwick Adventure in Education}

Dedicated to the Chadwick School Family

Past, Present, and Future

by

Margaret Lee Chadwick

1978

'" ,. PROLOGUE A Dipperful of Humanity attempts to tell the distant past of my life. story of Chadwick School's beginning and growth It also had its distant past in the life of my from 1935-1977. husband. I cannot speak for his particular inner The task is not easy. As I leaf through memos, voices, but I do know in his early training in a catalogs, yearbooks, calendars, Mainsheets, Dol­ remarkable New England family, his education in phins, hundreds of letters, Alumni notes, news­ the U.S. Naval Academy, his experiences in World paper clippings, student writings, I am carried off War I and later in the Far East equipped him for on emotional journeys into the Past and in all di­ the remarkable role he played as Co-Founder and rections. I must therefore select those incidents, Co-Director of Chadwick School. personalities, achievements, triumphs and trage­ And how did it happen that a highly efficient dies that seem to me most significant. officer in the U.S. Navy became a civilian heading A few years ago I was asked by Mr. Wistar up a co-educational day and boarding school, the Wood (now Head of Science Department at Chad­ first of its kind on the pacific Coast? wick) to tell the Chadwick Student Body how our The answer is to be found in the fact that after School began. Now I quote from the speech I the Washington Conference of 1922 the United gave that day: States was forced to cut down its Naval power "Well how did each of you begin and come to according to a treaty signed by five major nations. be the person you are? The miracle of your begin­ Many ships were sunk and many fine officers passed ning, biologically speaking, some of you discussed over. Disarmament was popular with both Re­ long ago with Quinny in her laboratory, but publicans and Democrats. neither you nor she found answers to the complex In June 1936 my husband took leave of the questions of why you are you and I am I." Navy with a heavy heart. His family felt the blow In studying the Old Testament Prophets with keenly as he had made us feel that we too be­ my minister, the Reverend Dana Prom Smith, I longed to the beautiful ships and the handsome came to the conclusion that each one of us has a men of the sea. No more delightful trips in the gift of prophecy. I do not mean the gift a sooth­ Captain's gig to have dinner and a movie aboard a sayer claims when predicting that an earthquake battleship or cruiser! No more walks up and down will tople California into the Pacific Ocean on a the gangway with the youn~ sailors standing at certain date. No! I refer to the deep inner feeling attention! Gone! Gone forever!! or knowledge or confidence that each one of us But now the moment of decision for Joseph H. possesses that tells us we can and should do what Chadwick had come: should he become a schoo/­ our inner voices direct. man or a businessman? To the great benefit of his Several times in my life I thought I heard inner own career and the success of the budding school, voices directing me to build a school. Now, as you he became both: Co-Director and Business Manager perceive Chadwick School had its roots in the of Chadwick Seaside School.

v INTRODUCTION.

"Dearest Margaret, other people who had considerable property. Out of this came a gift of a large tract of land where she With your customary insight and perspicacity could build a school. This was built with the help and your school teacher background, you have the of the parents of some of her children and a good wit to have other people write your book for you. deal of effort by Margaret herself. I watched it I think it is a good idea, though I am sure you from the beginning. There really was not the slight­ would do it far better than any of them. However, est chance for the success of this sort of institution. 1 will enclose my slight contribution to this effort In the first place, while she had a large and very of yours which I am sure will be a noteworthy beautiful piece of property and a lovely location, one. there was no real basis for support in the way of Many years ago, in fact just 75 years ago, Mar­ an endowment or any assurance that there would garet and Paul and 1 went to Hungerford Academy be money coming in to keep the thing going after in Springville, Utah. This was a remarkable Presby­ it was started. This did not deter her in the terian boarding and day school, manned and slightest degree. One way or another each problem womaned by extraordinarily capable and dedi­ was met: one building built, then another and cated people with an education far above the level another. Through it all, she kept pushing toward that was possible for teachers in the public schools the ideal that she had. in our area to achieve. Hungerford, looking back Many, many graduates of the Chadwick School on it and comparing it with other institutions of will attest to how successful she was. It was really learning, was exceedingly good. But 1 remember the projection of a very idealistic, a very dedicated that even in those early days, Margaret found and very determined woman to do what she wanted many things to criticize about it. She said one day to do. While there was very little that 1 could do at that she could do very much better, and I said to a distance to help her, I did watch the growth of her, "Well, do it." She shut her lips tightly and this school with the keenest interest. She was able said, '1 will'. That is one thing that you could al­ to infuse into both the day students and the ways count on about Margaret. Once she said she boarders particularly a sense of the meaning of a would do a thing, she did it, and no amount of dedicated life which she herself had. As a result of persuasion, argument or reason would deter her. that, the product of this school was exceedingly The years went by. We went to Stanford, Mar­ high quality in terms of fitness for the business of garet had a spot of teaching in Nevada, marriage, living. Two of my children went there, and one for children and other things. One day when we were a short time, and 1 must say benefitted tremen­ riding together in an automobile, she said, 'You dously by the experience. Each year she expanded know, 1 am going to have a school as 1 have always and increased the scope of her activities until her said 1 would. It is going to be my own school, with retirement a few years ago. my own ideas of pedagogy. It will be somewhat The Chadwick School, to me, represents a pro­ like Hungerford with some of the same ideals and jection of Hungerford Academy back in Spring­ the same devotion to high intellectual principles, ville, Utah, subjected to the alchemy of Margaret but will be very modern.' Sure enough, she started Lee Chadwick's genius and personality, and it is a school in the back room of her house in San truly a very fine and beautiful monument to an Pedro. Previously she had gotten her hand in by extraordinary person. running a nursery school in a house she owned in San Francisco. Once she got started, she enlisted (Russ) in her school the children of some very well-to-do people in Los Angeles and also the friendship of Russel V. Lee, M.D.

vi TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prologue

Introduction

Acknowledgements

Part I: The Thirties

Chapter 1: Chadwick Open-Air School...... _ . . .. 3

Chapter 2: Interlude In A Trailer...... 5

Chapter 3: We Become Boarding And Day ...... 8

Chapter 4: A Letter Does It!...... 9

Chapter 5: Chadwick Seaside School Becomes a Non-Profit Corporation ...... 11

Chapter 6: A Leap Forward ...... 13

Chapter 7: We Move To The Hill ...... 14

Responses From Former Faculty and Students...... 15'

Part II: The Forties

Chapter 1: A Dipperful of Humanity ...... 29

Chapter 2: Abalone Cove and " Quinny" ...... 30

Chapter 3: The Animal Kingdom ...... 31

Chapter 4: Pioneer Faculty...... 33

Chapter 5: Our First Commencement...... 36

Chapter 6: Chadwick Seaside School Becomes Accreditated ...... 37

Chapter 7: The War Years ...... 39

Chapter 8: Toddy Remembers ...... 41

Chapter 9: The Reconstruction Period . . ... _ ...... 43

Chapter 10: The Castle on Via Horquilla ...... 44

vii Chapter 11: Our Indispensable Chizuko Kubota ...... 46

Responses...... 47

Photographs . . . . . • . . . . . • . . . . . • ...... 55

Part III: The Fifties

Chapter 1: Everything Was Growing ...... 79

Chapter 2: Co-Piloting Chadwick School ...... 80

Chapter 3: "Boys to the Boy's Donn; Girls to the Girl's!" ...... 83

Chapter 4: Dorothy's Dorm ...... 85

Chapter 5: Good Teachers Make a Good School...... •... 87

Chapter 6: Discipline and Two Battered Boys...... 91

Chapter 7: Carrell and the Courts...... 93

Chapter 8: Traditions Take Shape ...... 95

Chapter 9: What Is Chadwick? (Vera Campbell Wisner Gives Her Answer) ...... 97

Responses ...... 109

Photographs ...... 117

Part IV: The Early Sixties

Chapter 1: The Nineteen Sixty Dolphin Reflects the Spirit of the School...... 137

Chapter 2: A Chadwick Alumnus Addresses the Fifty·four Graduates ...... 139

Chapter 3: We Lose a Beloved Faculty Member ...... 143

Chapter 4: A Unique Journey to Greece Remains a Treasured Memory ...... 145

Chapter 5: Another Tragedy Strikes ...... 147

Chapter 6: The Co·Pilots Encounter Troubled Waters ...... 150

viii Chapter 7: The Chadwicks Retire with Pomp and Ceremony .....152

Responses ...... 155

Photographs ...... •...... 161

Part V: The Years From 1964 To 1977

Chapter 1: Chadwick School Holds Together ...... 173

Chapter 2: Retirement Years for the Chadwicks ...... 175

Chapter 3: Headmaster Don Leavenworth Pilots the School Into Calmer Waters ...... 178

Chapter 4: Why Not Revive the Drama of the Ages? ...... 180

Chapter 5: Paul Griswold Lee Delivers the Bicentennial Commencement Address ...... 182

Chapter 6: Miracle on the Hill ...... 184

Chapter 7: An Unfinished Story. Let the Dolphins Carry It Along ...... 185

Responses ...... 189

Photographs ...... 195

Eulogies ...... •...... •...... 201

Epilogue ...... 205

Critics Reports ...... 209

ix

.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

My gratitude to the many who responded to my than a dear friend of many years and the best of 1976 questionaire. Four of these responses turned all photographers, Ansel Adams. Somehow he into whole chapters; several others were worthy of caught the spirit of what the Chadwicks were try­ publication. Also, I used for two other chapters ing to do with children. whole or partial commencement addresses of Chad­ I have Ansel Adams and Cedric Wright (deceased) wick Alumni, although other speeches to the out­ to thank for the pictures in a number of early going seniors have been memorable and have been Chadwick catalogues which my young friend, delivered by a number of well-known celebrities. Russell Dymock Smith, with the help of a profes­ With complete impartiality (?) I selected the address sional artist, reproduced for this book. Young Dym written by my son, Joseph Chadwick, and delivered also helped me select from many yearbooks by his brother David, and the Bicentennial written (Dolphins) pictures done by gifted student photog­ and delivered by my nephew, Paul G. Lee. raphers reflecting the life and growth of Chadwick School. 1) Abalone Cove and QUinny: Part II, Ch. 2 Lastly, I must thank three special people who took time to read in whole or part my story of 2) Toddy Remembers: Part II, Ch. 8 Chadwick School and give me their opinions.

3) Dorothy's Dorm: Part III, Ch. 4 1) Vanessa Smith: 13 years at Chadwick; pres­ ently a sophomore at UCSD. (See her 4) What is Chadwick? Part III, Ch. 9 letter.)

6) How to Make Something Out of Nothing: 2) Margaret Childs: 32 years in Business Office; Part IV, Ch 2 mother of two graduates. (See letter.)

6) The Bicentennial Commencement Address: 3) The Rev. Dana Prom Smith: Minister of St. Part V, Ch. 5 Luke's Presbyterian Church; a scholar, writer, too busy to read whole Manuscript The very first response came from none other but gave good advice.

xi xii fJIJi THI1{TIES

,

PART I: THE THffiTIES Chapter 1: CHADWICK OPEN-AIR SCHOOL

CHADWICK OPEN-AIR SCHOOL was estab­ But also I was a devoted mother, a mother with lished on September 16, 1935, in the comfortable children in trouble, a mother who had dreamed little home my husband had rented on Le Grande dreams all her life of a beautiful country school. Terrace, San Pedro. He was lonely and eager to be I remembered my father observing me in my with his family as we were to be with him. Having nursery school in San Francisco and saying, been ordered to duty on the U.S.S. Nevada and "Margaret, you must always be a teacher!" learning that the ship would be based in the Los When CHADWICK OPEN-AIR SCHOOL began Angeles Harbor, he asked for ten days leave in in the playroom leading out to the garden we were December 1934, flew to Denver, and retrieved his four pupils and one teacher: 2 Chadwicks and 2 wife and three children who were happily en­ Roesslers: David Chadwick (9); Chad Chadwick sconced in Graland Country Day School. (10); Jean Roessler (8); Mark Roessler (10); Leaving Graland was difficult, for Graland simply Margaret Chadwick (42). spoiled one for any other kind of school, but being My log of the CHADWICK OPEN-AIR SCHOOL with our Dad was even more important, so we details the curriculum and the way we spent each packed up our belongings and with him headed hour of the day: Reading, writing, arithmetic, over the icy Rocky Mountain slopes for San Pedro, history of Mankind, Music, Art, interspersed with California. We celebrated Christmas together in food, walks, trips, and rest periods. our Le Grande Terrace home. We often visited the Several people supported me in this enterprise: U.S.S. Nevada when the ships came into harbor my husband, Edna Roessler, other good friends. from their various manouvers. My log goes on to say, All went well until I entered the three children in public school. Theodora, our eldest, made out "Find all pupils poor in writing and arrange­ pretty well in Dana Junior High, but the two boys ment of work on paper. Feel more skill must met with disaster. I packed a lunch for each of the be developed in fundamentals of writing, three, hoping I might have a fairly free day for the technique of looking up meanings of words first time in my life. That was not to be. Halfway and references to encyclopoedias and in an down the block, Chad whirled around and came ability to study before undertakin~ a real home. just making it to the bathroom to throw up project. " his breakfast. He was followed closely by David, although David held on to his breakfast. The I tested their speaking and singing voices; I repetition of this violent protest each day brought tested their handwriting, number concepts, reading me to the school to find out what was wrong. ability. They all needed improvement in writing Plenty! An impossible range of ages in each class­ both letters and numbers, especially our son David room, a mixture of languages and races, a dis­ whose writing ability was "very, very poor." Their traught teacher obviously unable to cope with the reading skills varied widely. situation, in fact a coughing, tubercular, nervous So I began with writing as I had learned it at wreck. Graland Country Day School. It's really a delight­ So now what? ful way to become a legible writer oneself as well Having looked forward eagerly to this first free as an effective teacher of young children. I believe time in my life, a time to read, write, even play we owe manuscript writing to the monks of the bridge with the Navy wives, and above all be Middle Ages; English schools have lately passed it available when the ships came into the Harbor to on to American schools. enjoy being with Joe either ashore or aboard ship, I First I made sure my students really knew the pushed away the nagging voices that beckoned English alphabet. We recited it and sang it to the toward establishing that school that had been familiar tune of- haunting me all my life. Except for sea voyages, months before and after marriage in the Orient, I could never remember a time that was my own. ~jf .fO 51 J1 J.I 1113 Jj J. , Working my way through high school and college, teaching in the high wild beautiful Nevada moun­ Happy, Happy we will be tain valleys; borning children and then a nursery When we learn our ABCs school, becoming a secretary-receptionist in the Next we practised each 26 letters of the alpha­ early years of the Palo Alto Clinic, teaching at bet to familiar nursery tunes, fitting the shape of Graland - and now a chance to catch my breath! the letter to the rhythm of the music, chanting as I was 42, and I was tired! we wrote:

3 1) a Rock-a-bye baby book on the Story of Mankind we will begin our aaaa aaaa study of the history of man on this earth. How­ aaaa aaaa ever, first we must improve our basic skills in d g & q all fit the same tune writing, reading and arithmetic, after which each 2) h n r - London Bridge one of you will be given a series of special projects 3) s b p e x - Jack & Jill in which you will use all the skills you are acquiring. 4) m z k - There Was a Crooked Man And of course you will realize that history is 5) f t i j Y - Here We go Round the Mulberry being made every day of our lives; therefore we Bush must read the daily newspapers and take trips to 6) 10 c - Yankee Doodle visit all sorts of activities in our community as 7) v w u - Good Morning Little Yellow Bird well as to the beaches, the mountains, and deserts." (If you're a doctor or your writing is illegible try Each pupil was given one of Compton's Units these exercises!) for his or her own special project. These folders We next practised writing our ten Arabic num­ were remarkably well-organized studies of the ber symbols 0-9. Hoping to motivate my young upward stages of primitive man to our present pupils to near perfection in forming these numerals, time - a mini course in Western Civilization. I reminded them that fortunes could be lost or Again 1 quote from my early records: won by the failure or success of forming numbers "Our room had one entire side open to the clearly and placing them precisely for addition, outdoors. When a small lizard enrolled as our subtraction, division, and multiplication. (All this sixth pupil (we had added one more pupil to our before the new math got us confused!) original four) we were not too busy with other And then before launching my ambitious plan things to stop and learn the life story of the tiny for the core of our year's study 1 asked my four creature. Again, one day when the rain came down this question: "Why do you go to school?" in torrents we all stopped working arithmetic and Answers: sat quietly letting the rain-sounds wrap us around. 1) Jean (8): "To learn something." And when we wrote poetry about the rain one 2) David (8): "So you won't be ignorant all little boy (our Dave) ended his free verse with this: your life." 'I like the rain 3) Mark (10): "So you can see your numbers at It refreshes my mind.''' a glance." By the end of this first year (1935-1936) on Le 4) Chad (10); "To learn to be independent and Grande Terrace there were enough unsought stu­ to learn a vocation." dents added to our original roll to demand larger My response was "You are all correct. God quarters. We located a roomy, practical house on willing, you will learn a great deal this year, and so 13th and Meyler Streets, a house built on purely will I." utilitarian lines by an immigrant father for his 1 then outlined the plan 1 had for our year's large family of children. Now that the children work. 1 explained that all creatures on this earth were grown and married, the parents wished to be it elephant or man had to learn from someone rent or sell the emptied house. As 1 recall we leased older. Younger from older. Younger can learn in the place for a year at $50.00 per month. 1 saw or out of a schoolroom, but human beings can possibilities for school activities in each of the eight learn much faster in a schoolroom where hun­ rooms, two open verandas, two-car garage, and dreds and thousands of man's experiences are re­ huge basement. We moved our well-traveled corded in books. furniture into the Meyler Street home and took off "With the help of Compton's Pictured Encyclo­ for an unforgettable trip before opening Chadwick poedia and Henrik Willem van Loon's marvelous Seaside School in September 1936.

4 PART ONE: THE THIRTIES Chapter 2: Interlude in a Trailer

Taking leave of his ship in June 1936 was a I called again! No answer. traumatic experience for Lt. Comdr. Joseph H. I settled down wondering if I were locked in Chadwick, as it was for his family. He decided that this aluminum cage permanently. While waiting I he would like to take a cross country trip and show checked the beds, the stove, the cupboards. After his children to our respective families before set· a couple of hours, Joe decided to find out why he tling the growing school into the new quarters on hadn't heard from me. Parking in a grassy spot on Meyler Street. the side of the highway he unlocked the trailer Mobiles were just emerging from the more in­ door. novative automobile companies and Joe was capti­ 'How are things?' he inquired cheerily. vated with their possibilities. Indeed, he almost 'Not all that good. Why don't you answer your accepted an offer to become an officer in one of telephone?' these firms in Southern California. Instead, he 'Did you ring? Something must have happened decided to throw in his lot with the embryo school, to our inter-com. Let's try it again. You get in but buy one of these homes on wheels. the car and I'll try it from the trailer.' As a family we all loved camping and the idea of That didn't work either. In fact it never worked. traveling clear across our country in a well ap­ Joe, loving gadgets, especially new ones, was quite pointed roIling home, stopping in beautiful woods, downcast over this failure. I had to invent another beside clear streams, and in high mountains seemed way of communicating from our living quarters to a panacea for our shock and sorrow over Joe's our front engine. I made up one large black-inked untimely retirement from the Navy. sign which could be held up at the front window How great! we would all be together again and and be read by the occupants of the car: for always. Joe would be joining us in the school and we would be able to travel inexpensively UNLOCK THE DOOR wherever we wished in our cozy camper. In a true Urgent! pioneering spirit I ordered stationery printed with the heading: "The Covered Wagon." I felt sure in Generally that sign was ignored with dire conse­ this delightful home away from home my family quences. and friends would hear echoes of birds, waves, Since our travels in the trailer were to include winds, splashes of falls, of fragrant sagebrush in visits to family and friends, we headed up the the mamy letters I would write. Alas! that was not Pacific Coast Highway (El Camino Real) to Berkeley, to be. It was one of those experiences you would California to show off our Covered Wagon to my not miss, but not repeat. mother. Fairly late on a June day we took off. A shining My father had died shortly after we had reported aluminum egg-shapped trailer was attached to our for duty in Denver, and I had devoted consider­ new Ford car. There were six of us: Joe and Maggie, able time to writing his biography. Had he lived, Teddy, Chad, David and Peegee (we'd invited he would no doubt have joined us in this expedi­ Cousin Peegee to join in our great adventure). * tion as he loved the Great Outdoors and loved Edna Roessler had put into the trailer a crate of visiting with old friends. He took his own children cherries and given me a check for $150.00 to buy on mountain trips each summer in wagon and tent. supplies for the on-going school. I had filled up the This new contraption would have delighted him. cupboards with juices, cans of beans, fruit, soups, He was with us in spirit. etc. Joe had attached a telephone connection from We created a sensation wherever we stopped: under the trailer to the car so that in case of Salt Lake City, Spanish Fork, Utah; Wichita, trouble we could communicate from trailer to car. Kansas; and on to New York City. On Fifth On the first evening out I decided to stay in the Avenue in N.Y.C. we had our most exuberant trailer and let the children be with Joe in the car. crowd around a weird, shining vehicle that seemed I wanted to see how things would work out in the to be exhibiting a group of real children, not Covered Wagon. About twenty miles from San monkeys? Pedro a cupboard door flew open and cans came There were no rules in those days prohibiting tumbling down all over the floor. Time to use the mobiles from cruising down Fifth Avenue. We telephone! I called Joe. might have made expenses collecting tickets of No answer. admission.

*With author's pennission: Much of chapters II and III overlap material in the last chapter of Looking at the Sunset Upside Down by M.L.C.

5 Before each of our many stops I had Joe try to Teddy's cold and asthma were getting worse; Pee­ find a cemetery where we could have privacy and gee's boils ran their course and he needed no more water in order to scrub up the children and purify hot packs. I kept Teddy in bed for the best part of the Covered Wagon, thus arriving at our next desti­ the three thousand miles to California. Joe drove nation neat and clean. Little did our admiring hosts steadily all day and part of the night while I realize what had gone on behind the scenes - be­ cooked food, cared for the sick, and kept the side the tombs! trailer fairly clean and the children fairly happy. The visit to Joe's parents and their large family At last Joe said, "Maggie, will you take over the - ten children and innumerable grandchildren­ driving for awhile? I'll take over the kids." was the highlight of our expedition. Joe unhooked Now we were in Nevada, getting very close to the trailer from the car for the first time and we our destination which was Mare Island, California, settled down to enjoy picnics, beach parties, canoe where we were to deliver Pegee to his parents who rides, intimate family gatherings with the whole were stationed there. It was late afternoon and we Chadwick Tribe. A beautiful experience. were climbing into the foothills. Joe and the chil­ During this time we visited Houghton-Mufflin dren were in the trailer. Mercifully, they all went in Boston and expended the precious check to sleep. ($150.00) Edna Roessler had given us to buy books I drove on for awhile and when all seemed calm and supplies for the school to open in September and quiet inside the trailer and in the world, I 1936 on Meyler Street in San Pedro. That visit eased the car to a stop. Putting on the brakes I began a life-long affiliation with Houghton-Mufflin climbed noiselessly out and sat down under a books, teaching and test materials, the very best. juniper tree. I'd had it! I knew Joe, too, had had We ordered them regularly. And to crown a long it. I felt this was time to rest. relationship with Houghton-Mufflin our "Danny" Sitting under the juniper tree was an experi­ (Miss Virginia Daniels) is now editing English text­ ence I've never forgotten. I recalled my teaching books in their publishing firm after many highly days in this high, wild, sagebrushed-scented coun­ successful years of teaching English at Chadwick try; the romantic involvements with poetic, philo­ School. sophical Milton and sensitive Herbert; my trips to After the delightful visit with the Chadwick China and the Philippines; my married life with Clan we decided to show our children our former its high and low and always varied spots; and now home in Yorktown, Virginia, so we drove south. our present hope for a beautiful school born out although Joe was a remarkable navigator of ships of the sorrow of Joe leaving the Navy and my at sea and automobiles on road, he lost his way and longing for a country school - all these things and took us through incredibly bad roads somewhere many more. The sun set and the clouds turned a in Kentucky. During this harrowing experience he brilliant pink and faded. Still my family slept on. refused to honor the sign: Unlock the Door. Suddenly a booming voice. "Maggie, what are Urgent. we doing just sitting here?" He was humiliated at being lost and kept me "I thought you needed a quiet rest." locked in the Cage until he found his way and be­ "We could have rested while you got us another came so exhausted he had to ask me to take the hundred miles. We must be getting along. Here, wheel. He stretched out on one of the bunks in I'll take over." the trailer. "I'm sorry, Joe, but I too was utterly exhausted. I drove on to Atlantic City to visit Sister Jessie. I needed to sit under the juniper tree. Come, sit Jessie had taken a cottage there for the summer. down with me for a few minutes. Look out over God only knows how I made it smoothly and safely the hills and smell my juniper tree. I have some­ into the heart of the city. Joe, waking up, was thing very important to say to you." frantic and put up the sign: "What?" impatient, but seated. Unlock the Door - Urgent "As soon as possible sell this Covered Wagon. I As he had done when I was frantic, I ignored his will never take a trip in it again." call knowing full well that Sister Jessie would "Has it been that tough?" welcome us with open arms and Joe wouldn't "It has! " want to have a scene in front of my loving Sister. "Well, I'm pretty tired myself, but driving Sweet revenge! wasn't as hard as cooking, laundering, nursing­ We spent a day or two in Atlantic City enjoying I have to admit that." the Atlantic Ocean. All of us swam several times And then for a few moments we were alone, in the cool, gentle waves and felt exhilarated and for a few moments of deep tenderness toward ready to undertake the journey home. Sister Jessie each other, the weariness and worry gone. I could had been most thoughtful and hospitable. hardly bear to have our closeness end. So now we were westward bound. We had two A restless cry from the trailer called us back to invalids: Peegee with boils and Teddy with asthma. the parental concern for Teddy.

6 "Joe, I'm terribly worried about Teddy. She's three boys were thoroughly frightened. feverish. I wonder if we shouldn't try to find a It seemed an appropriate ending to our 10,000 doctor in the nearest town, although I'd prefer to miles in an aluminum cage, although we surely had get her into the Naval Hospital at Mare Island." had some memorable and wonderful and happy "That's better. Let's get going and we 'll be there experiences along the way. by tomorrow afternoon." We returned to San Pedro and to the large house So all night Joe drove steadly through my be­ on 13th and Meyler. Accustomed to moves after loved sagebrush country stopping only when there settling homes from a Nipa Shack in the Philippines was a rare gas station open. One small boy slept in to the elegant colonial home on the banks of the the back seat of the car, the other two in the trailer. York River in Yorktown, Virginia, and back and I dozed now and then as I watched over Teddy. forth across the continent, I quickly arranged the She slept fitfully, but her fever was rising. We furniture with an eye to making space for at least reached Mare Island in the mid-afternoon and after two classrooms and an office. The living room letting the three boys off at the Paul Lee Quarters could serve the family and students as a place for Joe and I went straight to the hospital with study and relaxation. Teddy. It was soon apparent that additions must be Pneumonia! But not too severe a case was the made. And here our Covered Wagon came to the diagnosis. A few days in the hospital and she would rescue! Joe sold the trailer but not without a deep be well enough to be taken home. nostalgic feeling toward that two-wheeled fore­ While we were taking care of Teddy, somehow runner of the modem sophisticated mobile. My the Lord didn't seem to be looking after the boys. feelings were mixed: regret and relief, but grati­ They got into a playful rock fight resulting in tude that funds from the sale provided the where­ Chad's two front teeth being broken off. When we withal to glass in the upper veranda, rent a cottage arrived at the Lee Quarters Peegee was frantically next door, and convert a garage into an art and applying wet towels to Chad's bleeding mouth. All crafts studio. Blessings on that Trailer!

7 THE THffiTiES

Chapter 3: We become BOARDING and Day

Since our small staff functioned in both lowly, ter into our home as a boarder. I showed him the menial tasks as well as in administrative and aca­ same, small charming room that I had shown the demic roles, I was frequently busy with washing up French professor two days before, all the time the lunch dishes in order that our housekeeper, conscious of a struggle going on between my con­ who was also the teacher of Latin, might hold her science and the practical side of my nature, the class. While I was thus engaged the doorbell rang. pratcial side urging me to advise that young James Wiping my clorox-soaked hands on my kitchen Perigord sleep on the porch with the two Chad­ apron, I hastened to open the front door. wick brothers and share their dressing "Is Madame Chadwick here?" room. "I am she." Captain Johnson immediately fell in love with "Ah, Madame, I am so pleased to meet you." Teddy's room and the whole idea of a home board­ And oh! Dear God, he bent over and kissed my ing and day school. He enrolled his daughter. I clorox-perfumed hand. called Captain Perigord. "I am Captain Perigord, Chairman of French "Captain Perigord. I'm in a dilemma; one room; Studies at U .C.L.A." two boarders. Would you be willing to have James "Please, come in Captain Perigord." share the sleeping porch with our two Chadwick I ushered him into our living room which now sons and use their dressing room?" served as a student lounge during school hours Thank Heavens! He said of course he would. and a family room before and after school. He'd Just what Jimmy needed. Brothers. heard of us through friends and wondered if we Our girl boarder, a winsome, dark eyed, dark would accept his 14 year-old son as a boarder. haired teen-ager was popular with us all. Barbara A boarder! What would I do with a boarder so Johnson helped the Chadwick Family through a soon? difficult but exciting time by becoming a second Ah! Teddy's room. Teddy had escaped the daughter, a sister, and quite a romantic figure to family's transitional period in changing from our first male boarder and several other boys. life in a Navy family to that of one boming a school. Having the unexpected good fortune of having She was living with the R. V. Lee family on the both a boy and a girl boarder in our home school, Stanford campus and attending high school in Palo I was again reminded of the words of a guest at Alto. I had taken especial pains to make her room the luncheon given by Mrs. Quinlin and Mrs. particularly attractive before she decided she Thompson: "Mr. Vanderlip is eager to find the wanted to leave. right person to establish a school on the Palos I showed Captain Perigord the one vacant spot Verdes Peninsula." in the house. Charmed with the room and en­ Already I had done some preliminary prepara­ thusiastic over my account of our school program, tion for the great leap that was forming in my he immediately entered his son James as our first mind. I had invited Mr. Vanderlip to attend a boarder. rather well done dramatic performance by our And then guess what happened! students at the San Pedro Y.W.C.A. He had seemed A Captain in the U.S. Navy arrived to inquire pleased with our production and expressed an in­ if we might be able to take his one and only daugh- terest in following the progress of the school.

8 THE THIRTIES

Chapter 4: A LE'ITER DOES IT!

"Maggie, what on earth are you doing staying up He wondered whether we knew of the Scar­ so late?" Joe walked into the small breakfast room borough School in New York City. We had not now turned into the School Office where I was known about Scarborough, so he recounted some typing. of his reasons for starting that school and of his "I'm writing a letter." I was somewhat secretive desire to have a sister school on the wild, beautiful about certain plans that were stirring in the back of acres he had bought here on tl)e Palos Verdes my head. Peninsula. He also described his plan of develop­ "To Whom?" demanded my husband who some­ ment of these acres which was to bring a number times became a bit wary over what might be brew­ of well-to-do, cultivated families who would scatter ing in my mind. over the sagebrush hills beautiful Italian villas, each "Oh, Joe, do you have to know everything? with a magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean. Cer­ Can't I write to anyone I want to without explain­ tainly it would be important to have a school of ing to whom, or about what?" high standing available to these distinguished resi­ "Why should you want to write a letter your dents. husband can't know about?" The Japanese farmers who had already been "Well, you'll know about it sooner or later. CUltivating various portions of the hills and furnish­ Don't be in such a rush. Let me finish the letter ing the nearby towns with fresh vegetables and and then will you please put it in the corner mail­ flowers were to be given permission to continue box. That way you'll find out to whom I'm writ­ their cultivation of the land they had bought or ing." leased. Joe returned from depositing my letter addressed And now came our great moment after a pause to: in the conversation. I looked anxiously at the emi­ Mr. Frank Vanderlip, Sr. nent financier. What was he thinking? Villa Narcissa "You Chadwicks are all right! The kind of Palos Verdes Peninsula, Calif. school you're wanting to establish is the hope of I was now undressing and getting ready for bed. our nation. You may have anything in these hills "So you're writing to Mr. Vanderlip about you want. I'd like to have you close to Villa what?" Narcissa but you make your own selection. Be "About wanting to have some land on which to ready tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock to look for build our day and boarding school." your spot with my Land Manager, Archie Hansen. "Oh, Maggie, you dreamer! You're wasting your He'l pick you up at the Rolling Hills Gate House." time. Don't be silly. And now you're tired out. So all the next morning Joe and I were shown Come, let's get to bed." possible school sites by Mr. Arch Hansen, a keen, And snugly, with my head resting on Joe's genial, able businessman, later to be the father of shoulder and his protecting arms around me I fell several Chadwick students. We felt we held the asleep. whole wide world in our hands. In making our Mail in 1936 must have been faster than it is final selection we thought we must consider the now in 1976-1977 for the following afternoon practical as well as the aesthetic values. We knew came a telephone call from Mr. Vanderlip. as a day and boarding school we must be available "Are you the Mrs. Chadwick who wrote me to nearby communities for day students and prob­ about wanting to establish a school on the Penin­ ably to far-away places for boarding students. sula?" Building a school for children of families living in "Yes, I am!" Heart pounding. Italian Villas scattered over the Peninsula did not "Well, I'm very much interested in your letter seem too realistic an undertaking. and I would like to talk to you and your husband. We chose the hilltop where Chadwick School is Could you come over and have lunch with me still thriving, looking serenely out over the bur­ tomorrow?" geoning communities. On Smog-free days the Around the lunch table in the cozy Guest House mountains encircle a fascinating panorama of city the elderly, fatherly, kindly and keen Mr. Vander­ towers, glimpses of Ocean and Harbor, blue sky, lip took stock of the Chadwick pair and shared and nearby trees and canyons. The Hill is loved by some of his own dreams. everyone. He listened attentively to a brief summary of As if the miracle of land weren't enough, there each of us including our reasons and experiences followed almost immediately the miracle of money. that should qualify us for the founding of a school When Fred and Edna Roessler, parents of three on the Peninsula. children now in our home school on Meyler

9 Street, San Pedro, learned of Mr. Vanderlip's deed ings of the School; therefore he was not given at of land to the Chadwicks, they immediately the beginning the recognition that we wished to offered to put up $100,000.00 for the first build· bestow upon him. Later, in many successive ings. Incredible!! speeches and catalogues and year-books we paid Mr. H.F.B. Roessler (Fred) was a rather quiet, tribute to both Mr. and Mrs. Roessler and named gentle, wholly sincere man. He did not want it the principal building Roessler Hall. publicized that he would be funding the first build-

10 THE THIRTIES Chapter 5 : A LEAP FORWARD

The very first catalogue of Chadwick Seaside "Experience is the best of all schools. School School was designed and written by Margaret curriculum should consist of experiences. In our Chadwick and mimeographed by Husband Joseph age of swift industrial, social, and economic change, Chadwick. There were six pages, but actually only to inculcate authoritarian beliefs, fixed rules of five tOpics: Announcement (really interesting!); conduct, is to set our youth in futile and fatal The Staff: Lt. Comdr. J. H. Chadwick (R), Mar­ conflict with the forces of modem life. garet Lee Chadwick, Eunice Houk, Dr. Leonard We believe that there is a marked distinction Thompson, Amy McGlashan (secretary); the between thinking and memorizing. Hardships and Curriculum; What the School Offers: Expenses; the necessity of overcoming obstacles are essential Calendar. factors in the development of character and am­ Probably the most drastic difference between bition. An education which presents no obstacles the then (1937) and the now would be in the realm and is shorn of difficulties is as poor an education of finances: as can be imagined. "Perhaps no better summary of the basic princi· "EXPENSES pies underlying a liberal education can be made An enrollment fee of $10.00 is required to cover than the following by Confucius: 'Moral virtue the cost of handwork and art materials, books and simply consists in being able anywhere and every­ other individual supplies as needed for the year. where, to excercise five particular qualities: self· Tuition fees are $225 per year payable in ad· respect, magnanimity, sincerity, earnestness, and vance by the semester or by monthly installments benevolence. ' of $25. A reduction in the tuition will be con­ The purpose of this school is to habituate chil­ sidered where there are two or more children from dren to ways ofliving that are satisfying and worth­ one family. while." For those who find transportation difficult a In planning our curriculum many authorities school lunch will be served at the rate of $30 per were consulted. A Committee on Correlation of semester, or the children may bring lunch from English with other su bjects published a report of home if preferred. Tuition fees cover a mid-morning outstanding specialists in the fields of art, music, lunch of orange juice and wafers." science, and history of what they had to offer our modem world. Among the several distinguished The second catalogue was filled with excitement, scholars was Charles A. Beard who summed up his hope, and ambition, but still limited by funds to ideas on the integration of subjects in a way I can another home-made booklet. never forget. This time Edna Roe.ssler carefully colored in a "Each of the great branches of learning has its map of the Peninsula taken from a Chamber of own center of gravity and interest. It cannot be Commerce booklet. I enlarged the written material presented by teachers who are not thoroughly to twelve pages. From dozens of finger paintings grounded in it and there is quite as much danger in from our younger students we selected the best superficiality as in dry specialization. The great ones to paste on the cover of the catalogue. (Every­ American peril, as I see it is in rushing from one one was finger-painting in 1937 - seemingly one of extreme to another. Specialization is good. Three the forerunners of free art, free verse, free living!) cheers! Fusing is good. Three cheers! The middle Now in this burst of enthusiasm we announced track is more difficult to find and pursue, but it is an enlarged faculty of nine for the coming school likely to prove the saner and better course in the year. long run, especially if we put our minds on the I spent many hours pouring over educational supreme task in the schools namely, helping boys journals, catalogues of well established schools, and girls to understand the modem world and to philosophical treatises on education, and put into live efficiently and nobly in it. " this early bulletin the distilled essence of my read­ English, of course, was taught all the way from ing and experience. the alphabet to the finished essay; mathematics There in the Chadwick Seaside School on Meyler from the writing of Arabic and Roman numerals Street I believe we established certain basic princi· to the study of advanced algebra and calculus; pies that have been accepted and followed by suc­ science from tidepools to embryos; history from cessive administrators and teachers and have helped primitive to modem man; foreign languages em­ the school to survive through depression, inflation braced Latin, French, German and Spanish; health and transition. education was handled by a physician and a highly I am now quoting from our second catalogue: trained psychologist; art, music, drama, and danc-

11 ing by the pooled talents of several staff members special fee. Fuller accounts of our early curriculum and often coordinated with academic subjects; can be examined in the original mimeographed riding, golf, swimming and tutoring all required a copy of Catalogue Two.

12 PART I: THE THIRTIES

Chapter 6: Chadwick Seaside School Becomes a Non-Profit Corporation

The confluence of gifts of land and money has­ to the Founder Board. His plans won unanimous tened the realization of our dream of a country acceptance. day and boarding school. I recall the young architect's hands shaking as Mr. Roessler had his legal counselor, Mr. Taylor, he opened the bids of the contractors. After all draw up the Articles of Incorporation. we were attempting four important buildings for *"Know All Men By These Presents: $100,000, and and even in 1937 when that amount That we, the undersigned, Joseph H. Chadwick, seemed colossal, David Clark realized it might not Margaret Lee Chadwick, A. W. Warnock, Marion be possible for a responsible, able contractor to Rogers Warnock, Russel V. Lee, H. F. B. Roessler, keep within that amount. We were all tense as and Edna Lucille Roessler, have this day volun­ David read the bids. He proposed that we accept tarily associated ourselves together for the purpose the Mr. Thomas bid which called for $140,000. of forming a corporation under the laws of the He felt the Thomas bid would insure the School far State of California, and we do certify ... " greater stability than the lower bids from less able Then followed six pages in legal language of contractors. what we were planning to do and of how we would Fred Roessler rose to the occasion and said he go about it which all seven of us dutifully signed, would lend the School the extra $40,000.00, and thus becoming the first Board of Directors. This for David Clark to proceed letting out the bid to important document was signed on July Mr. Thomas. It was an exciting moment! 19,1937. We moved rapidly forward owing to David As for me, M. L. Chadwick, I was in such a Clark's expert planning and Mr. Thomas' sound ex­ euphoric state of wonderment over this great good ecution of the plans. By December 24, 1937, the fortune that I would have signed any piece of first four buildings of Chadwick Seaside School paper, presented to me by Mr. Roessler's lawyer. I were established. On that same Christmas Eve my had only a dim understanding of what was ex­ husband, clad in a raincoat and rubber boots, pressed in certain of the seven clauses; a few pene­ carried me from our car through pathless mud to trated my dazed state of mind. the threshold of our new home. It was very clear to me that we had banded to­ Now on our Hill were four beautiful structures: gether legally to get our school going. The Main School Building; the Co-educational Because of my experience in the Palo Alto Clinic, Dormitory (blocked off in the middle for boys I had learned of the Clark Family. Dr. Esther and girls); the Dining-Kitchen-Auditorium; the Clark had become a good friend of mine; her Chadwick House and a small extra room and bath youngest brother David was a talented architect; for whomever it might be needed (how that room her father the first professor of art at Stanford grew!). University. I contacted David immediately. Already On that first night in our campus home, Joe and with considerable experience in planning schools, I stood arm in arm looking out over the lights (he had won a medal of honor on some buildings below in the surrounding communities. Not mud he'd done for Menlo School), he entered into the nor treeless hills could dampen my spirits. Chadwick venture with unusual enthusiasm, un­ "Joe, let's always be happy here together." derstanding, and competence. Forty years later and three days before Joe After a num ber of trips back and forth from died, my husband said to me, "Maggie, thank you Palo Alto to Rolling Hills (the School address at for having me be part of the School. These have that time) David presented his finished blueprints been the happiest years of my life."

*See Original Articles of Incorporation Chadwick Seaside School

13 PART I: THE THffiTiES

Chapter 7: We Move to the Hill

On a blustery day in early January 1938 we Alfred Sheets, A.B., M.A. English, Sociology, moved the home School to its new home in Rolling Math - Univ. of So. Calif. Hills. Books, desks, typewriters, files, tables, piano, Bertha Sheets, A.B., M.A. French, German, easels, and other school equipment were distributed Math - Univ of So. Calif. to classrooms and offices. The wind blew away Gladys Quinlin, A.B., M.A. Intermediate Sch., some papers and they were lost forever in the can­ Natural Sciences-Pomona ColI., Cornell Univ. yons. I've often wondered what those papers Jessie Freeman, A.B. Primary Sch. Folk Dancing contained. Univ. Calif., L.A. Since the boarding department consisted of one Virginia Chadwick, B.E. Primary Sch., Physical boy and one girl we found no problem in housing Education - Mass. State Teachers' College them safely in the two separate wings of our one Eunice Houk, A.B. Lecturer in science new dormitory. The Housemother/Latin teacher Univ. of Nebraska was herself schooled in the strict tradition of seg­ Elizabeth Stahr, Speech Arts, House-Mother regation of the sexes. Curry Sch. of Expression Moving into a spacious new building designed to Barbara Chadwick, B.S. Home Economics, provide for an ambitious program of studies for Music, Dietitian - Framingham Teachers Coli. children from kindergarten through grade twelve Carolyn Van Wyck, Arts and Crafts, Art proved to be an exciting adventure and a test in Calif. Sch. Fine Arts our faith in what we were doing. Helen Lightner, A.B. Tennis Instructor David Clark had planned this schoolhouse with Purdue Univ. great imagination and understanding of what the William McDonald, Riding Master, Riding Chadwicks wanted for children: homerooms for Instructor - Palos Verdes Stables comfort and counseling; a library for young and Albert Angermayer, Concert Violinist Violin, old; a laboratory for experimentation and dis­ Cello, Violo covery; an arts and crafts room; a music center; Reginald G. Bird, Maintenance Supt. and Shop educational and business offices open to both chil­ dren and parents, a rotunda for a gathering place. Others to be appointed for the following posi­ It was all there with the expectation that one tions: Senior High School Science, Physical day our twenty-seven students would increase to Education; Junior High School, Social Studies; perhaps one hundred and sixty? An instructor in Piano and one to teach Dancing. The school on Meyler Street in San Pedro had been equipped with a rather quaint assortment of And of course other details of present and fu­ second-hand desks and chairs to accommodate ture plans, including expenses: twenty-seven students ranging in age from six to sixteen. Per Year Since we would be encountering no problem of Resident Pupils $1000.00 overcrowding our classrooms, we distributed our Weekly Resident Pupils twenty-three students freely into six homerooms, (pupils who go home week-ends) 875.00 but ordered some beautiful new desks to accomo­ Day Pupils 325.00 date twenty students in each homeroom. We Day Pupil Lunches 80.00 sprinkled the old desks inconspicuously amongst Material Fee the new ones. (Day & Boarding Pupils) 20.00 I wrote a new catalogue with an airview of our (Use of books, art & craft materials) first buildings; a picture of the four charter mem­ Chemistry & Physics Fee 10.00 bers sitting in a sea of blooming mustard; an Laundry (Boarding Students) 30.00 account of our aims and our own beginnings; our Done in School laundry & enlarged organizarion and faculty. carefully mended Riding Lessons 30.00 Lt. Comdr. Joseph H. Chadwick, B.S. Bus. Tutoring, per hour 1.50 Admin; Math Instructor Violin Lessons (at teachers rates) U.S. Naval Academy U.S. Navy (Ret) Piano Lessons (at teachers rates) Margaret Lee Chadwick, A.B. Director of School; English and History teacher - Stanford Univ. Our first summer session was fun and brought Marion Rogers Warnock, A.B., R.N. Asst. Di­ the enrollment up to seventy-five when we opened rector; English, Latin, Music - Stanford Univ. in the fall.

14 Responses to Questionaire

Ansel Adams Dorothea Alpert Gladys Quinlin F Philler Curtis William L. Wheaton

15 Chadwick School always interested me as an found myself in a rather unfamiliar position as institution, but I must admit that my personal re­ homeroom teacher of the fifth and sixth grades gard for the Chadwicks was the dominant influ· and teaching arithmetic, English, and social studies. ence. Their personalities infused the entire organi· It wasn't long, however, before I had woven a bit zation with a kind of creative drive (and evoked a of the biologic into our studies, what with the marvelous human quality) that I find difficult to harbor as a laboratory for our social studies - 'Life describe. But it was an unforgettable experience and Trade of the Pacific,' a praying mantis and her and I only wish I had done more and better work nest, lizards, and a 4'h' gopher snake in our room. for the SchooL The snake caused the entire school staff (7 or 8) My greetings to Margaret Chadwick - and my consternation and considerable unscheduled labor. admiration!! Also my deepest affection! May she Our Bill, maintenance superintendant, was called live well into the 21st Century!! ! ! on to saw the grill in to the heating system to reo Ansel Adams lease the tightly held gopher snake to save damag. (Photographer, Writer, ing his scales and his life from cremation. And Mrs. Teacher) Chadwick was summoned to soothe a pair of digni· fied dowagers flying through the hall to freedom Note: after they had almost stepped on him slithering across the floor. Later, a dozen or so oversized Although Ansel Adams was on our early Chad· frogs and two sometimes odoriferous baby skunks wick Campus for only a short time, he instilled in occupied positions of importance. the newborn school a love and respect for photog· Gladys Quinlin raphy that has been alive and growing ever since. He (Teacher 5th & 6th set up our dark room and gave us real inspiration. Grades, Teacher of Biology, Chairman of the M.L.C. Science Dept., High School Principal)

In the early days of Chadwick School there ex· isted a close and personal relationship between "So many memories! A most touching one - a teachers and students. The following amusing inci· little boy named Michael Heindorf, whose class dent bears this out. One afternoon at a 4 o'clock was asked to tell what "freedom" meant, showed faculty meeting, someone complained that Madison me a picture he'd drawn - just his two hands on a Dewey (student) was forever falling asleep in class. piano keyboard. I wonder if Michael has had the His math teacher, the wonderful Bertha Knemeyer freedom to express himself in music?" said, "Well, Madison falls asleep in my class, too, Elizabeth Stahr Halsell but I feel that if he is that tired, he needs his sleep (Housemother, School more than his geometry, so I let him sleep. I shall Bus Driver, Librarian, coach him after school." Asst. Dir. School Plays, Again and again I have heard Chadwick gradu· 9th & 10th Grade ates, now grown men and women, productive both Homeroom Teacher, as parents and responsible citizens say that their 6th Grade Reading) days at this school spelled security. I believe that their true values were established in the Chadwick environment. They seek a similar experience for "I shall always remember with deep affection their children. Forget they cannot, the guiding the wonderfully kind treatment accorded me when, force of the strong and unique personalities of as a strange admissions officer I made my first calls Margaret and Joseph Chadwick." for Menlo College at the Chadwick School. The Dorothea Alpert warm th of the reception, the friendly visits, and (Piano teacher, Zoo the wonderful cooperation were, of course, from Keeper, Harpsichordist) Margaret Chadwick. I count it as one of the high· lights of my entire career in college admissions that I had the privilege of meeting and knowing "My years at Chadwick School were rewarding this wonderful educator - who I am now counting years. Here young and old worked, played and among my dearest friends. Her career was a tre· studied together in an atmosphere of harm ony and mendous achievement in the guiding of hundreds accomplishment using old and tried ideas as well as of young people along the road to success!" sound new ones. F. Ph iller Curtis The Chadwick School I first knew was in the (Admissions Dir., hills of Palos Verdes and the year was 1938. I Menlo College)

16 "The enclosed seems altogether inadequate. I'm citement of teaching eager young people; the good sorry. How can one capture the magic of those times we had at the beach, on camping trips to the early years? I sometimes wonder, could it have mountains and the desert; the strong interest of been as good as I remember it? And my conclusion the parents and their close involvement during the is that it was! We were lucky, lucky people to have early years; the constant stress on quality; the been there then, and for my part in that experi­ dedication and unfailing devotion of Margaret and ence, I shall be eternally grateful to you, Margaret. Joe Chadwick to the welfare of the students." Frankly, I don't see how you can write the his­ tory of Chadwick, unless you make it an auto­ William L. Wheaton biography, for the Chadwick School was in large ('38-42, '45-46 part the result of your spirit, inspiration, and Teacher, Housemaster leadership. Do try to capture the essence of it! Boys' Dorm. Education is in desperate need of such a story. Summer Session Director These are the things I remember best; the ex- Presently Retired)

17 • PHOTOgRAPHS

Does Mother Nature Make Mistakes? - 20 Extended Parenthood - 21 The School Takes Shape - 22 Our Unforgettable Bill Bird - 23 Early School Activities - 24 We Begin the Study of Man on This Earth - 25

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, • •

20 21 .- •

, , I , I I , • = f ) , I

22 23

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97Je F01{.TIES

27

PART n: THE FORTIES Chapter 1: A Dipperful of Humanity

As our surprising buildings rose on the barren grant, their ready-made school and in hard labor hills and the local newspapers announced the open­ with modest pay for thirty years. ing of Chadwick Seaside School, many questions There followed in rapid succession a number of were asked regarding what kind of school this was remarkable parent teachers who with their equally to be: remarkable children gave vitality, strength and For "Rich or Poor? richness to the SchooL And then of course there Girls or Boys? were the sturdy never-to-be-forgotten single edu­ Younger or older? cators who came from all directions with a great Brilliant or retarded? diversity of education and educational philosophy. Black, White, Yellow? But these pioneers must have a chapter of their Christian, Jewish, Buddist? own. Physically able or Handicapped?" Our students represented a wide diversity of: 1. Races, religions, riches For "All" was our answer, qualified by "For all 2. Male and female sex within our ability to cope with each individual." 3. Ages 5-17 That was a daring (almost bravado) response to 4. Verbal dexterity, verbal disability a conservative community which at that time had 5. Musical, artistic, dramatic talents. hoped for a select school for the elite of the 6. Scientific, mathematical, technical skill Peninsula_ 7. Reasoning high and low in verbal and math­ Actually our aims were not exactly like the mes­ ematical areas sage of the Statue of Liberty on Bedloe's Island, 8. Physical fitness, handicapped New York Harbor, welcoming the poor, the op­ 9. High, medium, low I.Q.'s pressed, downtrodden, etc_; our message might be The Pioneer Faculty and Staff met with ad­ summed up as follows: mirable dexterity the individual gifts of our early Come all ye who are not afraid of labour_ group of students. Judging by the happiness I find in the present (1977) younger and older The Hom Books on our first gates had a softer students, our faculty must be bravely carrying on message: the tradition of developing each child according Here in this Country School both boys and to his or her individual gifts. girls may find excellent instruction, plenty of And how did we handle the rich and the poor? of outdoor life, and good companions. The Work Program brought all together. Every­ one had to work but the poor had to work more. The Schoo] accepts pupils from grades one The races, Religions? through twelve and strives earnestly to dis­ Rabbis, Protestant Ministers, Catholic Priests, cover and develop the special gifts which each alternated in handling Sunday Vespers and Mon­ individual possesses. day morning assemblies. The backbone of our (These Hom Book messages I jotted down for Monday morning assemblies were Presbyterian the gates when we acquired the land from the Hill and Lutheran and Episcopalian ministers, who also down to Palos Verdes Drive_) taught classes in Bible, printing and ethics. A school is as good as its faculty_All through What about English, History, Mathematics, the years Chadwick can truly boast of an unusual Science, Languages, Art, Music, Drama, Physical and colorful faculty _Of course there were mistakes Education? made along the way. My husband used to say, Each student was subjected to all these studies "Maggie hires 'em; I fire 'em!" and disciplines and their teachers given the re­ Out of both necessity and good fortune we early sponsibility of discovering and developing in each established a barter system, exchanging the services individual his or her special talents. of highly qualified and concerned parents for the The I.Q.? boarding or day tuition of their children. This A Ph.D. Psychologist gave each student a Stan­ practice of parent involvement helped put the ford-Binet test which was used by his or her in­ School on a sound academic and financial basis. structor as a doctor uses certain tests in his labora­ The earliest participants in the barter system tory. Chadwick found over the years that these were the founder parents: the Chadwicks and the early tests proved extremely helpful in our college Roesslers. Each family had three children for counseling program; however, we also found that whom they gave all that they could, the Roesslers a high I.Q. or a low I.Q. was by no means an indi­ in money and service; the Chadwicks in the land cation of success or failure in life.

29 I PART II: THE FORTIES Chapter 2: Abalone Cove and "Quinny"

The Thirties merged swiftly but imperceptibly there always was an exodus from the School's into the Forties. We just kept rolling along with hilltop base to Abalone Cove. There students and wonderment, hard work, and more pupils. One of teachers swam, played in the sand, or explored the the many wonders was A balone Cove. fascinating and imprisoned tidepools. Tidepools, Few residents of the Palos Verdes Peninsula where sea treasures in all their varied shapes and would need to have a description of Abalone Cove, exquisite colorings were spread out to view on a but for those of you who have never been there, let sandy and rocky bottom, made a situation as ex­ us say it is one of the choicest gifts of the Pacific citing for teachers as for students who watched Ocean to the curving coastline around the Penin­ and wondered. Anemones and urchins were con­ sula. Countless breakers had pounded against a hill stantly waving their long and colorful tentacles, leaving a stark, spectacular cliff, a sentinel for a starfish (many with their normal five arms but quiet, white-sanded cove with fascinating tide­ some with partially regenerated appendages that pools. had been nipped off by a fellow inhabitant) The Vanderlip Family gave Chadwick Seaside climbed lazily over the rocks; various crabs in­ School the privilege of having exclusive use of the cluding the hermit crab, who always occupied a Cove provided we would furnish reliable gate­ confiscated shell, scurried here and there and oc­ keepers. This we did and gladly! Two remarkable casionally a small silvery fish flitted by. Rocks couples playing in succession the role of St. Peter glistened and those covered with certain algae and at the Pearly Gates admitted or refused visitors barnacles gave a pleasing color change to the to our Seashore Paradise. I have forgotten the picture. order in which these families lived in the Gate­ Mrs. Chadwick with her special talent for set­ house (the Burkes, the Wrights) but the impact of ting any situation to poetry had each child rhyme their personalities upon Chadwick Seaside School his or her experiences for an illustrated seashore can never be forgotten. The Burkes were memor­ book. able teachers; Cedric Wright did magnificent pho­ Perhaps some student of those early days still tographs of the Cove and of everything around has the booklet among his or her mementos. For Chadwick. most, however, memory is the only link - but Mrs. Mathilde Oser asked the Vanderlip Family memory keeps the past alive, and a good past is a if she might buy Abalone Cove for Chadwick Sea­ bundle of todays well lived." G. Quinlin side School, but they did not wish to sell; however, M.L.C. still has her booklet from those early they said they wanted us to use it freely for both days. Quinny's sensitive account of a typical and recreational and scientific purposes. frequent lesson taught around the tidepools at And this we did. Oh so many beautiful days we Abalone Cove prompted her students into poetic had too! Picnics, swimming, dancing, sun-bathing, expressions, one of which I'm quoting as it has a resting. profound, prophetic message. It was written by But I feel sure the most lasting in meaning and Marcia Caden (now Mrs. Gottlieb) when she was in memory will be those connected with the lessons fourth grade. our "Quinny" conducted around the tidepools of Abalone Cove. I asked her to write her own "The Sand account. "The ocean has always been a setting for much I like the sand of Chadwick's academic as well as recreational life. Because it's so beautiful, soft, and clean In fact Chadwick's original registered name was I play in the sand Chadwick Seaside School. With the first warm And make castles with water around them afternoon of spring in the 30's, 40's and 50's, The sea washes my castles away."

30 PART II: THE FORTIES Chapter 3: The Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom began on Chadwick Hill quite quite often and escaped any reprimand by offer­ spontaneously. On my 45th birthday in April 1938 ing the same thing to my husband. Joe had a real someone brought to me at lunch in the Dining Hall weakness for John's bakery and trickery. a tiny little piglet all wrapped up in tissue paper When the Trustees of Chadwick closed it's dormi­ with a pink ribbon tied around its neck. The card tories, John left to serve faithfully the boarding said: "You wanted a farm school! Now get going!! students of Athenian School at Mt. Diablo. He has Happy Birthday!" just retired at 84. And so we did. You could never believe how Riding was the "in" thing in our early years on many little piglets had happy birthdays following, the Hill. A number of children had already become that gift. accomplished in horsemanship and had brought to Many of our earliest pupils were lovers of the school their own horses. In a romantic mood horses; many of them excellent riders. Could they Joe and I saw ourselves galloping over the barren bring their horses to live on campus close to them? hills in our spare??? time. Others already were stabling their horses in the A mother of three most interesting boys, stu­ nearby Palos Verdes Stables under the care of Mr. dents at Chadwick, was engaged in breeding William MacDonald, Riding Master. So of course thoroughbred horses. Mrs. Phyllis French and her we had to build a dormitory for horses. three sons all encouraged us in our desire to take Now we have horses and pigs. Next? Well, World up riding as a kind of therapy from the continuous War II called for becoming self-contained. We demands made upon my husband and me by our added chickens, rabbits, victory gardens, and on big family. the lower slopes grew alfalfa to feed our horses. So we bought from Mrs. French two beautiful, The daily care of the animals required a full time, thoroughbred golden-beige-white palomino horses experienced farmer. He became also the supervisor and I named them "Wind and Wave." of the student victory gardens. During those ra­ On the first week-end that our boarders were tioning War II days our farm made us almost self­ almost all gone and it seemed safe to leave campus supporting as far as food was concerned. The pig­ for a few hours Joe and I went up to the stables, lets grew rapidly and came to our table in various saddled our horses, and mounted our steeds. forms: bacon, spare-ribs, roasts, chops. Being in my early youth accustomed to horses Eggs were plentiful and were gathered each day and fancying myself a fairly good rider, I chose by the farmer and brought to the kitchen for John, "Wind" while Joe seemed happier with the quieter the Cook, i.e. all except a few that might have been animal, "Wave." (We thought the name appropriate slyly taken by certain faculty who did enjoy doing for a retired naval Officer.) My vision was of the some cooking in their own kitchens. John kept a two of us side by side, as we walked, trotted or close check on his egg supply and knew exactly galloped over the barren hills or along the curving who was robbing the nests. white beach on our beautiful matched palominos. Fried chicken came to the table one week and How proud our School Family would be to have fried rabbit the next. Fresh vegetables were served their Co-Directors riding hand-in-hand on "Wind" daily from our gardens. Citrus fruits were bought and CCWave"!! wholesale directly from nearby groves. This vision was instantly dissipated as I put my John the Cook lived in a small structure on land left foot in the stirrup and was bounced, not seated above the campus and farmyard. He was in the on the English Saddle. "Wind" and I were off ­ kitchen by 4 a.m. each morning seven days a week off where? Wildly I clutched the bridle and what I and left only after the evening meal was served, the could find to hold on to on the sleek saddle - oh! dishes washed, and the kitchen clean and ready for for a good old Western cowboy saddle with that the preparation of three meals the next day. The horn to cling to! I must have gone into shock in­ noon meal was most difficult as all the day stu­ stantly as I have no recollection of my where­ dents sat down at the tables for lunch, and the abouts on that strange nightmare of a ride. I must number kept growing and growing. But John al­ have held onto the reins and pulled them now and ways met the changing situations with good humor, again, for eventually "Wind" and I returned to the even enthusiasm for the healthy growth of the Hill never to leave together again. School. John was a trained, experienced baker My husband got rid of our two thoroughbreds in and believe me all the children knew it! Commander his usual businesslike mariner, and after that we were Chadwick had given strict orders that there must never caught on horseback again except to ride be no handouts but John managed to slip a hot mules or tired pack animals of various kinds into the doughnut or roll to a beggar at the kitchen door High Sierra on pack-in trips for fishing or camping.

31 One episode with horses during our early forties frequent warnings on the danger of rattlesnake left another lasting impression on my mind - or bites and directions on what should be done in was it my heart? case the worst happened. A generous parent. we had so many generous David's horse was bitten one summer day and parents or we could never have survived - gave immediately the therapy Marion had advocated our youngest child. David. a beautiful horse. Each was applied. To no avail. The wounded horse grew child owning a horse must care for its feeding. steadily worse. A Veterinarian arrived and stayed grooming. excercise. David was · in love with his with David for several hours giving the beautiful particular animal and gave the creature more atten· animal all the help he could. David remained with tion than ever he did his studies. But the rattle­ the horse he had grown to love for long into the snake menace was always present on our Hill in night. when finally the suffering ended with death. those early days. The image of David on the dark hillside beside his Marion Warnock (A.B.. R.N. Stanford) gave dying horse has never faded from my mind.

32 PART II: THE FORTIES Chapter 4: Pioneer Faculty

A pioneer school must of necessity have a pio­ World War II Edwin became another indispensable neer staff. The 1930s and 1940s had many of the member of the Chadwick Faculty and Staff. Georgia ills afflicting the 1960s and 1970s: unemployment, was of great service in the business office after four inflation, bank failures, recession and depression. young Ellises became of school age. More of the The hills on the Peninsula were barren except for Ellises later. the blooming mustard and soft greep sage, many of Bertha C. Knemeyer, yes, the very same Deputy the roads were not paved, in fact a dirt road had to Supt. of Education in the State of Nevada, who be carved out from the Palos Verdes Drive up to scared me to death when she came to inspect my the School on the Hill. school in Metropolis, Nevada (1916) where I was Then what gave our pioneer faculty the courage principal and teacher of English, Algebra, Geom­ to become either a parent or a single teacher in the etry, German, History, Music and Boys and Girls first co-educational boarding and day school on the Physical Education. Being German born and a Coast? • math genius, she visited my Plane Geometry class Prompting the founder parents, the Chadwicks and my German I class. I have recorded my reac­ and the Roesslers, was of course the exciting idea tions in my earlier book, Looking at the Sunset of building a school around their own children on Upside Down. Bertha Knemeyer was a truly great land donated by kindly Mr. Vanderlip, money by educator and Chadwick's earliest years were en­ the Roesslers, and a small ready-made school by riched by her presence on our campus. the Chadwicks. How can any earlier student at Chadwick forget The founder parents were soon joined by the the two handsome bachelors in the early forties: Warnocks and Quinlins and a barter system was William L. Wheaton and William R. Steckel? Just established that has served the School well for over what lured them to our campus, who can know? forty years. Parents interested in providing an es­ They were both well prepared for their academic pecially good education for their children were assignments, but also they seemed willing and able strongly attracted to Chadwick Seaside School to undertake excursions to desert, mountruns, and were willing and eager to exchange their full or museums, special lectures at universities, etc. as part time energy, and their expertise in various well as relieve houseparents one or two nights a branches of learning for the education of their week. Students and faculty all fell in love with the young. Among the many remarkable characters two Bills. Each one married before going off to who came into the early ranks of the barter system World War II: Bill Wheaton married the Daughter were Dr. Leonard Thompson, Eunice Houk, Mary of Pomona's President, Dr. Edmunds, and brought Hutchison, Elizabeth Halsell, Jean Seehorn, the her to Chadwick as a teacher for safekeeping while Hamners, Esther Norberg. - Impossible to list he was overseas; Bill Steckel married one of the art them all. teachers and took her home to her parents in Palo Then of course we had our non-bartering educa­ Alto for the duration of the War. tors who did a great deal of work for a small Elda Faster (Toddy) became our sex symbol on amount of money. Also real pioneers! Some were the Hill!! All the adolescent boys, the male Staff, single; some were married but still without children. even the adolescent girls and female Staff fell in They came from all directions. love with "Toddy." It was a sad day when she also Early on Campus were the Chadwick Sisters, my left the campus to become a Wave in our United husband's nieces from near Boston. Both were States Navy. She and I have been friends over these somewhat bewildered by the complexity of their forty years and I still think her French was almost assignments which ranged from academic classes, equal to our native born Frenchman, Pierre Fatio, to physical education, music to hard manual labor. certainly her English was much better! Barbara escaped rather early by marrying a promis­ Alfred A. Fatio (Pierre), an amazing little ing young lawyer and producing two daughters Frenchman, somehow gravitated to our campus who went for twelve years to Chadwick. Virginia from the Walt Disney Studios where he was doing stayed on for over thirty years, becoming one of musical scores to accompany Disney's delightful the true builders of the growing school. More of animal pictures such as Mickey Mouse and Donald her later. Duck. Pierre had the most impressive record on our Edwin and Georgia Ellis came shortly after the Faculty: degrees from conservatories and colleges Chadwick girls. Edwin is my nephew, born in Iran in France, Germany, SwitZerland and Canada. He and a graduate of Davidson College in North Caro­ had been a Catholic missionary in Africa. Chad­ lina. He surprised us by bringing along a charming wick descovered this man's genius slowly. Wher­ Southern bride. Except for a few years during ever we moved him (quite often!) on campus

33 flowers grew and the work crew of adolescent Vespers and on Monday morning Assemblies. males was fed French concoctions which turned The Anseen Sisters, Dorothea and Leila, were them into willing workers; he also raised French another pioneer pair. Beautiful, blonde, talented poodles - the first beautiful thoroughbred female daughters of a Norwegian Lutheran minister and given to him by the late Joan Crawford; of course his wife, they brought both music and color and he taught French to our babies and our seniors; sparkle to our Hill. Dorothea taught piano, voice and he added music instruction and appreciation and chorus; Leila taught third grade and music to to his work load. But the thing he did every day the younger students. Both married and left Chad­ of his eighteen years at Chadwick that I will re­ wick after a fairly short time, leaving an indelible member with tears of gratitude was the bouquet imprint upon all the students they taught. of fresh flowers he placed daily on my desk. Mrs. Irma Reddick, fortunately for Chadwick, Pierre was killed in his car with two of his beloved replaced Dorothea. Like Dorothea, Irma was a dogs as he returned from taking flowers to greet warm, colorful and very talented musician, winning David and Lois Chadwick as they returned from a the hearts of all her students. She brought along trip to Hawaii. her attractive daughter, Mary, thus joining the For reasons we will never know, Pierre left a Barter Group. This lady was unforgettable - flash­ will (unknown to Joe and me) that gave almost all ing brown eyes, smooth dark hair, a full, low­ he had to Joseph and Margaret Chadwick: his prize pitched voice, a robust love of life, and an un­ (a Steinway piano) we sold to Keith Morrison for paralled rapport with teen-agers. Among her many $500.00 giving the money to the school; and we young admirers at Chadwick was our Librarian, implanted in our home on Via Horquilla two hand a graduate of Pomona. Irma's vibrant spirit, her ex­ carved chairs and his one other luxury piece - his ceptional musical ability, and her way of relating combination radio and Victrola-record cabinet. to others proved irresistable to handsome Ray Neither the radio or Victrola would work but I've Jahn. In a simple ceremony with Pierre Fatio as loved the old piece of furniture as a daily reminder best man and our Scotch minister, Dr. Andrew of this remarkable friend. MacCormick, officiating, Irma and Ray were united Mr. and Mrs. George Packard, having learned in marriage in the living room of the Chadwick's about our School from the late Professor and Mrs. home on campus. Irma and Ray had quite a long Delton T. Howard of Northwestern University, and a very happy marriage, interrupted not long came in the late thirties to investigate the possibili­ ago by Irma's death. ties of the School for their three handsome and "Gin and Danny" were pioneers who became gifted children. Dick became one of our first grad­ "Old Timers." Gin, one of the Chadwick nieces, uates. He was tragically killed in an automobile came in 1938; Danny arrived in the early Forties. accident after a year at college. Marianna, our most They both left Chadwick for New England in 1970, talented art student, went on to become a well­ leaving a great vacancy on our Hill. On the Chad­ known sculptress and Peter became an eminent wick Campus the names "Gin and Danny" became physician. Mrs. Packard taught English and Mr. linked as a most unusual pair of two highly indi­ Packard and his sister both became benefactors, vidualistic personalities. Each one was esteemed for Mr. Packard giving the School the beautiful fenced her particular gifts, and both were respected, tennis courts and his sister a generous donation for admired, and loved. They shared a cottage on and library books. off campus, and now on Cape Cod. Wherever they Dr. MacCormick, Dr. Andrews, and The Rev. go, they create beauty, order, peace. They are Robert Tourigney, along with many other dedicated truly a remarkable pair. Gin teaches English to religious leaders including rabbis, priests, and lay 8th graders in Newton, Mass.; Danny is senior leaders, ministered to our spiritual welfare. These editor of English textbooks for Houghton Mifflin men were scholars familiar with Hebrew, Greek, in Boston. Latin, philosophy and history. Through Vespers, Tom Tyler probably deserves to head the list Morning Assemblies, and classes in Biblical litera­ of Pioneer-Old-Timers. With incredible good nature ture and history, they contributed greatly to the and skill he has endured the vicissitudes of Chad­ students' understanding of the Bible. Also Dr. wick for four decades. Whether teaching a child MacCormick added spice to my classes in English how to drive a nail or a car, recall American His­ Literature by reading in Scotch brogue many of tory, or take off with him in his small plane for Bums' poems and explaining details of Bums' life, delightful spots here and there, Tom never loses and Dr. Andrews added to his religious instruction his cool. He is adored by generations of students, the teaching of fine printing and musical themes. respected by co-workers, and held in high regard Both Mr. and Mrs. Tourigney assisted in the teach­ by everyone who knows him. ing of history and Social Studies. But most impor­ tant of all were the timely messages these men de­ So many others I would like to bring into my livered to the Student Body on Sunday afternoon book, for Chadwick School could never have sur-

34 vived without the remarkable support of so many to breakfast clean and decent and to bed on time loving and unselfish parents ALL ALONG THE each school day. winter and summer. for 21 years. WAY: Pam Mathers, Mary Jane Hellweg, Arlette "The best years of my life," she writes now at 92. Moore, Margaret Childs, Georgia Ellis, John Wen­ "and the happiest!" Bill Holland of Old Senior rick, Ralph Mazza and Eleanore, Bob Martin and Row, being now a writer, must relate his own his wife, Bill Holland, the Hemmers, Jean Seehom, story. - many, many others. Along with Tom Tyler, I must mention several The tales my pioneer and later houseparents other faculty who have become "Old Timers": could tell of their sad and glad experiences with Janet Collins, Margaret Childs. Paul Lee. Ken and boys and girls in our eight dormitories would fill Hazel Bullin - all of whom appear later on in this several books. Since I'm trying - not too success­ book. fully - to condense the story of Chadwick into I find it difficult not to remem ber Esther Norberg one volume, I can only say that all Dorm Heads, in the story of Chadwick. As housemother and male and female, no doubt deserved purple hearts. teacher she worked for her son, John, and proved Some stuck it out longer than others. I believe our to be a good friend and stimulating teacher. She Olympic champion must have been Minnie Nelson went on to New York City to find both a fasci­ who braved the daily task of getting 26 boys off nating job and a fascinating husband.

35 PART II: THE FORTIES Chapter 5: Our First Commencement

On a beautiful June day in 1940 our first grad­ Little did they realize most of them would soon uating class of six boys and five girls walked be engaged in another Holocaust: World War II. solemnly to the stage in Brogan Hall. Dorothea Anseen (now Alpert) was at the piano playing TO THE SENIORS - 1940 "When Morning Gilds the Skies" accompanied by violins played by Joseph and David Chadwick and Study Hall is over Mr. Noble. That first commencement combined In the corridor what later became the Baccalaureate sermon and The last footstep has died away the Commencement address. The theme chosen by And the bang of the heavy door our speaker, Dr. W. O. Mendenhall, President of Closes in my silence Whittier College, Quaker minister and mathematics By shutting out the vibrant tumult professor, was: That was You. "For Value Received I Promise to Pay" Mechanically Dr. Mendenhall's message had a profound im­ I ring with red pact upon the whole Chadwick Seaside School A misspelled word that stares at me Family, and was woven into the philosophical From out a student's composition tapestry of the school. The meaning of the page is lost The eleven graduates, first-barns in their indi­ Because of myriad memories vidual families and now the first graduating class to Of You. emerge from Chadwick, all suffered a little from self-importance. They were a fascinating, difficult, You left behind and varied group of young people. They all went In this small room of mine on to college, although two of their number died Enough of merriment and grief prematurely and tragically. Thumb-nail sketches Enough of dark despair and flaming victory in their 1940 Yearbook sum up quite well many Enough of dreams of love, and work, and of the characteristics that persisted into adult life. friendships won, Now in their fifties they are engaged in a wide To weld forever between You and me diversity of vocational pursuits. Some of them A silver band of understanding. came back to teach in summer sessions on the Hill; some in regular sessions; a number of their children Study Hall is over have been studen ts at Chadwick. And the bang of the heavy door The first class to graduate in any school is Marks your brave entrance to a struggling world. special. They go forth to college or to work with Gird fast your shining youthful armor, an indelible imprint of the high hopes, the efforts, Hold fast your shining youthful dreams, sacrifices, mistakes and successes of parents and Give to mankind the vibrant tumult teachers. Our Class of 1940 had been led to hope That is You. that they had been launched into a world made peaceful by the heroic efforts of their forebears. M.C.

36 PART II: THE FORTIES Chapter 6: Chadwick Seaside School Becomes Accreditated

The struggle to get our small, unknown, board­ ing and challenging. ing and day school accreditated proved an arduous Out of the earnest efforts of these pioneer task. Private schools in California were not held in schools the California Association of Independent high esteem on the West Coast during the early Schools was born. It was endorsed by eleven of the years of the 20th Century. I felt I was fighting the most important colleges and universities in Califor­ battle of Jericho to gain recognition for students of nia, and two boards, selected from these same in­ Chadwick to enter the colleges of their choice. It stitutions, were set up to judge the qualifications was not until my birthday in April 1941 that of emerging schools for acceptance into our CAIS. Chadwick received the following letter from Pro­ The CAIS became a member of the NAIS fessor Hiram W. Edwards, Director of Relations (National Association of Independent Schools) and with Schools: many schools of our California group attended the annual meetings of the N AIS, usually held in New "Dear Mrs. Chadwick: York City. Chadwick also joined several national testing At a recent meeting of the Board of Admis­ groups: the CEEB (College Entrance Examination sions and Relations with Schools the Chadwick Board); ERB (Educational Records Bureau), Seaside School was placed on the list of Accred­ NMSQT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying ited Public and Private Secondary Schools in Test). California. The name of your school will be in­ Eager to get a reputation for establishing an ac­ cluded in the next issue of the List of Accred­ curate appraisal of our students, Chadwick under­ ited Schools published in July as follows: took an intensive testing program at the local and national level. Beginning with the Stanford-Binet Rolling Hills: Chadwick Seaside School - Hrs. Test, administered by Miss Helen Rogers (Ph.D. Margaret Lee Chadwick Psychology) to each of our early students, and moving on to fall and spring testing programs un­ A copy of the new publication will be sent to der ERB, and using teacher evaluations, we devel­ you as soon as it is printed. oped a pretty sound plan of determining the aca­ demic, artistic, and musical potentialities of our In order to avoid any misunderstanding, may growing student body. We were aware that there I state that the privileges that go with the status were many areas of human behavior not revealed of accrediting apply to graduates of the present through our testing programs. academic year, as well as those of the academic One of the great benefits of attending the im­ year 1941-1942. portant meetings of the N AIS and ERB, was the opportunity not only of visiting our students Yours sincerely, attending Mid-East and Eastern colleges but of Hiram W. Edwards" taking new Chadwick candidates to visit these eastern colleges. My husband and I would leave Before and during the difficult period of becom­ our well-groomed students at various colleges and ing a school whose graduates would be recognized collect them after their visits. Thus we scattered as worthy candidates for acceptance to college, my over the New England coast and over excellent husband and I had joined a number of other schools Mid-East smaller colleges a good many fine young of high reputation - Webb (Princeton's offspring), people. Thacher (Yale's), Marlborough, Westlake, Midland, We gave the same kind of personal attention to Menlo, Burke, Branson, others, to form an organi­ our students applying to western colleges and again zation composed of those independent schools had great success. A professor of long standing told within the State of California which maintained me last summer when my brother, Dr. Russel Lee high educational, professional, and ethical stan­ was being given an honorary dinner to receive the dards. Needless to say, there were many private Hoover Award, that he considered Stanford had schools of different kinds springing up on the West had from Chadwick School some of its most out­ Coast; some interested only in earning a profit standing students. from irresponsible parents; but still others eager to In 1939 the California Association for Inde­ establish a school of quality for their own children pendent Schools was organized, endorsed by: and for the children of other parents who were seeking an environment that would be academi­ University of California cally, physically, SOCially, and spiritually stimulat- Stanford University

37 Pomona College J. P. Mitchell ...... Stanford University California Institute of Technology Hiram W. Edwards ...... University of California Mills College Miss Florence Brady ...... Occidental College Occidental College University of Redlands L. W. Jones .... California Institute of Technology Scripps College Miss Marjorie S. Crouch ...... Scripps University of Southern California Katherine L. Walker College of the Pacific Secretary ...... University of California (L.A.) Whittier College Miss Katharine Branson ...... The Katharine Branson School Two Boards of Standards were set up to judge the qualifications of both secondary and elemen­ Benedict Rich ...... Midland School tary and junior high schools: Newton K. Chase ...... Thacher School

38 PART II: THE FORTIES Chapter 7: The War Years

Time: Towards noon on December 7, 1941 called "Wally" who mothered twelve little girls. Each morning with her brood of fair and dark­ Place: Room C, Main School Building (later haired children Wally could be seen leading them to Roessler Hall) the dining hall as first-comers to breakfast. Back in the Cottage each child was taught a definite routine Persons: Teacher M.L.C. and sQveral students of hygiene (brushing teeth, etc.); housekeeping having a tutoring session (putting things away and making beds); then off to their schoolrooms. After-school activities she left Broadcast: "Pearl Harbor has been born bed by .lor the most part to the Physical Education De­ Japanese Air Force. Surprise attack! partment, but from 5:00-8:00 p.m. she was defi­ Two battleships, The Arizona and The nitely in charge of her brood. They went to dinner Utah, have been sunk and several thou­ all scrubbed, eager and hungry. They returned to sand persons have been killed." the Cottage to get undressed, bathed on alternate evenings, and then a story read by Wally or one of My English students and I were stunned with the the girls who could read. This routine was inter­ news! All America was stunned, but instantly the rupted now and again by a child with a sore throat, unification of all Americans took place to enter or a child with an emotional problem, but they all World War II on all fronts, particularly in the Pa­ felt secure. Wally was right there. Wally washed cific areas. Martial law was immediately enforced their clothes daily - one saw them swinging from in the Hawaiian Islands, and many restrictions the c1othslines; Wally listened to them, she defended placed upon our Western Coastal Areas. them in times of trouble; she also disciplined them Almost immediately my husband received orders when they were remiss; they depended on her and to return to active duty. His instructions were to Wally found great fulfillment in her function as report to the ROTC Program at U.C.L.A. as in­ housemother. structor in Navigation. We were relieved that he "Wally" was by no means the only remarkable would be that close, but anxious about how we housemother who helped Chadwick School give would manage the new school without him . How­ their boarding students a feeling of being an im­ ever, with the help and guidance of our extremely portant part of a big family. able CPA, John Norberg and a keen bookkeeper, The whole Chadwick School Family was caught Mr. Guilliou we managed to cope with the business up in the war effort. We became almost self­ affairs of the school. sustaining. Each child was given a plot to plant his Simultaneously with Joe's departure, we received or her Victory Garden; a group of boarding boys a large number of applications from families being took over the handling of chickens, rabbits, pigs, disrupted by the war; fathers going into military and horses. We hired an experienced farmer to service and mothers taking over many civilian jobs supervise these important activities. For years the left vacant by men. A number of parents willed school depended upon our own eggs, chickens, their children to the Chadwicks in case of disaster rabbits, bacon. We had a dream of a rural school to the father and mother or both. raising all its meat, fruit and vegetables. Horses So now in addition to our growing school family were for fun! of day and boarding students, we had twenty-three During the war years the faculty and students adopted children for the duration of the war. decided to have one lunch each week of cabbage Among our valuable staff members who felt soup - nothing else. What we might have had was impelled to get into the war effort was Edwin sent to our soldiers. Ellis. Fortunately for Chadwick School, he re­ The early war years were difficult but Challeng­ turned after the war was over to become a unique ing. figure on the campus. The imprint of his character My husband was gone; my three children were upon hundreds of young people will be his lasting gone; Teddy to Stanford, Chad to Cal. Tech., and memorial. For honesty, compassion, faithfulness, David to the University of California, Berkeley. strength he had no equal. Young and old loved and The School Family had grown to about one hun­ admired him. dred and fifty. In those days my support came When Edwin Ellis and his wife Georgia and their from staunch friends and staff. first-born Peggy left the charming little cottage There came the night when we were told to get which was their campus home, we converted it into a shelter as there might be an attack from a into a dormitory for our very youngest boarders. Japanese airplane. Of course we'd been keeping We hired an unusual maiden lady affectionately our windows blackened and following all safety

39 regulations, but this sounded ominous. war-clouded years which we did not record. Many Having no real shelter, I decided when the alert changes took place, but the school flourished. came, to take our boarders to the furnace room in Once again my husband received orders: this the basement. I led them all to the cold, dark base­ time he was to report for duty at Harvard Uni­ ment of the main building, where we shivered and versity. He requested to remain at U.C.L.A., but shook for several hours, and finally emerged after was given an assignment at Northwestern Univer­ hearing the attack was over and perhaps not real. sity, somewhat nearer home. My husband was on duty that night at U.C.L.A. So again we would have to carry on without him and having no special assignments had gone to bed for a time. He kept in close touch with us, and, and to sleep. Next morning he was startled, even when the war ended, he was back at school assum­ horrified, to learn what had happened at the school. ing his role as business manager and father of a Well, many things happened during those times, growing school family .

•

40 PART II: THE FORTIES Chapter 8: Toddy Remembers

August 16, 1975 say I had already forgotten about that in the ex­ citement. Dear Mrs. C.: Summer session ended, and I was back home in Indiana trying to figure out where I would get the How late can one be with such earth-moving in­ funds to make the trip to my new job. My father, formation as I am enclosing!!! I don't care one bit who was not at all in favor of this adventure, if I have passed the publisher's deadline by a coun­ nevertheless helped out by finding an ad in the try mile. At least you will know the memories paper, inserted by a nurse from Santa Ana, who whereof I live. wanted passengers to Los Angeles, references ex­ Regarding my own philosophy of education as changed, cost $15. Are you ready for that? I it relates to my experience at Chadwick - I can passed muster with her and she with my father, only say that it was light years beyond anyone's and on the day Germany invaded Poland, thus dreams, including mine, and the NORM TODAY starting the Second World War, we were on our is only catching up with the ABNORM YESTER­ way. As a matter of fact, just as we were i"eaving DAY at Chadwick. Joliet, minois around noon, extras were out on the highway shouting that war had come to Europe. MEMORIES _ . _ LIBRARY OF THE MIND Beside the nurse and myself, there was a retired couple, returning to Venice - California, that is. It is the spring of the year 1939, and I am wind­ That made four of us. We decided to take the ing up the second year of teaching in a township scenic route after a vote, and wound our way high school in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. through the Grand Tetons in Wyoming, on to Salt Early on in the year, when suffering an acute at­ Lake City, spending the last night of the trip in tack of the wanderlust, I had registered with a Beaver, Utah in fairly primitive motel rooms. The teaching agency in Chicago. Mind you, already two next day we drove through the sleepy town of Las years out of college, and the only states that I had Vegas (!) and then inevitably on to Los Angeles. ever visited were Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, minois, It was nightfall by the time we dropped off the and Wisconsin. How many young people today couple, at which point my nurse driver tried to could make that statement!! think where in the world Palos Verdes and Rolling One lucky day I had a card from the agency ad­ Hills might be. The deal had been that she would vising me of a vacancy at the Chadwick Seaside drop me off at the very door of the school. We School, Rolling Hills, California, for a teacher of FIN ALLY found it after many false starts and French and Physical Education, to commence in wrong turns. The hill was dark except for one light, the Fall. I had absolutely no credentials when it and that one it turned out, belonged to Mr. Chad­ came to Physical Education, but that didn't stop wick who was a welcoming committee of one, and me for a moment. A Dr. Osborne in Muskegon, who showed me to my double bunk in what was Michigan, had been designated by Mrs. Chadwick then the girls' dormitory. It was then that I realized to do the interview since I was so far away. For the full impact of the decision that I had made, some reason that I can no longer recall, the inter­ and that I was indeed far, very far, away from view never took place. I wrote directly to Mrs. C. home and all my kin. No money, either! But this and in due time she accepted me. I immediately was the start of three of the happiest years of my enrolled for graduate work in French at Middle­ life, including summer school, where my assorted bury College in Vermont, and at the end of that duties, including washing dishes in the kitchen, summer term I planned to leave for the WEST! were mind-boggling! Never had I been so excited. Included, too, was a And now it's time to get down to the specific visit with a former college roommate at the Univer­ memories that have remained a part of my life sity of Michigan who lived in Montclair, New and consciousness from that time forward. The Jersey, and who wanted to show me the World's view of Los Angeles, with its millions of tiny, Fair in New York. It was all just too much for a sparkling lights, was a sight that I shall never for­ girl who had never seen a rise in the earth, coming get as long al I live. That may now belong to the from the flatlands of the Middle West. ages since there was then no smog to spoil it. At Middlebury one signed a pledge, yea, avow, . . . I adopted the Anseen family immediately that only French would be spoken the entire sum­ on sight! This is a conglomerate memory that is mer - a fine preparation for Chadwick. It never hard to sort out for it consists of so many wonders: occurred to me what I would do about the Physical weekends at 638 West 12th in San Pedro; sleeping Education requirement of this job. In fact, I dare- with Leila in the pull-down bed in front of a dying

41 fire; spending vacations at Laguna with Leila; tak· book of memories. Another remnant of that day: ing piano lessons from Dorothea, and doing occa· On April 29, during one of the last rehearsals, Mr. sional accompaniments for both; Sunday sermons Chadwick came over to the auditorium bearing a by Rev. Anseen; being a bridesmaid for Leila and telegram for me which announced the birth of my Earl Webster; meeting Albert Angermayer through first nephew, Tom! He is now 33, and himself the Dorothea and helping him with recital rehearsals father of three children. at his house in Pasadena - he was a violinist with · .. An evening's lecture given by Mrs. Chad· the L. A. Philharmonic; musical experience with wick especially for me on the subject of TOLER· the Anseens and Ed and Inge Bower, - 1 could go ANCE. What triggered this I have since forgotten, on and on. All of these friendships have endured but the message I have NEVER forgotten, and I and weathered well which shows the fiber of which hope that through the years her philosophy has be­ they are made. come a part of mine. She predicted, that evening · . . Sleeping outside in my sleeping bag until long ago, that the true understanding of tolerance the rains came, usually in December. would come naturally with the maturing and aging · .. Long walks and serious conversations in process. As always, she was right. the canyons with Stephen Benedict. · . . Proctoring David Chadwick's violin prac· · .. Trying to learn to ride an old nag named tice hours at the Chadwick house. My, oh my! Babe Ruth at the Palos Verdes Stables (I guess that Compose.r George Rochberg said recently: 'I have is where it was). always felt that next to the human voice the violin · .. Quinny's "livestock" which she loved so is the most potent instrument for expressing our dearly. deepest thoughts and feelings.' I must admit that · . . The Doro Frankel/Fred Odenheimer ro­ David and I failed somewhere in achieving this. It mance - both German refugees, who met at Chad· is probably a question of who suffered more acutely wick, and who built a marvelous life together in during David's enforced practice - he or 1. Van Nuys. We correspond consistently, and they · .. My very first nylons, a gift from Dick Pac­ always remind me that they have me to thank for kard, in thanks for some inconsequential tutoring pushing them into matrimony! I did. They lasted forever in those days, and I had · . . Wonderful, dear, gentle Agnes Walker who them during the 31'z years in the Navy during World lived in the Chadwick house and was the closest War II, wearing them only for the most gala of thing to an angel that I shall ever see. She became occasions, and reserving regulation rays for tough one of them in 1962, and I have never ceased to duty wear, since there was nothing else available. miss her letters and her friendship. Somewhere I have saved Dick's note which ac­ · . . Tow-headed 'Little Jon' Norberg who was companied this gift from the heart. part of the warp and filling of the school itself, as · .. And speaking of the Navy - the day I left were the Ellises and Bill Bird, of course. the hill to take the WAVE exams at the Los Angeles · . . Bertha Knemeyer! What can 1 say about this Armory, to return that night recruited and en· wonderful creature!! She reigned benignly. listed. That was memorable August 30, 1942. I · . . Our first graduating class, and these names had one divine-last·Summer-on-the-hill to cherish immediately come to mind, even though 35 years forever. When I left in September for Michigan later: Jeanne McWaid; Jimmy Block; Teddy Chad· before reporting to Smith College for indoctrina­ wick; Barbara Boone; Ruth Walker; Ralph Mazza; tion, it was Chad who drove me to Union Station Russell Benedict; Dick Packard; Leigh French; in Los Angeles in the school station wagon. We Roberta Mull, Robert Roessler. brought my dog, Spotty, and it broke my heart to · .. The first May Day, 1942, which Dorothea have to kiss that dear companion good by, even Anseen and 1 cooked up. A whole day affair for though 1 knew that he would be Pierre Fatio's parents, filled with a multitude of visual and audio 'adopted' son while I was away at war! Chad held experiences, starting with the Maypole dance, and Spotty while 1 got on the train, and that was the our queen, Marianna Packard, sitting on a throne last sight I had of this section of my life. of real live flowers which had taken endless hours I have relived this happiness a million times in to prepare, and all at the last minute because of the years that have followed. It is constantly reo their fragility. That lovely day ended with Doro· vived through my letters, talks, and visits with thea and I playing two pianos to the accompani· Dorothea, to say nothing of the times that I have ment of lights and shadows. We did Bach's 'Jesu, been lucky enough to spend some time with Mrs. Joy of Man's Desire'; Dance of the Orange Tarts; Chadwick, and recently with Quinny. and, finally, a most mellow rendition of Brahms' Lullaby. I know that pictures were taken, and I Toddy Faster Millington, '39-'42 only hope that they are in the bound Chadwick Administrator Textile Mills

42 PART II: THE FORTIES

Chapter 9 : The Reconsturction Period

Cease-fire was ordered by the Japanese Govern­ learned that these hundred acres could be purchased ment on August 14, 1945. An end to more than for back taxes at $150.00 per acre. With the en­ four years of war involving fifty-seven Allied and thusiastic support of the Board, Joe bought up Axis nations. Japan, having endured the first atom these more than one hundred acres. bomb ever dropped on a city (August 6, 1945), The gentle hillside, bordered on either side by and facing an attack by the greatest concentration fairly steep canyons, seemed a natural ecological of naval force in history, surrendered on septem ber part of our original site. It stretched down to 2, 1945. aboard the Battleship Missouri. The reper­ Palos Verdes Drive. For a number of years a farmer cussions to the dropping of the born b were vast. had been planting alfalfa and other crops on this There were those who claimed it was a quick and land to provide food for his horses and cows. But merciful end to a far greater catastrophe impending; now this all belonged to Chadwick School! Joe others claimed it was a barbaric and inhuman act. had the electric gate removed from 637 Via Hor­ The problems of war and peace have never quill a and transplanted to the entrance of the ceased to occupy the minds and hearts of all School; then he arranged for two sturdy pillars to civilized people. Chadwick School's curriculum has support the gate and to hold the Horn Books always been involved with these basic problems. which welcomed children to the campus. Next We lost two of our Chadwick graduates during Mr. William Hamner II ("Bill") was asked to be World War II, Frank French ('41) and Anthony head of the art department and official gatekeeper. Thomas ('44). Most of our early boy graduates Bill immediately sought out war surplus centers were caught up in the war effort in one way or and gathered material for his charming glass house, another. It was joyful news for all when we learned a house that was pronounced a " gem" by Frank that Joseph Howard Chadwick was again released Lloyd Wright who inspected it with Paul Frankl. from active duty, had been promoted to the rank There Bill lived with his wife Peggy and their two of Commander with a fine commendation, and children, William III and Judy. The little glass would be back at the school for the fall term of house became a showplace and a gathering spot 1945. for many young folks. Bill was an inspiring and Meantime with the enthusiastic support of stu­ versatile art teacher, one impossible to replace. dents, parents, faculty and Board, Chadwick con­ On both sides of the curving road leading from tinued to thrive and grow. When Joe "came march­ Palos Verdes Drive to the School we planted ing home again - Hurrah! Hurrah!!" the enroll­ pepper trees and called it the Tony Thomas Lane ment had increased to one hundred and sixty and in memory of our boy Tony who died in the Phil­ the original Roessler gifts (Edna, Fred and Lillie) ippines. We began serious planning for the use of of $170,000.00 had been doubled by gifts from our now expanded campus. A careful, long-range the Oser-McCormick-Rockefeller Family, the Leo plan was undertaken under the auspices of Archi­ Bings, the Alphonzo Bells, Paul Williams, Melvyn tect Leslie Arthur, a plan that would accommodate Douglas and a number of celebrities from Holly­ the three schools in one. The Upper School was to wood and from many other parents, friends, be moved to the lower slopes; groves dedicated to faculty and stud en ts. Actually, Joe had not yet succeeding classes planted; water-falls and bridges been released from active duty, but was assigned built; a library and science center equipped with once again to duty at U .C.L.A., a tapering off. books and laboratory equipment to meet the During all of Commander's duty during the war growing demands of the future. years, he had kept his finger on the pulse of the The Village School was the only one of these School, coming back as often as possible and guid­ segments that was fulfilled. ing the policies of the Business Office. He estab­ lished a sound relationship with our bank (United "The best laid schemes o'mice and men California Bank, San Pedro), with local insurance Gang aft agley." agencies, with the various services that brought all the things we needed for our school family. However, we did proceed with steady improve­ One of the truly keen moves Joe made was to ments and the School with roots firmly planted in buy the acres that stretched from the original site deep soil was bound to weather many storms but of Chadwick down to Palos Verdes Drive. He still flourish.

43 PART II: THE FORTIES

Chapter 10: The Castle On Via Horquilla

The Chadwick Co-Pilots moved from their cam­ and the nearby house with surrounding acres for pus home in the late forties to the Castle on Via the Swiss psychiatrist, Dr. Jung. Horquilla. With the help of three architects, many carpen· This is the way it came about: ters, stone masons, mechanics, gardeners, and other Mrs. Mathilda Oser, one of the heirs to the craftsmen, Pat transformed the Casa on Via Hor· Rockefeller-McCormick fortunes, had divorced her quilla into a castle, complete except for the medi· Swiss husband and had returned to America to eval towers, moat and drawbridge. establish a home for herself and her two children. However, adequate protection for both the main The Rockefeller Family sent out a scout to in­ dwelling and the guest house was provided outside vestigate the private, independent schools of Cali­ and inside. Outside, electrically manipulated gates fornia. They selected an eminent educator, Mrs. guarded the entrances, while fences above and be­ Thorne-Thompson, who chose Chadwick School as low marked off the boundaries to both places. the most suitable place for Anita and Peter Oser. Beautiful stone stairways led up and down land­ Then, Mrs. Oser, wanting to find a home close scaped hillsides. A pool was planned where the to Chadwick School so that her children could be houses are now built on the south edge of Via day students, asked my husband to help her find Cam pesina. Inside, the doors were fortified with just the right place in Palos Verdes Estates. double locks and ground floor windows with iron On their very first exploratory trip around the bars. Peninsula they discovered at the dead end of Via It was indeed remarkable that in spite of war Horquilla one of the earliest homes built in Palos and post-war gas rationing and many other short­ Verdes Estates. Mediterranean style with red-tiled ages, Pat had managed to create the house of her roof, the house had privacy and a superb, unob­ dreams. Again she had been aided by the Com­ structed view of the Pacific Ocean, the city of Los mander. On his trips into Westwood to handle his Angeles with other cities growing up in all direc­ classes in the R.O.T.C. program at U.C.L.A., Pat tions around the once small village, and the distant would accompany him once or twice a week, thus mountains. saving gas and getting necessary shopping done "This is the place!" exclaimed Pat - as did for the two houses. A talented decorator, Mrs. Brigham Young on his first glimpse of the land that Ryan, and Pat searched the shops week after week became Utah. for the special hand-crafted rugs, curtains and fur­ Within a few hours Mrs. Oser, aided and abetted niture that they wanted for the house. by my husband, had purchased the house for And so at last the Castle was ready for occu­ $25,000.00 and arranged to pay the expenses en­ pancy. The Rainbow arched from Via Horquilla to tailed in moving Dr. Mull, U.S.N. (renter) and his the Chadwick Hill. family to another location. But what about the occupants? And then followed for Pat seven years of hard Where was the young girl for whom a delightful labor. room had been created? Would she ever sit before She rented a modest home on Via Anita to that cozy fireplace, write letters at that desk, de­ shelter her family while she prepared their future velop pictures in the dark room? home. Her dream was to have the house on Via And what about the younger brother with a Horquilla be a safe and beautiful home for her double bunk to enable him to invite a best friend children and herself; also she wanted it to be a over for the night, and also a shop to experiment place where she could welcome the Chadwick with tools and radio? And what about the mother? School Family. What about the seven years of hard labor preparing "I want to build a rainbow bridge of friendship a nest for her offspring? from this home to the Chadwick Hill!" she re­ Alas! neither mother nor children ever lived in peated often to me. the castle. She also said, "I have in mind to add the house Fortified, beautified, staffed, the Castle reached next door as a home for my dear friend and out loving arms to embrace the Oser Family and counselor, Dr. Carl Gustav Jung, and the house at the Chadwick School. In the end, it was only the the turn on Via Horquilla for Joseph and Mar­ Chadwick School Family that came. garet Chadwick." Anita and Peter, now both in Pomona College, Not all of her dreams were realized; however, by were making plans for their lives other than return­ the middle/late forties she had acquired several ing to the Castle. Pat, still determined to establish acres around the house as well as 35 acres above her family in the beautiful home, suddenly en­ for stables and several below for a swimming pool countered an irresistable foe: cancer.

44 Her case was diagnosed by an eminent internest "I have the green light!" Pat managed to whis­ in Los Angeles, but Pat insisted upon having my per as she pressed my hand. brother, Dr. Russel Lee, interrupt his first vacation "Yes, Pat, you do" I held her hand in both of after service in World War II to confirm or deny mine. "And I want you to know that I'll always the grim verdict. He flew in from the Caribbean to try to help Anita and Peter in any way that I can. " Pat's bedside in Good Samaritan Hospital. Pat With that, Pat suddenly sat up in bed, stretched reached out eagerly and held Dr. Lee's hand in a out her arms and exclaimed "It's beautiful!" and warm clasp. died. "Oh thank you, Dr. Lee, for coming. What do We learned from her nurse that after knowing you think of my chances?" there was no hope for her life she had refused all Brother Russ was relieved that he could be food and water for the three days following her truthfully evasive. operation. "I must study the x-rays and consult with Dr. Anita and Peter offered the two houses with 35 Mason, but I do advise that you give consent to acres above 637 Via Horquilla to the Chadwicks the exploratory operation Dr. Mason has scheduled who in turn asked that they be given to the School. for tomorrow morning. I'll be present at the oper­ And so this magnificent gift was made to Chadwick ation." School with the provision that the Chadwicks Sitting beside her for a time he talked with her would live in the Castle as long as they wished. gently, giving her comfort and courage. Keeping in mind Pat's Rainbow Bridge, the The operation over, Dr. Lee was again with Pat Chadwicks made the Castle available to Faculty as she regained consciousness. and Students for all kinds of parties. In addition "So what?" her eyes questioned. they cared for a number of students each year thus Taking her hand in both of his, as she had done earning for the School well over two hundred on his arrival, he shook his head sadly. thousand dollars. At Commencement an especially "Pat, you came to your doctors too late." glamourous dinner was given for the parents of the Three days later a telephone call at 5:00 a.m. graduates while the graduates themselves had their from Good Samaritan Hospital summoned me to last celebration off in a secret spot. Pat's bedside. The Castle on Via Horquilla has served the "She is dying and wants you with her." School well for almost thirty years and will no With Ingrid Klepper Wright accompanying me, doubt continue as a valuable extension for a long we arrived before dawn at the hospital. and indefinite future.

45 PART II: THE FORTIES

Chapter 11: Our Indispensable Chizuko Kubota

Chizuko Kubota came from Japan to America the same time helping us through the ups and in the summer of 1948. With four other young downs of caring for children and running a grow­ Japanese girl friends she had braved the hazards of ing school. leaving home to seek a new life in a strange land. During my husband's last illness which extended Life in Japan after World War II was rather grim. over several years, Chizzie's quiet, tender, thought­ It was our great good fortune that Chizuko came ful attention to his needs made life more bearable to live with us just as we were about to leave cam­ for us all. Now (1977) in my late years she is still pus house and move to Via Horquilla. Not only being the patient, thoughtful daughter that she was did she help us settle into our castle, but she assisted to my husband and at the same time coping with us with the care of one set of children after another, the responsibilities of being the Operations Officer Chadwick boarding students. in a nearby branch of the California First Bank. What a gallant, loyal daughter she has been for Chizzie needed us; Joe and I needed Chizzie. It almost thirty years! My husband and I took great has been a good union. We have indeed considered pride in her steady progress as a banker, and at Chizuko Kubota our beloved Japanese daughter.

46 Responses to Questionaire

Alice Berry Margaret S. Childs Virginia Daniels Joanne Wright (Herwig) Frank Johnson Liz Marmorston Minnie Nelson Andrew Shaw Vera Sorensen James L. Block Anne Halsell Applebaum Tom Sanders

47 I I "I could write my own book about Chadwick with any teacher that year, and my grades im­ School and my five years' experience there. How­ proved, also. Finally, the real highlight of my five ever, for the sake of convenience, sanity, and in­ years at Chadwick came just before graduation, terest I will limit my remarks to some of the high­ and it was a shocker to many who had known me. lights of my memories. I was given the Citizenship Award - the highest First of all, what effect did Chadwick have on honor anyone could receive, in my opinion! Oh, it my life? I came there as a somewhat undisciplined didn't come easily or without heartache. The stu­ 8th-grader to whom academic work came rather dents had voted me this honor, but the faculty easily. I was shy but made up for this with noisy (understandably, I hasten to say) had serious talk and disturbances in the ,classroom. I spent doubts about my deserving it, and I'll never forget more than my share of time in the hallway banned the day Mrs. Chadwick called me into her office to from class and in Mrs. Chadwick's office talking explain why they had decided not to give it to me. things over! The threat of sending me home was I understood, and I had the satisfaction of knowing always the most effective tool as I loved school. my fellow students had elected me anyway. Then and didn't want to leave! on Award Day the moment I dreaded came when After four years of this kind of procedure, I they announced the winners of the highest award, reached my senior year still intact. One incident and I sat there with a smile frozen on my face, de­ stands out in my mind that I must mention before termined not to let my disappointment show. They I get to my last year. During my sophomore year seemed to be explaining that something unprece­ my math (geometry) teacher was Mr. Kales. Math dented was happening that year. Suddenly it began came too easily to me so that was where I generally to get through to me what was being said. The caused the most trouble. Poor Mr. Kales had tried final decision was to give the Citizenship Award of just about everything to get me to be quiet, but 1948 to two girls and two boys, and joy of all joys, nothing had worked, even temporarily, I think. I was one of the girls. It was truly the highlight of Finally, in pure desperation one day he said, my five wonderful years at Chadwick. I can only "Alice, if you will keep quiet for a whole period hope that some of the teachers, who probably only some day, I will bring you a chocolate malted agreed to this reluctantly, know what a great and milk." Well, that may not be generally accepted positive factor that award was in my life. I believe teaching procedure, but anyone who has ever been it truly was the happiest moment in my life and a 15-year-boarding student who loves to eat knows had a profound influence on my conduct from that kind of "bribery" might be effective. And it then on. I cannot emphasize its importance to was, at least for one day. I didn't say a single word me enough. in geometry the next day although all my class­ There are so many things I am leaving out in this mates tried to get me to talk. The following morn­ summary - the other wonderful teachers like ing Mr. Kales, true to his word, drove up to school Quinny who led me to enjoy biology when science and walked in carrying a brown bag which he was always my most un favorite subject, the indi­ handed to me. It contained a carton of delicious vidual concern and attention from all members of chocolate malted milk which I quickly started to the staff, the happy moments spent preparing the enjoy. My classmates drove me into the closet out Gilbert and Sullivan operettas and the Christmas of sight, but I enjoyed it just as much there. It Pageant, and most important of all the guidance would be nice to report that from that day on I and inspiration of the Chadwicks themselves. I am was an exemplary citizen in math class, but unfor­ sure that all of these factors have been most im­ tunately such is not the case. portant in my later college, teaching, and general Now, on to my senior year. By this time some­ life. I wish everyone could have the experience of one had figured out that some of my problems my years at Chadwick." arose from the fact that I had too much free time Alice Berry ('48) on my hands. So, under the direct guidance of Danny (Virginia Daniels), who had been my home­ "I wouldn't trade for anything the years I have room teacher in both 9th and 12th grades and known at Chadwick as an employee, parent and English teacher in 9th, 11th and 12th grades as grandparent. It has been full of love, learning, fun well as sometime history teacher, I took on such and hard work, all surrounded by natural beauty added responsibilities as running the student and good friends. What a wonderful lift into life supply store, being editor of the yearbook, and this place has given so many children, and what a going out for after-school sports, as well as doing fine opportunity for rewarding occupations. Thank extra academic assignments. How I flourished! you 'Maggie and Joe' for the perfect balance the Suddenly I had no time to waste. I had to pay at­ two of you created here." tention in class, get my work done quickly and . Margaret S. Childs without fooling around, and diligently complete (Business Office, my outside tasks. I don't recall being in trouble sometime Housemother)

49 "After twenty-seven years there and four away, to listen to the symphony and taste his gourmet Chadwick's indelible impression on my mind and concoctions. I know of no other school whose in my heart is people - their strengths and weak­ faculty were as friendly and close with the students nesses, potential for good or ill, serious intent and as at Chadwick. comic relief, courage and cowardice, success and Having the opportunity to take biology with failure. In short, all that makes up life itself. As I Quinny - my favorite teacher of all time - being look at these words, I see faces, both students and inspired by her to made molds of the ear and the faculty, that give the inanimate words life: fetus. There are not many really dedicated teachers like Quinny. Three foolish faculty who had to be the first Going on trips to the "Cove" and living in the ones in the pool (the first one). cottage on the cliff above the cove with my parents. I think it was responsible for my brother's decision The student (too many of them) whose fail­ to become a fisherman living in this environment ure you were unable to prevent. where daily trips to the shore fed his soul with the love of ocean. The boy and girl (a number of them) who Having both of my parents participate in school copped out. activities - my mother teaching piano and my father photographing for the yearbook - this The warm th and constancy of friends. made the school almost another home. In the evening, strolling with a loved one, look­ The boy and girl (a large number of them) ing far off into distant lights, watching sunsets who suddenly found purpose in life. behind far off mountains, feelin!1 the utter close­ ness of another being, dearly loved and always The list is potentially endless, but it needs loved. names and characterizations, which are inappro­ Playing the piano for vespers and graduation, priate. singing in Iolanthe and The Mikado, spending Four lines by Masters started me off on this. I hours in the art room modeling in clay and the probably should just have quoted them and stopped. influence of a fine art teacher, Mr. Hamner. Life all around me here in the village: These are just a few of my most vivid memories Tragedy, comedy, valor and truth, that made my days at Chadwick so memorable. I Courage, constancy, heroism, failure­ hope some of these reminiscences will be helpful All in the loom, and oh what patterns. in your future book, Margaret. Good luck with it Virginia Daniels and let me know when it is published. English Teacher Joanne Wright (Herwig) 1943-70 '48

It has been almost thirty years since I was a My only complaint about Chadwick is that I "Dolphin" in the class of '48 at Chadwick, but was taught to print and not to write! This proved sometimes it seems almost like yesterday, some of to be something of a handicap in later life - espe­ the memories remain so vivid. Chadwick stands out cially in college when desperate efforts to keep up as my favorite school, and I have been to so many, with note takinl( ruined my handwriting. But I because of its uniqueness. I gained far more than believe lowe my intense interest in the world and merely an education there, and some of the closest what makes it tick to the way in which this bud­ relationships of my life were made in that dear ding obsession (from the first time I could read) school. I'd like to rattle off some of my fondest was developed and enco\lraged . by IlJ.Y Chadwick memories, because the years 1946-48 were among teachers. I have sent my own children to private the happiest of my life. schools in the Washington, D.C. area with mixed To have had the rare privilege of living in the results. The tendency of one school to put my "Chadwick House" and learning there the basic older son into an "unstructured" classroom situa­ essentials of housekeeping, cooking, waiting on the tion has had very bad results, I think. breakfast table, and having such wonderful people I remember Chadwick school fondly, when it as Joe and Margaret to live with, guide me, being was in its "infancy." I made one or two lifelong called into Margaret's bedroom to listen to a poem friends there and shall always remember it as part she had just composed, having such an understand­ of "the good old days." The Christmas Pageant, of ing friend to comfort me during the first real course, brought the Bible to life for me as did romance of my life, which carries its ups and nothing else in my childhood and provided a re­ downs so keenly felt by the young heart. ligious foundation which has been invaluable to me. Going to Pierre's house on Sunday afternoons Frank Johnson, '47

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