Baxter `House of Abuse' to Be Razed ; Its Demolition Will Close a Dark Chapter in the History of the School for the Deaf.
Portland Press Herald › January 25, 2004
Linked as:
Summary
The weathered farmhouse looks like any of the homey old Cape- style residences found in many Maine towns. But it is a haunted house for many former students at the Gov. Baxter School for the Deaf - which is why they are glad the Baxter school board voted this week to demolish it. That farmhouse on the Mackworth Island campus of the state school for the deaf is the former residence of Robert E. Kelly. He was the school's principal from 1965 until 1982 - which is when the state Attorney General's Office alleged that he had physically and sexually abused the students under his care for years. The school's former superintendent, Joseph P. Youngs, and a teacher also were accused of abuse. All three men denied the allegations, but resigned.
Much of the horrific mistreatment that the children allegedly underwent took place in or near the farmhouse where Kelly lived, said Sara Treat, a therapist who works with the survivors.See the full content of this document
Extract
Baxter `House of Abuse' to Be Razed ; Its Demolition Will Close a Dark Chapter in the History of the School for the Deaf.
"He would call the students down there day and night, literally in the middle of the night," she said. "The farmhouse holds haunting memories. . . . Watching that farmhouse burn would be a lovely thing."
Bu...See the full content of this document
Sponsored links
