Being the only member of the original board still alive, I must rely on my memory. However, several members that came on the board shortly after it started, like Archie Ezel, have checked this out and approved it.

I will start back about 1945, some five years before Boys' Haven when the downtown Optimist Club, under the leadership of Ken Rogers, had the greatest boys work program ever undertaken going. We, as members worked with the juvenile division courts and by taking these boys that were in trouble with the law and assigning them to one of our members to help get them straightened out.

We had some wonderful successes and also some bad failures. I will not go into these cases which would be very interesting, but must touch on one case that has a bearing on Boys' Haven.

One of our good members, Carl Richardson, had a boy that he was working with and it was an impossible situation. He told us that as long as that boy lived in his current home, there was no hope to do anything for him. He said that the only way to help him was “to get him away from his drunken mama and bunch of winos who taught him to hate the law and hate society.”

Carl said, “you know that I have ten or twelve acres near Voth with a little two room house on it, but it has a lot of pine trees that we could us to build log cabins. The Optimist Club can have this property if the will establish a boys home.” I told Carl that I was to be installed as president of the Optimist Club next month and I would try to get them interested in the project. We had been talking about a home for several years but we felt that we were not big enough to start one. The next month I was installed as president, along with a board of young men that was elected, as I was, after being nominated from the floor in opposition to the slate presented by the nomination committee. We were unhappy with the way the club was being operated. We were going to make it or break it. We instituted compulsory attendance requirements and we knew that we must have a project and the idea of a boys home was the answer.

The following Monday at the regular meeting, these resolutions were presented to the membership. All were adopted, although some saw the end of the club, but it worked in reverse. We went from 41 to 100 members within six months. I appointed committees. One committee was consisted of John Land and Jack Miller to investigate other homes to learn rules and regulations, etc.

The two men (at their own expense) started out visiting different homes in the state. They ended up in San Antonio where they met Don Holliman, the director of the home there. He was a super salesman with a lot on the ball. He not only gave them all the information they needed, but also agreed to come to Beaumont to help us get started.

Weeks later he showed up at our noon meeting and afterwards some of us went with him to the site of the proposed home. Don Shook his head and said it would not do. The location was not good, the road to it was bad, the land was poor and several other problems. We came back to town downhearted but still determined. Don suggested we do as he did in San Antonio. That is to get an old home to move in.

The coming events may seem like lots of luck. They had to be more than luck, they had to be the work of the Good Lord. Every time we ran into that blank wall, a door would open and in would come our answer.

Our first break. One of our members, Rev. Tom Butler, announced to the club that his church had just purchased a large home on Calder Ave. This home was located on one half city block and he stated the church had no plans to use it within the next five years and we could use it, we could have it free of charge.

We went out to look it over. It was ideal. We sent Roy Baker out there to install a larger hot water heater and repair the plumbing. Several others with saws and hammers did some patch up work.

At that time the Beaumont Enterprise put a young reporter into the club and he immediately became interested in the Haven. His name was Jim Davis. Jim called on paint stores and secured enough paint to do the house. He then arranged with painters and paper hangers to come on a Saturday and Sunday to do the work. When they finished, you would not have recognized it. It was really nice. Jim would call me every Monday afternoon to meet him at the Enterprise to go over all the data that he had written up for the Tuesday morning paper. We really got the publicity. We had the front page articles, editorials and the head lines. We started receiving, due to Jim's articles in the paper, things that we needed for the home –furniture, clothing, bedding, groceries and more.

We had the home furnished but nobody to run it. We had a Catholic priest offered, but the church would not let him do it. We were up against that wall again but the door opened and our answer was there. Rev. Tom Butler said that he had left his church and he and his wife would run the home on a temporary basis, as he was expecting a call from another church. He and his wife were wonderful people and did a great job with the boys. It soon was full, but as expected, Tom was called to Florida to a church there. In the mean time we had located a young man named Ellis to take over. Things went well with one exception, we ran out of money.

We scratched our heads, what were we going to do. We were against that old wall again and as usual, the door opened with our answer. In walked Don Holliman. He had resigned his position with the San Antonio home and came to us and asked to take over the operation here. We explained to him our financial position. He said that would be no problem. We needed three or four Optimists on the board and to get six or seven civic organizations involved and make a community project out of it, instead of strictly Optimists. We could then put on drives for operating funds, as other organizations were doing. That was before the Community Chest or Untied Appeals, and all that was needed was a few more drives. We had the USO, Salvation Army, Red Cross, Y.M.C.A., Y.W.C.A., Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Day Nursery, and many more all putting on financial drives. There were so many drives going on that it was necessary to go to the Chamber of Commerce roster and get a date so that your drive would not be going on at the same time with one of the others.

We agreed to let Don have a go at it. He and I started out the next morning. As I recall, it took us less than two hours to line up six of Beaumont's leaders. I called on Bill Edwards, President of the Lions Club, Murray Thames, president of Thames Pharmacies, Homer Fort, Pastor of First Methodist Church, the President First National Bank, Dr. Bill Smith, a prominent physician, and Judge Charles D. Smith, one of Beaumont's finest lawyers and civic leaders. Not one of these men hesitated to accept. I would venture to guess that it took less than ten minutes after we got in to see each one.

We held our first board meeting with all present. Don explained that the present home was overflowing and we needed more room. He suggested that we build a home on forty or fifty acres just out of the city limits where the kids could have cows, chickens, gardens and a place to play. He stated that he was sure he could get the labor and materials donated to build the home. The board agreed and Dan had Paul Tullos to get an architect. E.L. Loper was to try to raise $4000.00 for 40 acres of land. You could buy good land for $100 per acre then. We raised the $4000.00 from members of the club.

After a few weeks a board meeting was called. The architect presented us with three sets of plans, also a nice bill. There went our money. The old wall again, but as usual, a miracle. Judge Smith said that he had been talking to one of his clients, Mr. Gordon, about 40 acres on highway 364 (the present site of the home) which was near a school and on good road and bus service. He went to the phone and called Mr. Gordon and explained that we were out of money and Mr. Gordon agreed to donate the land. (He later donated 60 more acres making a 100 acre tract.)

The next thing was appointing someone to supervise the construction. Paul Tullos arose and named me and before I could reject it, Don Holliman voted for me. When I got home I realized what a crazy fool I was to let them put this on me. I knew nothing about construction. I called myself a crazy fool and walked the floor most of the night. About daybreak, I phoned Holliman and told him to get out of bed and meet me for breakfast. I told him that they would have to get someone else, I couldn't do it. He told me not to worry, go home and get some sleep and we would see about it tomorrow.

I went home but could not sleep. I started figuring how to do it. I decided that the only way to do it was through committees. I started out with a bunch of plans. The first person we called on was Frank Goetz, the largest plumbing contractor in the city. I asked him to take a set of these plans and see if he could head up a committee to take charge of getting resources for the plumbing.

The next man that we called on was Vernon Hinote of Hinote Electric Company, the largest electrical contractor in Beaumont at that time. The next call was to Scott Clark, general manager of Brown Lane Company Ready Mix Concrete. Scott was a new member of the Optimist Club. The next call was to W.C. Ross of the Ross Sales Company, the only brick dealer in Beaumont. The last call was to Clyde Oldham, a lumber dealer. Not one refused, not one needed a selling job to get him to accept and they all came through 100 percent. Each was to handle a particular phase of the construction.

Clyde Oldham asked that O.B. Foxworth, also a lumber dealer and a member of the Optimist Club be appointed to serve with him. He was so appointed. These two men set out making calls to all sawmills in East Texas. They had wonderful success, we had lumber coming in. One mill gave us a trailer load of lumber on their truck.

Well, we had lumber coming in and we were stacking it on the property. About that time Don Holliman had a call from San Antonio that they were having trouble with the home there and he had to go there to help get things straightened out.

We had all the lumber we needed, but nobody to supervise the construction of the building. We had been up against that old wall before, but this was the worst. I can't remember how I go the name of M.S. McCree, I'm sure someone told me and sometimes I believe the Good Lord told me to go see him. I remember going into a construction shack on Pearl Street where they were remodeling the Edson Hotel into offices for a utilities company. Sitting on a stool was a man going over a set of blueprints. I asked to see M.S. McCree and he replied that he was M.S. McCree. I told him what I was there for. He said that he was very sorry and would love to help but he was a sick man. He was taking leave of absence from this job and this was his last week here. His health would not permit him to continue on. I told him that I was very sorry to hear of his misfortune and was sorry to have bothered him and started to leave. He said, “wait just a minute.” He said that he might be able to go out there the next week and help us get the foundation poured and maybe be able to locate someone else to finish the job.

For a sick man, he really did well. I don't know what he could have done if he had been well. I think the he either forgot that he was sick or the Good Lord healed his ailments. He stayed on the job until it was competed many months later. I mean that he got out there and worked. He dug, hammered, sawed and labored. He was out there seven day a week (Saturday and Sunday were our big days on account of volunteer labor)At night he would go to labor halls and ask for help from the union men to come out and help.

We got the foundation poured and Frank Goetz sent a crew out and put in the plumbing with donated materials and labor. Just think, they provided plumbing for thirty boys, bath facilities for the directors quarters, cooks quarter, the kitchen and another building outside. Do you realize what a mammoth job that was? It would have cost a small fortune if we had to pay for it.

Ross called and said that his company was donating the tile for the walls and it was in. Getting it laid was another problem however, we would go to their weekly meeting and usually had four or five layers on Saturday and Sunday.

Finally we got the walls up and the roof on. Hinote sent a crew out and finished the building. The big problem came in the painting. We got all the paint we needed but couldn't get the painters out. We finally found some retired painters that McCree knew to come out and painted the siding and doors and windows.

(Skipper ) Meadows came out and built us a large walk-in cooler. It was really nice and one of the best gifts that we have ever received. I don't know how we could have gotten along with out it.

Paul Hutcheson drilled us a water well and piped it to the home and the project was complete. McCree had done a marvelous job and stayed on the board of directors until his death. He took care of all maintenance. He was sent to the home and I believe the home was a life saver for him. After about five years, the home was running smooth. John Land was president of the Optimists Club. His project for the year was a swimming pool for the Haven. He appointed Doug Pool with Thompson, B.W. Pearson with Pearson Plumbing Co., and the three contacted Carlton Woods. Carlton not only agreed to draw the plans and to sell us everything at cost, but would try to get much of the things donated. With Carlton in charge, the City of Beaumont sent equipment and dug the hole for us. Carlton and Pearson did the piping and then Pool brought out two iron workers from his company and Carlton, Pearson and the two iron workers worked up into the night forming the work so that the concrete could be poured the next day. It took less than two weeks to finish the pool and cost about ten percent of what it would have cost anybody else.

Things continued to go well except for annual fund drives which were occurring all the time. We were finally taken in by United Appeal, that made things a lot easier.

About 1965, Archie Ezell called me in the night that Boys' Haven had burned. I went out there the next morning and the sight made me sick. The home was gutted for most parts. The walls were still standing but were cracked. The rear section was saved due to the water in the swimming pool that the fireman could pump from.

We had very little insurance but the board met and were determined to rebuild. James Broussard was appointed finance chairman. He had to go before the Untied Appeal and make arrangements for a fund drive to rebuild. E.L. Kite and I were appointed co-chairmen to rebuild the home.

We reached our goal very shortly. With people like Mrs. Harry Lucas, Mrs. Jones of Jones 7-11 and others, it didn't take long. This time we were able to hire workers. Money may not be everything, but it sure does help. We hired brick layers to point up the walls, carpenters to replaces the roof. We had the walls gunnited, which is spraying concrete under pressure on them. The walls were not only stronger than before the fire, they were pretty, especially after looking at those ugly unpainted walls for eighteen years. We replaced the old beaverboard ceilings with acoustical tile, the old light fixtures with wall switches and base plugs. We had carpets, air conditioning and many more nice additions.

One day while the home was being rebuilt, I was downtown and ran into a very close friend of mine, Doak Proctor. Doak said, “ Lester, I read in the paper where you got all the money you needed for rebuilding the home.” I said “yeah, it came pretty fast.” Doak said, “Too fast, one of my good friend died and left a few thousand dollars to charity with the bank and me as executers. We intended to send you about two thousand but we didn't get it finalized in time.”

I said “Doak, we got enough money to rebuild the home but we need a barn.We have no place to store hay and feed. We have an old makeshift out of scrap lumber.” He asked what I thought a barn would cost. I told him I did not know but would figure one up. I immediately got hold of E.L.Kite and Clarence Cleveland. I told them that I had no idea how much money they had but felt that they would go more than the two thousand. So we figured up a real good barn that ran six thousand dollars. I went to Doak and told him that we figured a real good barn and it would run six thousand. He shook his head and said that was too much. I told him that we cold build a cheaper one, but this was what we needed. He said that he would go to the bank and let me know. He called me and said that they had agreed to go on the $6000 barn. We immediately got busy and built the barn and when it was completed, I went and picked up Doak and took him out there and showed it to him. I never saw a man more happy. He walked around it thinking what a fine barn it was. He said, “this is the finest barn in the county and we must put Dr. Storey's name on it as a donor.” I told him that would be no problem and we would do it.

Doak had made one small mistake. On the way out there he told me that they still had twelve thousand dollars to give away after giving us our six thousand. I said , “Doak, it will be nice to have Dr. Storey's name up here, but wouldn't it be nice if we were to have a gymnasium and call it the Dr. Storey Gym. The twelve thousand that you are to give to different charities will soon be gone and forgotten and a gym would be a monument to him for many years.” He said, “we only have twelve thousand and that would not build a gym and why do they need a gym?” I said, “Doak, can you imagine twenty five teenagers in that building on a rainy day? It's a madhouse. We badly need a place that they can play on these days. Another thing, I will donate the concrete blocks I know some brick layers in Liberty that will put them up for about one half the bricklayers cost and I know that Clarence Cleveland will give very low cost on frame and roof. I believe that the board will help from their special fund and still call it the Storey Gymnasium.” He said, “Let me talk it over with the bank and I will call you.” A few days later he called and said, “ Lester we are going to let you have the twelve thousand, but we are going to look to you personally to see that it is completed and called the Storey gym.” I told him that I would see that it was completed, regardless of the cost, if I had to pay the balance personally. He said, “go to it.” I immediately checked with members of the board and they agreed to help all they could.

It might have cost a few dollars over the twelve thousand, but not very much. There is a plaque on the wall showing that it was erected in memory of Doctor Storey.

To show you how everything comes to us when we needed it, after our well went dry, the nearest city water was about a mile down the road near the county barn. It just so happened, a contractor friend of mine, H.W. McCurley told me that he was putting in a water system from Bolivar to High Island and that there had been a mix up in the pipe shipment and he had a car load of small diameter pipe that he could not use. It was just the size we needed for the line. He said that he would let us have it for ten cents per foot and haul it to the Haven. I then contacted Doug Pool who had just purchased the Neches Contracting company and he said that he would put it in if we could furnish the pipe. It would have cost several thousand dollars to have this line run into the home. Why the well went dry and the pipe became available at the same time is too much for me to try to figure out. I do not think that we ever paid Mr. McCurley for the pipe as I remember for many months thereafter, I asked him about the bill and he always said that he would send it one of these days. I do not believe that he ever intended to bill us for it.

The next project was a directors home. Louis Stockard told me that they wanted to build a home across the road for the director.I happened to be at a masonry contractor's party given by our concrete block plant.I told them that we were donating the blocks. Mr. Bill Williams of Beaumont Stone Company said that he would donate masonry mix and sand. Mr. Bob Bailey said that he would line up the brick layers. Mr. Johnie Coward said that if they would come out and work, he would furnish the barbeque and beer and he would cook it. We had plenty of bricklayers but were short laborers, so Johnie Coward mixed mortar and cooked at the same time. The masonry walls were completed in one weekend.

One more little thing and I will close. I was out at the Haven one Saturday evening visiting Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kay, the directors. A fine looking young man, dressed in an A&M band uniform came in and put his hand over Mrs. Kay's eyes and said, “ guess who?” When he took them down and she saw who it was, they grabbed each other. There couldn't have been more affection shown between a real mother and a real son than there was between these two people.

I understand this was a little boy from a broken home. His mother had gone off and left him with a grandmother who wasn't able to look after herself, much less a young boy like that. So he went to the home and was given a good bed, good clothes, schooling, and food. But more than anything else, he was given love and understanding.