Fred C. Nelles School Timeline

Quaker City Established

Named after founders favorite poet, John Greenleaf Whittier.

Southern Pacific Railroad Completes First Line To City

Bailey Street School, Whittier Academy, and Friends College Open

Cornerstone Dedication Ceremony

Whittier State Reformatory

State Reform School For Juvenile Offenders

Opens Co-Ed July 1, 1891

Oil Industry Develops

Produced 96,000 barrels of oil per month by 1917.

Brief Name Change

The school briefly changes its name to Whittier School of Trades and Agriculture. The Trustees and Superintendent wanted to change the name to Whittier School of Trades and Agriculture because they objected to the word Reform in the name. The change was proposed but not approved by the Legislature in 1891.

Name Changed to Whittier State School

The City of Whittier Becomes Incorporated

First Electric Lights in Whittier Installed at the State School

Pacific Electric Red Car Arrives

City Band Concerts Held Annually in Central Park

A Superintendent Is Hired

Fred C Nelles, a Practical Idealist and Reformer, is hired as the school's Superintendent.

Administration Building

The original Administration building is condemned in 1913.

A Special Visit

Whittier is visited by Edison, Ford, and Firestone.

Girls moved to the Ventura Facility

The Castle

The Castle is demolished in 1916, and the remaining chapel is demolished in 1920.

Superintendent's Residence Built

Fred C. Nelles

Fred C. Nelles dies at the age of 51.

A New Administration Building

The existing Administration Building is built in 1929.

Albert Einstein Speaks at Whittier High School

Einstein speaks about arms limitations.

Former President and Mrs. Hoover Visit Whittier School and the State School

The former First Lady was raised in Whittier.

A New Superintendent

Judge Milne hired as the new Superintendent ostensibly to continue the reform Nelles began. However, by the end of the 1930s, psychological, physical and sexual abuse of the wards was rampant.

First Ward Suicide

The suicides of Benny Moreno in 1939 and Edward Leiva in 1940 sparked state and national scrutiny of the Whittier State School and juvenile reform in general. California responds by firing Milne and passing the Youth Corrections Authority Act in 1941.

School's Name Changed

The name of the school is changed to Fred C. Nelles School for Boys. The “for Boys” part was dropped around 1970.

California Youth Authority Assumes Control of Fred C. Nelles School

Cottages Constructed

Barracks-style cottages are constructed in the late 1950's.

Business Slowly Declines in Uptown Whittier

Merle Haggard

Country musicisan Merle Haggard is sent to Fred C. Nelles School, but escapes in 1952.

Dedication of New City Hall

New Hospital Opening

The Presbyterian Inter-Community Hospital opens in 1959.

Behavior Modification Treatments Instituted

All Remaining English-Style Cottages Razed

President Richard Nixon

Former President, Richard Nixon, serves on Whittier College Board of Trustees until his election as President of the United States.

Nancy Reagan

Wife of Governor of California visits with wards and foster grandparents.

The Whittier Museum is Established

City Band Concerts Resume in Central Park

Whittier Celebrates Its 100th Anniversary

Festivities and parades throughout the entire year.

Earthquake Measures 5.9

The earthquake damages many historic Whittier structures.

Earthquake Clean Up

Wards work hundreds of hours to clean up the earthquake damage done to the community.

Prison-Like Structure Built

The two adjoining units were named after Presidents Carter and Nixon and were the most secure facilities at Nelles. The prison provided 270° visibility for security staff.

School Changes Names

The name of the school is changed to Fred C. Nelles Correctional Facility.

Youth Correctional Facility Closes

The last ward leaves Fred C. Nelles Correctional Facility May 27, 2004.