tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post4665298047993170824..comments2024-03-18T20:53:02.128-07:00Comments on Orange County Memories: Greenbriar Inn and Sanitarium in Garden GroveSteve Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07254867681706917705noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-22530293926949011562014-01-03T20:52:29.162-08:002014-01-03T20:52:29.162-08:00Totally remember this place...I was watching "...Totally remember this place...I was watching "dead files" on travel channel on 1-3-2013 regarding a creepy old sanitarium. "fairview" hospital popped in my head & I do remember the one in Garden Grove (garbage grove). After I googled it & found this website, then read the posts I was brought back. I did remember their was a "fairview State hospital - buty it was on the border of GG and Santa Ana.<br /> Anyhoo, I was born at Palm Harbor Hospital in 1959. Our family lived on Candy Lane (Chapman/West). My cousins lived off Nutwood & Lampson & my grand-parents lived off Haster & Lampson. I remember standing on the driveway watching the disney fireworks. Later, we had to go on the roof to watch them.<br />I remember the orange groves, the strawberry festival. I remember the post office on Stanford, The malibu grand prix, The Gem theatre (& I went to cosmetology school - also on main st - around 1977-1980) I remember Farrels, Woolgreens(?), zody's, white front, AlphaBeta, Pronto (west st) & VANS on Harbor Blvd. I remember the bowling lanes & skate rink on GG blvd & Haster.I remember my older sisters "clic" all ordered shoes in yellow/purple plaid for some school "thing" AND I still buy Vans - just not in GG. I/my bro & my sis went to Parkview Elementary, Walton intm/7 & 8th & my sis went to Santiago. My brother went to GG high. I tried both schools, then left for bigger & better .77 grad. BUT I totally remember the Sanatarium off Nutwood. LIke"ANONYMOUS 9-7-12" I do remember going in the vacant building - totally creeped out! I also remember bed pans, (shock therapy?) tables, dds chairs etc. wowkatkatbailey@yahoo.comhttp://www.yahoo.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-53402472413620505102013-12-01T10:35:26.214-08:002013-12-01T10:35:26.214-08:00I am looking for some history on the Greenbriar In...I am looking for some history on the Greenbriar Inn. My mother & grandmother both worked there. Mom seems to remember that one of the owners murdered the other one, and that, some years later he was also murdered. How do I find out the real story?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-1632802972814663922013-10-30T06:20:35.524-07:002013-10-30T06:20:35.524-07:00I worked as a full charge bookkeeper for Dr. Carte...I worked as a full charge bookkeeper for Dr. Carter from 1963 until sometime in the 70s, I forgot when. In the later years he had leased the Greenbrier out and was still operating the Sanitarium. Everything fell through with the Inn and it was in disrepair for several years. I actually lived on the property, in a beautiful duplex located off of Nutwood and continued working at the Sanitarium. When Dr. Carter retired and closed the Sanitarium, I still did accounting work for him and the business, but from home. He sadly was murdered in the late 70s. It was an interesting place, a bit of evilness I always felt...always wanted to write a book about my experiences..even .had a title "Color my Spirit Black!. Judy Smithnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-23261974138213795092013-10-29T17:34:39.258-07:002013-10-29T17:34:39.258-07:00I worked there for 15 years 1963-197xx as the full...I worked there for 15 years 1963-197xx as the full-charge bookkeeper. I can't remember the exact time I left. In later years, the property was in disrepair and sat vacant . The legal name of the property was the Garden Grove Sanitarium although the Greenbrier Inn comprised a large part of the 13 acres. Dr. Richard Carter was the owner and also had a large house on the property,The property sold sometime in the late 70's, I continued to working for him from my home until he was murdered in Idyllwild in the late 70s. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-28947604580633246362013-10-29T17:24:18.583-07:002013-10-29T17:24:18.583-07:00I just heard about this blog. I actually worked a...I just heard about this blog. I actually worked at the Garden Grove Sanitarium. That was the legal name of the entire property. I worked there as the full charge bookkeeper from 1963 - 1979. I have many "interesting" stories I could tell. Dr. Richard Carter was the owner when I worked there. He had a partner who had passed away a few years earlier. Dr. Carter was a psychiatrist and treated patients at the Sanitarium for more than just alcoholism. I can remember him performing shock treatments. My office was in a building between the hotel/restaurant and the Sanitarium. I even lived there for awhile in a duplex on the street across from Eddie Hopper Chevrolet. I forgot the name of the street. OH, I think it was Nutwood St. It was a beautiful place, but there was an evilness to it. Dr. Carter was murdered in 1978 or 79 while living in Idyllwild.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-45635826533590747212013-10-01T12:40:15.527-07:002013-10-01T12:40:15.527-07:00Jesse, What year(s) did you work at the U-Haul?
We...Jesse, What year(s) did you work at the U-Haul?<br />We owned Swede's Radiator which was right next door.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11886356251788456468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-86950517172457594512013-10-01T12:38:59.327-07:002013-10-01T12:38:59.327-07:00My mother was a RN at Palm Harbor Hospital. Her be...My mother was a RN at Palm Harbor Hospital. Her best friend, Gloria Carter, was employed at Greenbrier.<br />The owner of Greenbrier was a doctor. He was also a little nutty. The property had a vast amount of fruit trees surrounding the buildings.<br />One of the employees was caught picking peaches from the peach tree, the doctor became so enraged that he cut down all of the peach trees.<br />Employees were not allowed to eat at the Greenbrier. The restaurant was for the rich patients and Hollyweird drunks who came to sober up.<br />The U-Haul Center on GG Blvd, as well as Auto Parts Center, Swede's Radiator, Matt’s Motor Machine Shop, Beradini Used Cars were all located on GG Blvd and the GG Sanitarium & Greenbrier Inn were located behind these businesses. <br />My father owned & operated Swede's Radiator. Garden Grove’s first independent radiator repair shop.<br /><br />A property investment company from Newport Beach was hired by the City of Garden Grove to draw plans for the, now standing, condominium complex.<br />My father’s property and business and the Mc Mahan’s furniture store were the last 2 properties holding up the ground breaking for the planned community which included the vacant GG Sanitarium and Greenbrier Inn.<br />All of the other buildings were torn down.<br />My father was forced to sell out through a court mandated order.<br />The City of Garden Grove then went after McMahan’s Furniture through court actions but the City of GG almost hit bankruptcy as McMahan’s property was buried in multiple trusts. <br />The Condo Complex was constructed around McMahan’s Furniture properties which included the small used car sales lot directly to the east of the furniture store. If you drive over to the corner GG Blvd and Brookhurst St you’ll see the Condo Complex covers from Nutwood to Brookhurst (east to west) & the housing track to GG Blvd (north to south)…. McMahan’s Furniture building and used car lot properties prevailed in court. They are still standing. <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11886356251788456468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-78647588440620141282013-09-17T15:47:01.296-07:002013-09-17T15:47:01.296-07:00I am so happy I found you all. My parents spent t...I am so happy I found you all. My parents spent their honeymoon at Greenbriar Inn. I heard stories about it my entire life. I've lived in southern California for 15 years and had never heard of such a place until I found you. It's unfortunate there aren't more pictures and stories of the place.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-77739244991343129022013-08-13T03:28:34.696-07:002013-08-13T03:28:34.696-07:00Do you still have the milk creamer? Do you still have the milk creamer? Rosie Elwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05940054015033564147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-19583451872963051802013-05-24T15:00:21.394-07:002013-05-24T15:00:21.394-07:00Do you remember the month it was torn? I'm wri...Do you remember the month it was torn? I'm writing a biography of Duane Peters and I'm getting conflicting dates.Chris Walterhttp://www.punkbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-30693868310436896052013-05-13T13:12:58.038-07:002013-05-13T13:12:58.038-07:00Hello Anonymous
I am researching my wifes family h...Hello Anonymous<br />I am researching my wifes family history and have found out that her grandmothers brother, George Johnston Stewart, was a patient at Garden Grove Sanitarium from 1966 until his death in 1968, Dr. Richard A. Carter MD signed his death certificate.<br />I believe George was cremated at the Odd Fellows Cemetary.<br />I am looking to find out if he had any family who might have visited him and who they were when he died.<br />I would appreciate if anyone could help me with any info, including which is the nearest County Clerks Office to where the Sanitarium was.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-61349330707728303862013-04-27T22:13:18.765-07:002013-04-27T22:13:18.765-07:00Thanks so much for all your history and info regar...Thanks so much for all your history and info regarding Garden Grove. My parent's purchased their home the year before I was born (1976). I continued to live in Garden Grove up until 2005. My parent's are Steven and Michol Hall (both attended Santa Ana High School). They still live in the home I was born in, off of Trask and Fairview. I've always been curious about the history of the land and the home I grew up in, but they were very unwilling/unable to give me any information. My older brother loved to tell me about the bowling alley and skate rink on Haster. Does anyone know where I could find out more history about their house/land? Thanks for the great stories! ~ Amy Hall-SandersAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-84485015060504777312013-03-04T13:15:51.122-08:002013-03-04T13:15:51.122-08:00The old Pinnacle Peak in GG on Trask is closed. It...The old Pinnacle Peak in GG on Trask is closed. It's now a Vietnamese restaurant. My husband lost a tie at Pinnacle Peak (deliberately)!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-20335567582751112392012-12-17T23:27:15.543-08:002012-12-17T23:27:15.543-08:00We were neighbors as I lived on Claussen St. It is...We were neighbors as I lived on Claussen St. It is between Lampson and Stanford by the Post office. Just past the Post office was Green Briar Inn. I remember Lee's Hobbies ! I used to buy most of my Model Airplanes there. I would also buy the little Air Fix toy soldiers there for 50 cents a box. I also liked the old Brookhurst Hobbies before they moved. In Jr. High ( Lampson before it became Ralston ) we would go to Barry's Hobbies and race our Slot cars. Barry's had a huge track where one could race their cars for 50 cents. It was next to the Super market in the corner. I forget the Super Market ( Von's ? ) but I sold candy out front for Foot Ball when I went to Grove. Do you remember the Big grain warehouse on Nelson and Acacia St by the R.R. Tracks ? I remember when it burned down one night. My friend Tom and heard the crashing timbers as it burned to the ground. We even saw the flames from my house. We used to play on the R.R. Tracks back in the day when the Train used to run through there. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-45684317627699627062012-11-01T18:45:09.879-07:002012-11-01T18:45:09.879-07:00I remember when I was 10 or 12 years old back in t...I remember when I was 10 or 12 years old back in the mid fifties my parents took me and my brothers and sisters to the Greenbrier Inn for dinner. It kind of creeped us out because we knew it was a mental hospital but the food was good. <br /><br />We lived in Garden Grove when it was American and my High School, Bolsa Grande was not referred to being in little Saigon. Lived in GGH from 5 years old until 23. or so. 1952 to 1975. Not being racist, just liked my hometown when it was all American. I mean who wants to eat at the Hang Long Dong restaurant on Brookhurst (well it sounded something like that).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-88076232544503083312012-09-07T21:54:17.182-07:002012-09-07T21:54:17.182-07:00From the mid 1970's until 1978 I worked at the...From the mid 1970's until 1978 I worked at the old Garden Grove U-Haul equipment rental near GG blvd and Brookhurst streets. I was 16 when I started there. I remember Hasty equipment rental very well. They were very good neighbors and very friendly. There was a small bar across the street from the U-Haul and to the right...almost behind the Der Weinersnitchel. Does anybody remember the name of that place? I seem to remember the sign had a martini glass on it or something. Or maybe it was called "Martini's"...don't remember for sure. <br /><br />The G.G. U-Haul was actually a converted house. Does anybody know the history of that place? It was obviously once a private residence and I always wondered who used to live there.<br /><br />The Greenbrier and sanitarium property was right behind the back of the U-Haul place. We used to park the rental trucks back there, and I remember all those big trees on the Greenbrier property. In 1976 there were still some people there because a guy I worked with jumped the back fence once and went exploring. He got chased out after a short while and said someone was living there. He said it was like another world back there. One day someone renting a trailer told us the sanitarium had closed due to poor conditions, so after work we decided to check it out. It was evening when we went, and it was very creepy. Lots of empty buildings. I remember being surprised to find so much little stuff still laying around...dishes, utensils, etc. I'll never forget in one of the halls I found a wheelchair, then a bunch of wheelchairs in a room. There were also gurneys and tables around. My coworkers took off to find the pool we'd heard about, and I walked down the hallways, looking into the rooms. I saw that some still had beds but they were in bad shape. There were chairs and other furniture in some of them as well. I can tell you for sure there were lock-down rooms because I saw them. They had no windows except for a small window on the door with bars on it and a slide to open and look inside. I also found restraints and other items, but also normal stuff for a hospital. I remember thinking it was like in a movie. Looking back now I wish I'd picked some stuff up to take with me as souvenirs. After that first trip we started bringing friends there to party and get spooked. It was a very weird place at night. We used to walk along the road and go exploring. I'm pretty sure we were about the first people to go there after it was abandoned. Nobody was ever around. Soon we'd see groups of kids, and it wasn't long before there was just too many people going in there as it became quite the party place. I remember hearing girls scream as guys would jump out and scare them. You would often smell pot in the air. I remember once people were running around and a cop walked right by me with a flashlight, looked at me, and moved on. His partner was walking about 10 yards away. They didn't chase anybody out though. <br /><br />Eventually I heard someone started a fire in there and a chain link fence went up to keep people out. I had forgotten about this place for years and the next time I went by there it had been leveled, with huge piles of rubble all around. Eventually I went by and the U-Haul was gone to. Just the driveway left with a chain across it. Very sad day for me. <br /><br />So many memories of my time at U-Haul, exploring the sanitarium, and working in Garden Grove. I could tell stories about it for hours. Good times indeed.<br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-10831554819474131402012-08-29T03:43:22.992-07:002012-08-29T03:43:22.992-07:00As many of you have mentioned in your previous pos...As many of you have mentioned in your previous posts: what memories!<br /><br />I grew up in Garden Grove between 1956 and 1965, before moving to Orange. I have so many memories about the places previously mentioned, including the Greenbriar Inn. I remember Dr. Carter, the beauty of the grounds, the wonderfully romantic restaurant, and the rumors regarding the clientele at the sanitorium.<br /><br />My mother worked as a waitress at the restaurant, and I don't remember her having anything bad to say about the place. I simply remember how lovely it was, the decor, and the outfits the servers wore. <br /><br />I also remember, with very fond memories of Coles, Wheeler's Markets, downtown (Old Main St.), the Axteca, Maple Lanes, the various hobby stores, old packing houses, and a lot more about old Garden Grove.<br /><br />Several years ago I ran across an advertisement for the Garden Grove Sanitarium and Greenbriar Inn on EBay. It is multi-paged and, although it doesn't have color photos, you get a general sense of what it must have looked like in its heyday.<br /><br />Finally, I was fortunate to have grown up across the street from then Euclid Park. I remember the old band shell, a recreation building, the playground, Christmas nativity scenes, summer concerts, and a delightful picnic area behind the church. I lived on Park Drive (no longer in existence), behind Dr. Speck's medical offices. <br /><br />Great memories of growing up in "Garbage Gulch!"Captain Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03761606685376775641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-43505669060337560502012-07-05T21:55:05.473-07:002012-07-05T21:55:05.473-07:00I knew your friends brother Scott Kuchenbecker.I knew your friends brother Scott Kuchenbecker.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-5812326586613916782012-06-15T08:38:36.753-07:002012-06-15T08:38:36.753-07:00There's a pinnacle peak im Carson. It was real...There's a pinnacle peak im Carson. It was really run down<br /> Went there last year, won't go again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-44680634104572732712012-05-08T16:26:44.457-07:002012-05-08T16:26:44.457-07:00Kerry. from Mission Viejo,5/8/12:
Living in GG fro...Kerry. from Mission Viejo,5/8/12:<br />Living in GG from 1968-70, I remember the Greenbrier Inn fondly. In 1968 I took my fiancee' to dinner and spent the nite in the hotel.I took a dip in the pool, unheated...burrrr! What was neat about the place, was it was built in 1940 on 15 acres. By 1968 the numerous trees planted thru out the premises were very tall and mature. like an oasis in the middle of an old crumbling town before renovation. The roooms were not special, but if anyone has been to Hearst Castle, they would immediatelyy recognize the restaurant as the same ilk.<br /> The good doctor was very cultured in the furnishings, with antiques and works of art in the lobby and restaurant. Dinners were gourmet, but not pricey, ambiance was very romantic. When the good doctor died the property was taken for taxes and leveled. Not one tree,nor building was spared (over 100 trees!). For photographs of the inn go to Barnes and Knoble and consult "the images of America" series, GARDEN GROVE page 90. In 1968 gas was 19cents/gallon! a product of gas wars at the time!k..kowalskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11823346524302745357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-55511201902861058082012-01-05T03:42:05.359-08:002012-01-05T03:42:05.359-08:00I worked in the rubber factory in 1968
My job was ...I worked in the rubber factory in 1968<br />My job was mostly to clean ad scrub the bits of rubber from the employee's clothes after they sat down at the tables and chairs for lunch <br />Hard job!<br />I had no idea about all this history and I thank all of you for supplying it<br /><br />At some point Garden Grove got a negative reputation as a dumpy place and it was called Garbage Gulch -- I never felt it was that way<br /><br />Probably the location of the alcoholism/mental health facility there was part o that bad reputation -- People are always scared of mental illness and what they don't understandPaul from Fullertonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-69441030370673741652011-10-19T16:06:31.399-07:002011-10-19T16:06:31.399-07:00I don't know how I found this, but I know a th...I don't know how I found this, but I know a thing or two about Maple Lanes. My Grandfather was named Brick Murdy. He sold his Dairy Farm in Midway City in 1944 and bought a 6 lane Bowling Alley in Huntington Beach. My uncle Clay Kellogg owned a feed store on G.G. Blvd and he loved to bowl. My uncle talked my grandfather into relocating his Bowling Alley into the feed store and he added 2 lanes a total of 8 lanes and he named it Maple Lanes in 1953. Grandpa owned and operated Maple Lanes until his death in 1975. I worked there from 1972 until 1975. 25 cents per game, 25 cents for Rental Shoes 25 cents for Pool.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-5247907955611339492011-10-14T09:51:36.944-07:002011-10-14T09:51:36.944-07:00Yup, the Greenbrier on Nut wood......Yup, the Greenbrier on Nut wood......Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-54586574489444521852011-08-25T20:22:23.574-07:002011-08-25T20:22:23.574-07:00Wow, lot of memories, the kids that skated in the ...Wow, lot of memories, the kids that skated in the pool were a group of kids overseen by Rene Cacrasto(?) the family was very involved in local GG events he had brothers that were twins, they were a good family. I spent younger years growing up on Walnut St. it was the street behind Joybells. I worked for the Sanitarium and Greenbrier at two different times.I answered a add posted at Santiago HS youth employment, I worked there sophomore and junior years after school and Saturdays & Sundays. I was young and had a few spare hours to explore the buildings they did have sections that were MAX lock down but by the late 60's the were closed up. I was hired by Dr. Richard Carter M.D. my understanding from the staff was that he had inherited the practice from his Father with the same name. Dr. Carter always treated me as an employee even tho he was out and very feminine, some of the patients who new his father despise him because of his life choices. I spent a lot of time talking to the older RN's who had worked there for a long time, seems that many famous movie starts and families with money would come there to detox, including Judy Garland. When I was there they had a Mr. Goodyear <br />(yes as in Goodyear tires)because I had to prep him a special diet. aside from the max side most the rooms were like something out of a 30's movie big grand beds, leather chairs that were stately and overstuffed, they had fire places in each room. I remember it closing down and being fence off, not sure if Dr. Carter "his male assistant" live there, but I know he was beaten to death in Big Bear by one of his young lovers, I read that in the paper. Remember that Garden Grove was a bedroom community a lot of the famous would leave LA and come to GG to carry on affairs at motels, plus they could detox without being under shutter. wrightotcm at gmail.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-29457032418802566302011-08-10T09:37:40.955-07:002011-08-10T09:37:40.955-07:00This was way before my time, but I love old storie...This was way before my time, but I love old stories like this! These were the only pictures I could find.<br /><br />http://books.google.com/books?id=L8OsUkC2JdgC&pg=PA90&lpg=PA90&dq=greenbriar+inn+garden+grove&source=bl&ots=NA-vCK7aOk&sig=X9048N0Is3PdLThnsByzmuci_sg&hl=en&ei=cLBCTpyaFYPWiAKS_MG-BQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&sqi=2&ved=0CE0Q6AEwBgMrsNymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04947272022244630796noreply@blogger.com