Milhous Children's Svc Inc

Pros

• Milhouse truly cared.
• The program was absolutely great, and the staff helped him out a lot.
• It was the best experience ever.
• They will never forget Milhous, their dog, and Jackson.
• They loved working with Dad Milhous and the horses daily.
• They learned many life skills from Dad Milhous.

Cons

• They kicked him out, which he attributes to the place.
• A reviewer called the place Traaaaaash.
• A reviewer called the place Garbage.

Review

The collection of memories paints a picture of a place that lingered in the lives of its former youths long after they moved on. It was a program tied to EMQ families, a community that many describe as having its own rhythm and sense of purpose. The stories speak of care, mentorship, and hands-on learning, where woodworking, animal care, and team driving with horses weren't just activities but pathways to maturity. One contributor recalls that Milhouse truly cared, a sentiment echoed by others who remember how Rich taught woodworking and Luke showed practical skills for tending horses. The shared thread is gratitude for people who believed in them, even when the path was not easy, and a sense that the place may have faded away or changed, but its influence remains.

For several contributors, the experience is recounted as a high point in adolescence - the best experience of their lives, in fact. They speak of a program that offered guidance, structure, and warmth during formative years. The memory of Milhous - often paired with the image of a dog and a companion named Jackson - appears repeatedly as a symbol of hands-on leadership and a unwavering presence. It's clear that the staff and mentors left an imprint: a sense of belonging, a belief in one's own potential, and a trajectory toward positive work and community involvement. The gratitude is palpable, and the sense of being shaped by people who showed up consistently comes through as the defining takeaway.

Delving back to the late 1980s, one vivid account anchors the experience in daily life and routine. The writer remembers being a youth between 1985 and 1989, working alongside Dad Milhous with the horses nearly every day, and sleeping in the bunkhouse or briefly in the Brunswick house before returning to the bunkhouse. Life was animated by the work of hitching up teams for wagon trains, an activity described as exciting and meaningful, not merely practical. The most concrete daily memory is Oliver, known as Dad Milhous, who would pick the writer up after breakfast from the cafeteria and then devote the majority of the day to working with the horses. It's a portrait of discipline, companionship, and a steady apprenticeship that blended chores with life lessons, all under the guidance of a family-like team.

Time has a way of reshaping places, but the recollection still carries a strong sense of reverence. The writer notes that while many things have changed over the course of 35 years, the place remains "very special" in their heart. They extend thanks not only to Dad Milhous and Mom, but also to Richard, Uncle Billy, and Roy Milhous, acknowledging the broader circle that contributed to their growth. The tone is gratitude tempered with realism about change, yet the emotional resonance of those years endures. The sense that a supportive, sometimes bustling, community can become a lifelong anchor is evident in this reflection.

Not every voice in the collection is uniformly admiring, and a couple of terse exclamations punctuate the mosaic. "Traaaaaash" and "Garbage" appear as standalone lines, evidence that not all memories were unblemished or uniformly positive. These brief interjections acknowledge the complexities of any long-running program - moments that some felt were negative or disappointing. They sit alongside the longer, more lyrical passages as reminders that a place can be both cherished and critiqued, valued for its strengths even as it left some wounds or unresolved tensions in the minds of those who passed through it.

Yet even with the sharpness of those terse notes, there remains a solid thread of affection for the environment itself. The final reflections emphasize a sense of wonder about the kinds of animals that inhabited the place, with one voice specifically recalling "all types of animals" they remember there. This detail adds texture to the picture: beyond the horses and wagon trains, the setting was a living, breathing farm and workshop where animals punctuated daily life, impressions that helped to cultivate responsibility, empathy, and a willingness to learn by doing. The memory of this diverse environment - work with people, horses, and animals alike - appears as a cornerstone of the program's lasting appeal.

Taken together, these memories form a portrait of a program that offered more than instruction or shelter. They speak to a place where mentors like Rich and Luke taught practical crafts, where a figure like Dad Milhous led by example with horses and wagon teams, and where the routines of bunkhouses and cafeterias created small, enduring rituals. The writers describe a community that was - and remains - important to their identities: a network of people who showed up, taught skills, and helped them navigate adolescence with purpose and direction. For many, the experience laid the groundwork for adulthood, including careers in service and a commitment to giving back to others.

In the end, the thread that runs through all the recollections is a mix of gratitude, nostalgia, and a recognition that a place can shape who you become. The memories celebrate the tangible skills learned - woodworking, horse care, wagon-driving, and the daily discipline of a structured program - but they also honor the intangible gifts: the steady care of mentors, the sense of belonging to a communal effort, and the confidence to move forward in life with a sense of responsibility and hope. Even as some reviewers labeled it as "trash" or "garbage," the majority of voices articulate a deep, lasting appreciation for the people, routines, and experiences that gave them a foundation to build lives that matter.

Restaurants

• Peterson's Corner (2 miles)
• The Willo (4.2 miles)
• Sopa Thai Cuisine (5.8 miles)
• Szabo Vineyards (5.8 miles)
• Northridge Of Nevada City (5.8 miles)
• Friar Tuck's Restaurant & Bar (5.8 miles)
• Three Forks Bakery & Brewing (5.9 miles)

Physicians

• Lisa M Hosbein MD FACOG (4.1 miles)
• Frederick Morrill, DMD (6 miles)
• Grass Valley Surgery Center (6.1 miles)
• Swope Medical Group (6.1 miles)
• Crawford Helen MD (6.2 miles)
• Sierra View Medical Eye (6.2 miles)
• Amethyst Medical Group (6.2 miles)

Parks

• South Yuba River State Park (5.3 miles)
• Nevada City Downtown Historic District (5.9 miles)
• Pioneer Park (6.3 miles)
• Dow Alexander Park (7.3 miles)
• Play Field Of Dreams (7.5 miles)

Cafes

• Java John's (5.8 miles)
• Dutch Bros Coffee (6.5 miles)
• What's Up Coffee (6.7 miles)
• Carolines Coffee Roasters (7.2 miles)

Pharmacies

• Dokimos Pharmacy (6.1 miles)
• Elevation 2477 (6.2 miles)
• Save Mart Supermarkets (6.4 miles)
• Longs Drugs (6.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (6.7 miles)
• Spring Hill Pharmacy (6.7 miles)
• Walgreens (6.8 miles)

Places of Worship

• Southern Baptist Convention (6.1 miles)
• Twin Cities Church (6.1 miles)
• Sierra Presbyterian Church (6.3 miles)
• Pacific Island Ministries (6.8 miles)
• Covenant Reformed Church (7.1 miles)
• Congregation B'nai Harim Nevada County Jewish Community Center (7.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital Foundation (6.3 miles)
• Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital (6.9 miles)
• Golden Empire Convalescent Hospital (6.9 miles)
• Whispering Pines Lab Draw Station (7.7 miles)

Transportation

• Enterprise Rent-A-Car (6.6 miles)
• Alamo (7.1 miles)
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car (7.1 miles)

Theaters

• Sutton Cinemas (6.9 miles)