Pacific Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 22, 1959, Tokyo, Japan                                " woj of i a " of up i v v newcomer arrives at children s Village in Suckach. Or. Gies director left and father Magnani children s Village founder. Cards recall former Homes to sea boys dorm at children s Village. Some of the 250 youngsters live in houses. Children s Village Home for homeless coeducational German counterpart of boys town in Odenwald is also project of Catholic priest by Jack Walters staff writers a photos by Guenter Schuettler besides the House Mother there s an assistant who Cooks and launders. Father Flanagan s boys town Hasa counterpart in Germany except that the one in Germany is coeducational. Like boys town the German children s Village in Suckach in the Odenwald about50 Miles East of Heidelberg is Catholic sponsored and is the work of a priest father Heinrich Magnani who was born of italian parents in Karlsruhe. At children s Village the first of it kind in Germany there Are 250 boys and girls ranging in age from infants to 18. They live in houses eight children to dwelling in care of a Mother who runs the household exactly As a private family lives. From the staff of teachers in the orphanage schools Foster fathers Are selected for each House to exercise a father parental discipline. Father Magnani the local administrator of the Catholic Relief Agency Caritas first conceived of his children s Village shortly after world War ii Sec Kuch Dur ing the War had been a Refuge for workers in the Schweinfurt bal bearing  Blad after which the orphanage was named came from Devil s Klinge a haunted site about which local tradition holds Many mysterious tales. The area is honeycombed with shafts and galleries of an abandoned Gypsum mine in which the workers would take Refuge during  the War the rude huts in which the workers lived were occupied by refugees. Among them were dozens of children some orphans others from broken Homes Many in need of medical attention an schooling All hungry and in need o l love As father Magnani said. At first All that could be done for them was to provide shelter and food. Gradually with the Aid of several other religious people one of the shelters was converted into a House. Father Magnani s sister who headed a music school in new York contributed Money necessary to launch the orphanage into a full scale project. Federal and state funds were subsequently appropriated. Another priest father were Fried Van Straaten originator of the Relief for priests in Eastern countries organized a Campaign for building More houses and a Church. Labor was provided by hundreds of Young volunteers from Spain Belgium France the Netherlands and Germany. They worked a total of 20,520 hours. Sunday february 22, 1959 the stars and stripes today the fruit of their labors is seen the rows of generously built attractive houses each individually spaced with Garden and in the modern Church designed by Hubert Reichert Young Catholic architect. The orphanage occupies 115 acres of Fields gardens and Woodland. Children s Village has a poultry farm and Market Garden the orphanage raises most of its own food. Formal education facilities consist of regular primary school special language classes for refugee children unable to understand German and a Home economics course for girls teen age boys take apprenticeship courses in carpentry plumb ing and electrical work. Various crafts Are taught. The Village has its own Power and Light facilities. Father Magnani estimates it costs 52,000" Marks a month to operate the orphanage. The total property and holdings Are Worth about 3 1 million. Or. Hasso Gies Village director says every Effort is made to provide the children with a warm Homelike Atmos phere. In i really believe that our average House with its eight children Foster Mother and her maid assistant is far better than Many Normal Homes outside he said. Indeed our children enjoy Many advantages denied those in regular families children Over eight and under 15 receive 10 Marks month for spending Money. Those Over 15 receive 15  father Magnani called affectionately by his charges Dorf chef Village chief commented it must be remembered that these Chil Dren All of them Are the products of War and its immediate aftermath or of unhappy families Many boys and girls on first coming Here had never heard of god. Love was As strange to most of them As a full meal or a warm bed and clothing. Naturally we emphasize religious train ing in the belief that it is the most important single element in a person s  All the care of which we Are capable our boys and girls in time graduate into life with the instincts affections and ideals of those who come from Good Christian  Page 11