Leonard W. Francis - Biography
 

  • Descendent of Robert Francis (1629 - 1705)
    An early resident of Wethersfield.

  • Father: Harry B. Francis.  A successful electrical
    contractor in Southington, CT.
    Born 1886 - Died 1951 at the age of 65. 

  • Mother: Mary-Ellen Jordan Francis.  Homemaker.
    Born 1888 - Died 1971 at the age of 83
    Father: Michael Jordan, Born in Ireland 1862
    Mother: Bridget, Born in Ireland 1865

  • Brother: Clayton J. Francis. An accountant.
    Born 1908 - Died 1976 at the age of 68

  • Sister: Anna V [Flagg] Francis.  Homemaker.  Husband Robert Flagg.
    Born 1911 - Died 1995 at the age of 84. 
    Daughter: Lois Flagg, Southington, CT

 

  • 1918 - Born in Southington, Hartford  County CT on September 8th

  • 1936 - Graduated [11th in Class] Southington High School

  • 1936 - Took college preparatory course: Cheshire Academy

  • 1945 - Acquires vacant Boy Scout Camp - Manning Lake, NH

  • 1945 - Incorporates The Leo Foundation as tax-exempt entity

  • 1946 - Opens Camp Leo with Cub Scout Pack 24

  • 1948 - Listed as Graduated Yale (Class of 1948) Degree in Engineering

    • Pursued Master's Degree in Education (did not complete thesis)

  • 1949 - Southington City Directory lists him as: Engineering Consultant

  • 1951 - Weekly Catholic Transcript ceases carrying Camp Leo ads.

  • 1954 - The Leo Foundation purchases Merricourt School for $124,000 and renames: Saint James School

    • Erroneously advertises school as founded: 1936, 1951 and 1956

  • 1955 - Establishes Scout Troop No. 60 at Saint James.

  • 1955 - Acquires the historic "1811 Brandegee House" as staff residence and office for Camp and School.

  • 1961 - Arrested for excessive corporal punishment at school

    • Further charged with four counts of causing injury and risk to minor

    • Banned from Campus during pre-trial interval

    • Admits to two cruelty to person charges

  • 1964 - Arrested for continuing to work on construction of gymnasium

  • 1965 - Schools Scout Troop 60, and most outside athletic programs vanish

  • 1968 - Arrested for 1967 cruelty charges at school

  • 1971 - His mother Mary-Ellen Jordan dies

  • 1974 - Arrested for assault on teenage boys at school

  • 1975 - Saint James, desperate for students, goes co-ed

  • 1975 - Renames, The Leo Foundation to "The Alumni of St. James School"

  • 1975 - Renames, "The Alumni of St. James School" to the "St. James School of New Haven, Inc.

  • 1976 - Brother Clayton J. Francis dies.

  • 1977 - State Division of Children and Youth Services remove children

  • 1977 (Sept) - Saint James opens for the last time

  • 1977 - Channel Thee televises expose of conditions at School and Camp.

  • 1977-78 Winter: Attempts to hold classes at frigid Camp Leo

  • 1978 - May 12th  Saint James Closes

  • 1978 - May 18th Governor Ella Grasso signs Rosso Bill

  • 1979 - Renames the "St. James School of New Haven, Inc. to the, St. James Foundation Camp.

  • 1980 - The 1811 Brandegee House sold to a private buyer.

    • Buyer finds elaborate intercom system (bugging & phone taps)

    • Local developer buys Saint James School

      • Erects houses on the former athletic field and names the new access road: St. James Place

  • 1986

    • June - Camp flunks environmental inspection

    • July  -  Camp opens

    • July  -  Camp closes (Superior Court Action)

  • 1987

    • Over $600,000 in liens attached to property

    • Daniel Webster Council (BSA) seeks to recover its property

    • Sept/Oct - He circulates a weekly "diary" to a dozen or so supporters

  • 1988

    • Court decree

      • Dissolves maze of corporate facades, cross-mortgages and interlocking property assignments

      • Orders all assets placed un an Administrator for liquidation

    • Gilmanton's extensive tax-liens against Camp Leo cause the seizure of certain areas as compensation

  • 1989 - Looses his last appeal suing builder over "records and equipment"

  • Moves to Camp Leo

  • 1990 - Lists his residence as a box number in Parsons, WV

  • 1992 - July 22 Died in the Mancester, NH VA Hospital.  Buried at the Southington's Oak Hill Cemetery (Cemetery incorrectly shows the address of Camp Leo as Laconia, NH).

  • 1995 - His sister, Anna V. [Francis] Flagg, Portland (Middlesex County) dies

  • 1996 - Francis Estate settled. "...and contained little save for a 1947 Yale class-ring."

Frederick. W.Chesson                                           File: SJART.HTM

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