As the author of two books on America's Orphan Trains, the granddaughter of an Orphan Train Rider, and a public speaker on the subject at both schools and community organizations, I have started this blog to give an estimated 250,000 children a chance to claim their place back in America's history books. Thankfully, I am not alone. The National Orphan Train Complex http://www.orphantraindepot.com/ , which opened in 2007 in Concordia Kansas, is a small museum dedicated to the history and preservation of this movement. There are several excellent books on the subject and a handful of speakers available around the country to share the story.
"Has anyone ever heard of the Orphan Trains?" It's a question that I often use to begin a presentation on the subject. The answer is almost always, "No." After hearing about the history of the Orphan Trains, I remember one woman in her 70's commenting, "I can't believe that happened in my country!" People are astounded that they have never heard of this 75 year period of migration of youth from East coast cities - mainly NYC - to farming communities in the Midwest in search of homes. How could this be? Could something that went on for all those years, touching that many children really fall from our consciousness? Yes.
In the coming weeks and months I will share with you not only the history of the Orphan Trains, but also the various efforts that are being made on behalf of all those children - of whom it is estimated less than 200 still survive. I will also blog about my upcoming book tour to Salina, Kansas in April, 2010. Sponsored by the Salina Arts and Humanities Commission, I will be speaking at 15+ schools and community gatherings as well as a fundraiser for the museum in Concordia. Stay tuned......
Donna Aviles
www.orphantrainbook.com
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Oliver Nordmark - Age 15 - Esbon KS
VERY SPECIAL TWINS
Nellie & Nettie Crook rode an orphan train from NY to central Kansas in 1911 at the age of six. Their mother, who was French Canadian and born in Vermont, married a farmer from New York at the age of 16. Nellie remembered the day in 1910 when she and Nettie, along with their little brother Leon, were taken away. "Mother had Nettie on one knee and me on the other. I said 'Moma, why are you crying?' She said, 'I'm not crying,' and she was trying to smile. But just then the man came with the dray wagon to take us to the orphanage."
In the orphanage, although the children had separate beds, every morning the craetakers would find Nellie in bed with Nettie. They lived there for nine months, never seeing their brother Leon since boys and girls were kept separated.
On September 11, 1911, the girls left Kingston Orphan's Home, leaving Leon behind. They traveled with name tags, a blanket and a brown sack with a sandwich. Their clothes, although too large, were clean. Arriving at the station in Kansas City, Nellie and Nettie were put on stage to sing "Jesus Loves Me" to draw a crowd. Thanks to the kindness of escort Anna Laura Hill, the twin sisters were not separated as most siblings were.
Nellie and Nettie were placed with the Chapin's in Canton Kansas. They had no children of their own and Mr. Chapin was very kind. Mrs. Chapin however was cruel to the girls. When word of their harsh treatment reached the Children's Aid Society, the girls were picked up from school and placed on another train - this time to McPherson - where they lived with an older couple in their 60's who cared for them properly.
Both Nellie and Nettie graduated from college, helping each other by taking turns working while the other completed her studies. They married, raised families and lived into their 90's.
My first profiled rider is my grandfather OLIVER NORDMARK who, along with his younger brother EDWARD, rode the orphan train from the Children's Village Orphanage on Long Island NY to Bern, Kansas in search of a home. The year was 1906 and Oliver was 8 years old - Edward 5. In Bern, they were fortunate to be placed together with Henry Blaur and his wife who lived on a farm a mile out of town. Unfortunately, it was an unsuccessful placement. Having no children of their own, the Blaurs were not prepared for the rigors of raising 2 young boys who always seemed to find ways to get into trouble - throwing eggs at the barn, chasing the hogs with barn slats, etc. After one year, the Children's Aid Society was called to remove the boys and they traveled further west on the train to Mankato, KS where they were lined up on the stage of the Mankatko Opera House and chosen by 2 separate farmers. They would not see one another again until Oliver was nearly 18 and Edward was 15. Find out more by reading my books, available at http://www.orphantrainbook.com/ !
Here you will find ongoing posts about the history of the Orphan Train Movement in America, as well as updates on my efforts, and the efforts of others, to bring back this lost piece of American history and restore the riders' rightful place in our collective conscience. Happy Reading!
Orphan Train Rider
Oliver Nordmark - Age 15 - Esbon KS
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ORPHAN TRAIN RIDER PROFILE
VERY SPECIAL TWINS
Nellie & Nettie Crook rode an orphan train from NY to central Kansas in 1911 at the age of six. Their mother, who was French Canadian and born in Vermont, married a farmer from New York at the age of 16. Nellie remembered the day in 1910 when she and Nettie, along with their little brother Leon, were taken away. "Mother had Nettie on one knee and me on the other. I said 'Moma, why are you crying?' She said, 'I'm not crying,' and she was trying to smile. But just then the man came with the dray wagon to take us to the orphanage."
In the orphanage, although the children had separate beds, every morning the craetakers would find Nellie in bed with Nettie. They lived there for nine months, never seeing their brother Leon since boys and girls were kept separated.
On September 11, 1911, the girls left Kingston Orphan's Home, leaving Leon behind. They traveled with name tags, a blanket and a brown sack with a sandwich. Their clothes, although too large, were clean. Arriving at the station in Kansas City, Nellie and Nettie were put on stage to sing "Jesus Loves Me" to draw a crowd. Thanks to the kindness of escort Anna Laura Hill, the twin sisters were not separated as most siblings were.
Nellie and Nettie were placed with the Chapin's in Canton Kansas. They had no children of their own and Mr. Chapin was very kind. Mrs. Chapin however was cruel to the girls. When word of their harsh treatment reached the Children's Aid Society, the girls were picked up from school and placed on another train - this time to McPherson - where they lived with an older couple in their 60's who cared for them properly.
Both Nellie and Nettie graduated from college, helping each other by taking turns working while the other completed her studies. They married, raised families and lived into their 90's.
My first profiled rider is my grandfather OLIVER NORDMARK who, along with his younger brother EDWARD, rode the orphan train from the Children's Village Orphanage on Long Island NY to Bern, Kansas in search of a home. The year was 1906 and Oliver was 8 years old - Edward 5. In Bern, they were fortunate to be placed together with Henry Blaur and his wife who lived on a farm a mile out of town. Unfortunately, it was an unsuccessful placement. Having no children of their own, the Blaurs were not prepared for the rigors of raising 2 young boys who always seemed to find ways to get into trouble - throwing eggs at the barn, chasing the hogs with barn slats, etc. After one year, the Children's Aid Society was called to remove the boys and they traveled further west on the train to Mankato, KS where they were lined up on the stage of the Mankatko Opera House and chosen by 2 separate farmers. They would not see one another again until Oliver was nearly 18 and Edward was 15. Find out more by reading my books, available at http://www.orphantrainbook.com/ !
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- Donna
- is the author of two books on the orphan train that tell the true story of her grandfather's early life as a rider from NYC to Kansas. FLY LITTLE BIRD, FLY! and BEYOND THE ORPHAN TRAIN, along with her third book, PEANUT BUTTER FOR CUPCAKES: A TRUE STORY FROM THE GREAT DEPRESSION, are all independent book award recipients. To learn MORE, including how to schedule an orphan train presentation at your school or organization, visit www.orphantrainbook.com on the web!
1 comment:
I am so excited about this site. How thrilling to have a place in Blog Valley where I can read more about the history of this forgotten era. Welcome aboard!
Yaya
Yaya's Changing World
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