Orphan Train History: Book Tour INTERVIEW!

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Book Tour INTERVIEW!

Last week I was excited to be contacted and interviewed by author Dianne K. Salerni (WE HEAR THE DEAD: Sourcebooks May 2010) for her blog IN HIGH SPIRITS. Since we had so much to talk about, she ended up spliting the interview into two parts; the first of which is posted here www.diannesalerni.blogspot.com. Be sure to read the comments too! This portion of the interview is all about my recent book tour to Kansas and independent publishing. Part two of the interview will be posted in about a week and will focus on my books and the Orphan Train Movement. Dianne is a fantastic writer & reviewer. I hope you'll take a peek and ENJOY!

Early next week I'll have a posting on the Orphan Train Movement and the National History Competition coming June 12th in Maryand!

1 comment:

Yaya' s Home said...: Wow! Very nice interview. Sorry I've been AWOL for awhile. I've been battling dental demons and unable to cope with much more than the basics. I really enjoyed the interview. Keep up the good work.

~ Yaya
Yaya's Home; May 18, 2010 at 6:03 AM

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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/ !

Orphan Train History

Orphan Train Rider

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Book Tour INTERVIEW!

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