Thanks to A Country Rag for the wonderful train picture.
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From 1854 to 1929, signs like this were posted and published all across the Midwest. Over 150,000 orphaned, homeless or neglected children were uprooted from the city and sent by "Orphan Trains" to farming communities, primarily in the Midwest, to be adopted out to good homes. In this way, the city of New York was not only drastically reducing their orphan problems, -- they were also aiding others who desperately wanted children. The children were taken by train and often lined up at predetermined stops to be "looked over" and adopted (or in many cases indentured). Those not selected were taken to the next stop in hopes of finding a new home. For many children, life improved because they found homes with loving adults to care for them. Others, however, were not so fortunate, and their lives became more miserable as they found themselves in homes where they were used chiefly for slave labor. (in 1927, there were still 12 states, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Virginia, West Virginia, Nebraska and Kansas allowing indenture of children who had been turned over to poor farms or county authorities) And even though the "Orphan Train" brings thoughts of poor orphaned children, this was not always the case. Many of the children still had parents, but their family could not care for them and put them into state run homes, until they could get back on their feet. When the official transporting of children was ended in 1930, the migration of these children encompassed 47 states!
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Howard Hurd, known as Howie, took immense delight in sharing his story, and that of other riders to anyone that was interested. School projects were one of his favorites, and he was a wealth of information. He and his brother Fred kept the spirit of the Orphan trains alive, and we at the NEGenWeb will continue to carry on his mission.. seeking riders, answering questions, and telling the stories of the riders.
If your ancestor was a child of the Orphan Train you can contact the following agencies for further assistance. (However, you MUST know your ancestors name). Birth information, etc. would make the search easier.
Children’s Aid Society
Office of Closed Records
150 East. 45 St.
New York, N.Y. 10017
New York Foundling Hospital
Dept. of Closed Records
590 Avenue of the Americas
New York, N.Y. 10001
To learn more about the children of the Orphan Train contact ---
Orphan Train Heritage Society of America
P.O.Box 322
Concordia, KS 66901-0322
email: OTHSA@msn.com
April 26, 2008 Fremont, Nebraska Mark your calendars! Get your reservations in early as the trains filled fast last year! This year's celebration will be in Fremont, NE again aboard as close as we can come to an actual Orphan Train as we can get! We'll have entertainment packed rides both days! Pick the day or days that work best for you for this wonderful living history. Both volumes of By Train They Came will be available by this time!!! Saturday, April 26th at 10am (sit down lunch will follow with entertainment) Sunday, April 27th at 1pm (auction will follow - proceeds divided between Madison County Museum and the National Orphan Train Complex) Last year over $1,000 was earned at the auction to help keep this history alive. Donations of handmade items, gift certificates and cash were most popular. Anything you'd like to donate will be greatly appreciated and will be gift wrapped so that it will not get soiled. Send items or make arrangements with me by April 1st so that they can get onto the sale bill. We're keeping ticket prices low and affordable so that families can attend! Prices for this half day of entertainment are merely: $15 for adults (12 and over) and $10 (ages 3 - 11). Kids under 3 are free. PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS/RELATIVES THAT YOU KNOW WOULD BE INTERESTED. ADVISE THEM TO E-MAIL OR CALL ME TODAY. MY TOLL FREE PHONE IS 1-866-492-9546. Last year we had 142 people from 6 states. We've had lots of interest this past year as we've been out and about speaking. Don't delay and miss your chance at this historical fun-filled event. endorf@cableone.net
Orphan Train to Grundy County, Missouri
Orphan Train Information at Nebraska State Historical Society
Email: Lee Marlin Schneider,
NEGenWeb Orphan Train Coordinator
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