Orphan Trains First Foster Care
In the mid-1800s New York City had about 10,000 homeless children who slept on streets, begged, or joined gangs. The Foundling Hospital offered little help, and the Children's Aid Society began sending children to rural Midwest families by train, hoping for better lives. Most children traveled about three days, with small bags of clothing and a bath the night before.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York City
Foundling Hospital
Charles Brace
Children’s Aid Society
Th Children’s Aid Society
Midwest
Individua
Children’s & Aid Society
Kansas
Rookie Cookie's Recipe Cinnamon Puffs
A simple bake using refrigerated cinnamon rolls and marshmallows. Separate and flatten each roll, wrap around a marshmallow, place in muffin tin, bake per package directions, and finish with icing spread over each roll.
Orphan Trains Offer Hope and Mixed Outcomes
A Mini Page look at Orphan Trains shows children faced courage, separation from families, and lifelong search for relatives. About 150000 kids aged 4 to 13 were placed in rural homes across 47 states over 75 years beginning before the Civil War. Some found loving families, others endured mistreatment, while a minority remained in touch with siblings. Clara, adopted in Texas, recently turned 100, and many former orphans still live. Experts note at least 200 Orphan Train children survive today, with some brothers and sisters reuniting in later life. The piece credits Mary Ellen Johnson for help and hints at Minnesota’s upcoming A to Z focus.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Clara
New York State
James
Howard
New York City
Kansas
Texas
Michigan
Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul
Midwest
South
Also Mentioned on This Page
Orphan Trains
Quiva
Orphan Train
Sherrye D. Garrett
Texas A&m University
Corpus Christi
Sy' Man
Mimi
Charles
Winton
Natalie
Stan
Gary
Lisa
BNPO
Rly
Gus Goodsport
Dale Earnhardt Jr
Dale
Kannapolis
N.C
Cuba Gooding Jr
Third Eye Blind
Pearl Jam
Dublin
Ireland
Larry
Adam, Larry
the Edge
Bono
Mullen
Paul Hewson
The
Edge
Dave Evans
Adam Clayton
Feedback
Adam
Orphantrainriders.com
Mary Ellen Johnson
Orphan Train Heritage Society of America
Minnesota
Betty Debnam
Associate
Anne Chamberlain
Lucy Lien
Orphan Train Project
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!