Have you ever taken the Amtrak Train across the United States? HHMMMM – this is one journey you will not want to miss! You must try this at least once in your life time and if you are a parent - make sure you take your kid(s) too so that they enjoy the experience with you!
We left Nebraska and rode the Amtrak rails all the way to Chicago – and boarded another train leaving at 10:00pm Monday night –to continue on to New York. We finally left Albany and changed onto the bus and are now in Springfield, MA will be at South Station Boston at 9:30ish.
During the trip home I read my signed copy of Plains Bound Fragile Cargo that Charlotte wrote – interviewing many of the actual Orphans who rode the trains from New York to become adopted by families out west. I was surprised to see that Darren LaCroix, Author, Comedian, Toastmasters 2001 World Champion of Public Speaking and my coach http://www.humor411.com/ wrote on the back cover “Plains Bound: Fragile include fascinating stories of which I would never have been aware of. Sincere thanks for sharing and all of the effort you put into capturing this part of history. Plains Bound: Fragile Cargo is a must-read for anyone who likes history”.
On the second page Darren wrote: “Wow, the time and effort spent capturing a piece of history will chronicle a part of history that would have otherwise been lost. Plains Bound: Fragile Cargo includes fascinating stories which I would have never been aware of. Sincere thanks…”
“Lester’s poem said it best, ‘But when you know their story your troubles seem to pale’”. “His wisdom is inspiring! Great work! I wish Charlotte must success in her speaking career. I hope many people will be blessed by hearing her tell the stories of the Orphan Train.”
Another BIG and exciting surprise was that listed on Page vii was the New England Home for Little Wanderers on included with the list of
Numbers of children and poor families placed out from 1854 until 1910 by the Children’s Aid Society (Taken from 1910 Annual Report of the C.A.S.) “Free Home Placing Out”
Children;s Aids Society
Taken from Page V of the book Plains Bound
Charles Loring Brace “Brace believed he could change the future of these children by removing them from the streets and placing them in morally upright rural families in which they were needed, he thought they would have a chance of escaping a lifetime of suffering”.
http://www.childrensaidsociety.org/about/history
Catherine Fitzgibbons (Sister Mary Irene) of the Sisters of Charity Founded the New York Foundling Hospital
2 comments:
My mother took my brother, sister, and I on a cross country trip; to and from LA when I was 12.
Excellent! It was one of the most memorable times of my life.
Hi Michael!
I would still like to experience the entire trip across the USA to California some day by train - especially on the California Zephyr Amtrak Train which was by far a much more comfortable ride than the trains we had to change onto in Chicago to Albany, New York.
AND the view in the observatory car was comforting and spectacular!!
view some photos of the train at this link.
http://travel.webshots.com/album/560698254FzoiBX
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