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
Showing posts with label Orphan Trains. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Orphan Trains. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Sunday, April 27, 2008
All Aboard !
“Too many children in foster care are falling through cracks. . . .
Be a hero -- take the time learn about adoption today.”
Bruce Willis
We boarded the “Fremont & Elkhorn Valley Railroad is a division of the National Railway Historic Society chartered as the Eastern Nebraska Chapter National Railway Historical Society in 1985 – the named changed to Nebraska Railroad Museum – the mission of education and preservation of railroad history”. http://www.fremontrailroad.com/
This was quite a ride in an old Vintage car going about 10 miles an hour! I loved the “ladies lounge”! We began our journey and Charlotte had two woman Joanne and Judy dress who are Toastmasters (!) in costumes and they were the speaker introducers.
We listened to each others stories – they were two live Orphan Train rides Lela and Lola who are in the 90;s today. They spoke about their journey on the Orphan Train ride and how they were “lined up like cattle” and hand picked or that some of them had ribbons with numbers pinned on them – and the people who wanted them had the matching ribbon and number pinned on them.
Lola explained that she and her sister went to a family but the family took her back because they “wanted a boy” – then Lola was taken back to the Orphanage - but then adopted by a loving family.
Lela explained that she was “never adopted but was an indentured servant” taken in by a “mean foster mother”. Lela shared a story about her Raggedy Ann doll that she brought with her to explain how she use to hug her doll when she was sad, scared or lonely and the foster mother took the doll and told her to “come to the furnace room” – then the mother shoved the doll in the furnace. Although that was sad to listen to – it was not unbelievable to me because I could relate with sad Foster Family stories. I will eventually share them when I complete my own book titled The Little Wanderers Home.
I shared my connection to The Home for Little Wanderers and how it was part of the Orphan Train Movement. I shared about Orchard Home – the female Group home that I stayed at and Longview Farm where my brother lived – I shared about the 20 programs The Home has today and how instrumental The Home was in my life and continues to be.
Then Charlotte invited one of her illustrators to show his drawings of water color portraits for one of her books.
Charlotte presented Lela and Lola fleece embordied sweaters that had the titles of her books and then shared her story and she mentioned that she and her husband Kevin are now foster parents and how some children are harder to foster – as she spoke we both cried – she thanked me for coming because she needed that “other side” to see a person who has traveled through the system. She shared that an Orphan named Lester said to her “Charlotte, you know foster kids are bad blood don’t you? We we’re bad blood”. There was not a dry eye – and no one knows like I know that!
More news later about speaking at the Keene Memorial Library – which was a surprise!
http://www.keenelib.ne.us/
------
FACTS
Indentured Servant
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indentured_servant
An indentured servant is a laborer under contract of the employer for some period of time, usually three to seven years, in exchange for such things as ship's passage, food, land and accommodations.
Unlike a slave, an indentured servant was required to work only for a limited term specified in a signed contract.
A major problem with the system of indentured servitude was that in many cases, an indentured servant would become indebted to their employer, who would forgive the debt in exchange for an extension to the period of their indenture, which could thereby continue indefinitely. In other cases, indentured servants were subject to violence at the hands of their employers in the homes or fields in which they worked.
The labor-intensive cash crop of tobacco was farmed in the American South by indentured laborers in the 17th and 18th centuries.[1] Indentured servitude was not the same as the apprenticeship system by which skilled trades were taught, but similarities do exist between the two mechanisms, in that both require a set period of work.
------
Foster Care
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foster_care
Foster care is a system by which a certified, stand-in "parent(s)" cares for minor children or young peoples who have been removed from their birth parents or other custodial adults by state authority. Responsibility for the young person is assumed by the relevant governmental authority and a placement with another family found. There can be voluntary placements by a parent of a child into foster care.
Foster placements are monitored until the birth family can provide appropriate care or the rights of the birth parents are terminated and the child is adopted. A third option, guardianship, is sometimes utilized in certain cases where a child cannot be reunified with their birth family and adoption is not right for them. This generally includes some older foster children who may be strongly bonded to their family of origin and unwilling to pursue adoption. It also may include cases where children are placed with grandparents or other relatives, where the placement is likely to be permanent but those relatives don't want to fight the birth parents in court. Voluntary foster care may be utilized in circumstances where a parent is unable or unwilling to care for a child.
For instance, a child may have behavioral problems requiring specialized treatment or the parent might have a problem which results in a temporary or permanent inability to care for the child(ren). Involuntary foster care may be implemented when a child is removed from their caregiver because it is believed such removal is necessary for his/her own safety. A foster parent receives monetary reimbursement from the placement agency for each child while the child is in his/her home to help cover the cost of meeting the child's needs. The amount of financial assistance typically varies from state to state and even city to city.
Be a hero -- take the time learn about adoption today.”
Bruce Willis
We boarded the “Fremont & Elkhorn Valley Railroad is a division of the National Railway Historic Society chartered as the Eastern Nebraska Chapter National Railway Historical Society in 1985 – the named changed to Nebraska Railroad Museum – the mission of education and preservation of railroad history”. http://www.fremontrailroad.com/
This was quite a ride in an old Vintage car going about 10 miles an hour! I loved the “ladies lounge”! We began our journey and Charlotte had two woman Joanne and Judy dress who are Toastmasters (!) in costumes and they were the speaker introducers.
We listened to each others stories – they were two live Orphan Train rides Lela and Lola who are in the 90;s today. They spoke about their journey on the Orphan Train ride and how they were “lined up like cattle” and hand picked or that some of them had ribbons with numbers pinned on them – and the people who wanted them had the matching ribbon and number pinned on them.
Lola explained that she and her sister went to a family but the family took her back because they “wanted a boy” – then Lola was taken back to the Orphanage - but then adopted by a loving family.
Lela explained that she was “never adopted but was an indentured servant” taken in by a “mean foster mother”. Lela shared a story about her Raggedy Ann doll that she brought with her to explain how she use to hug her doll when she was sad, scared or lonely and the foster mother took the doll and told her to “come to the furnace room” – then the mother shoved the doll in the furnace. Although that was sad to listen to – it was not unbelievable to me because I could relate with sad Foster Family stories. I will eventually share them when I complete my own book titled The Little Wanderers Home.
I shared my connection to The Home for Little Wanderers and how it was part of the Orphan Train Movement. I shared about Orchard Home – the female Group home that I stayed at and Longview Farm where my brother lived – I shared about the 20 programs The Home has today and how instrumental The Home was in my life and continues to be.
Then Charlotte invited one of her illustrators to show his drawings of water color portraits for one of her books.
Charlotte presented Lela and Lola fleece embordied sweaters that had the titles of her books and then shared her story and she mentioned that she and her husband Kevin are now foster parents and how some children are harder to foster – as she spoke we both cried – she thanked me for coming because she needed that “other side” to see a person who has traveled through the system. She shared that an Orphan named Lester said to her “Charlotte, you know foster kids are bad blood don’t you? We we’re bad blood”. There was not a dry eye – and no one knows like I know that!
More news later about speaking at the Keene Memorial Library – which was a surprise!
http://www.keenelib.ne.us/
------
FACTS
Indentured Servant
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indentured_servant
An indentured servant is a laborer under contract of the employer for some period of time, usually three to seven years, in exchange for such things as ship's passage, food, land and accommodations.
Unlike a slave, an indentured servant was required to work only for a limited term specified in a signed contract.
A major problem with the system of indentured servitude was that in many cases, an indentured servant would become indebted to their employer, who would forgive the debt in exchange for an extension to the period of their indenture, which could thereby continue indefinitely. In other cases, indentured servants were subject to violence at the hands of their employers in the homes or fields in which they worked.
The labor-intensive cash crop of tobacco was farmed in the American South by indentured laborers in the 17th and 18th centuries.[1] Indentured servitude was not the same as the apprenticeship system by which skilled trades were taught, but similarities do exist between the two mechanisms, in that both require a set period of work.
------
Foster Care
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foster_care
Foster care is a system by which a certified, stand-in "parent(s)" cares for minor children or young peoples who have been removed from their birth parents or other custodial adults by state authority. Responsibility for the young person is assumed by the relevant governmental authority and a placement with another family found. There can be voluntary placements by a parent of a child into foster care.
Foster placements are monitored until the birth family can provide appropriate care or the rights of the birth parents are terminated and the child is adopted. A third option, guardianship, is sometimes utilized in certain cases where a child cannot be reunified with their birth family and adoption is not right for them. This generally includes some older foster children who may be strongly bonded to their family of origin and unwilling to pursue adoption. It also may include cases where children are placed with grandparents or other relatives, where the placement is likely to be permanent but those relatives don't want to fight the birth parents in court. Voluntary foster care may be utilized in circumstances where a parent is unable or unwilling to care for a child.
For instance, a child may have behavioral problems requiring specialized treatment or the parent might have a problem which results in a temporary or permanent inability to care for the child(ren). Involuntary foster care may be implemented when a child is removed from their caregiver because it is believed such removal is necessary for his/her own safety. A foster parent receives monetary reimbursement from the placement agency for each child while the child is in his/her home to help cover the cost of meeting the child's needs. The amount of financial assistance typically varies from state to state and even city to city.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
And We;re Off!
"Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier." Mother Teresa
We arrived at South West Airport yesterday morning - thanks to friend Doug who drove us early to Manchester New Hampshire Airport!
We checked in our luggage and went through the security check point. A buzzer went off and a "female retriever" was called in, which meant I had to get the full "pat down" just in case I was confiscating any "forbidden paraphaneila". All padded up & down - OK all set - waiting to board the plane.
Now this is an odd system - no seats are assigned - it is first come first serve - so if you want to sit with friends or family - you may need to beg the other passagers (who are already sitting with their family and friends) which is what we had to do and thankfully a woman was kind enough to do just that for us (!) We did repay her as well as two of the stewardess - by giving them each a pipecleaner flower that Sabrina made on the plane - she is very creative & thoughtful!
HINT for you parents traveling with children - they NEED activies and long thin colored pipe cleaners are a great way to keep them occupied (cut them in advance if you need to). -
{OH and let me credit Stephanie Demiris SDemiris@toastmasters.org from Toastmasters International http://www.toastmasters.org/ for this idea which was a great creative activitiy that she had us do during our weekend at District Officer Region Vii Training - in Philadelphia in Nov 2007 - THANKS STEPH!!}.
I was very impressed with Sabrina and traveling on the plane - we changed two planes - but took off three times (stayed on one flight) because when she was four we flew to Florida - she did fine on the flight out - but on the way home she cried the Whhhhhhhhhoooooooolllllllleeeeeeeee way back to Boston - it was very difficult and many of the passengers were giving her gifts and toys to get her to stop - so you can guess how worried I was - but at 10-years-old she is now a PRO!!
We met our new Nebraska friends - Charolette, Sarah and their friends - we took a tour at the Joslyn Castle in Omaha NE, set up the room, ate dinner, enjoyed the pool and jacuzzi and went to bed.
Friends I hope I can "spread the love where ever I go" like Mother Theresa! How about you - do you try to help others to feel happier after they have connected with you? How about in your speeches - is your message empowering others to want to do more, give more, be more? Do you help to change others by spreading your LOVE?
I will post more news later - We've got a train to catch!
Sherri & Sabrina Raftery
We arrived at South West Airport yesterday morning - thanks to friend Doug who drove us early to Manchester New Hampshire Airport!
We checked in our luggage and went through the security check point. A buzzer went off and a "female retriever" was called in, which meant I had to get the full "pat down" just in case I was confiscating any "forbidden paraphaneila". All padded up & down - OK all set - waiting to board the plane.
Now this is an odd system - no seats are assigned - it is first come first serve - so if you want to sit with friends or family - you may need to beg the other passagers (who are already sitting with their family and friends) which is what we had to do and thankfully a woman was kind enough to do just that for us (!) We did repay her as well as two of the stewardess - by giving them each a pipecleaner flower that Sabrina made on the plane - she is very creative & thoughtful!
HINT for you parents traveling with children - they NEED activies and long thin colored pipe cleaners are a great way to keep them occupied (cut them in advance if you need to). -
{OH and let me credit Stephanie Demiris SDemiris@toastmasters.org from Toastmasters International http://www.toastmasters.org/ for this idea which was a great creative activitiy that she had us do during our weekend at District Officer Region Vii Training - in Philadelphia in Nov 2007 - THANKS STEPH!!}.
I was very impressed with Sabrina and traveling on the plane - we changed two planes - but took off three times (stayed on one flight) because when she was four we flew to Florida - she did fine on the flight out - but on the way home she cried the Whhhhhhhhhoooooooolllllllleeeeeeeee way back to Boston - it was very difficult and many of the passengers were giving her gifts and toys to get her to stop - so you can guess how worried I was - but at 10-years-old she is now a PRO!!
We met our new Nebraska friends - Charolette, Sarah and their friends - we took a tour at the Joslyn Castle in Omaha NE, set up the room, ate dinner, enjoyed the pool and jacuzzi and went to bed.
Friends I hope I can "spread the love where ever I go" like Mother Theresa! How about you - do you try to help others to feel happier after they have connected with you? How about in your speeches - is your message empowering others to want to do more, give more, be more? Do you help to change others by spreading your LOVE?
I will post more news later - We've got a train to catch!
Sherri & Sabrina Raftery
Saturday, April 19, 2008
“2008 Orphan Train Celebration” - Trip Planned & Booked!!
“The World is a book, and those who
do not travel read only a page”. St. Augustine
On Friday Morning April 25th Sabrina and I will be boarding a Southwest airplane from the Manchester, New Hampshire Airport and heading “PLAINS BOUND” to Omaha, Nebraska - Leppley Airport to attend the “2008 Orphan Train Celebration”! http://www.orphantraindepot.com/ProgramsAndEvents.html
Back in January 2008, I emailed Charlotte Endorf, writer, author of
Plains Bound: Fragile Cargo: Revealing Orphan Train Reality
http://www.amazon.com/Plains-Bound-Fragile-Revealing-Reality/dp/159800235X to share with her the incredible news The Home for Little Wanderers delivered to me via the phone….that I was picked to be one of the HONOREES during The Home’s Annual Visions and Voices Fundraiser Celebration on May 28, 2008 in Boston http://www.thehome.org/
Charlotte invited to me to come to Nebraska and speak about “The Home for Little Wanderers” during this “2008 Orphan Trains Celebration” event on actual Orphan Trains on April 26 and 27, 2008.
I will be bringing my laptop and do plan on BLOGGING our experiences and I CAN tell you this - our Trip to Nebraska has a jammed PACKED itinerary!
We arrive on Friday April 25th and will be staying at the Wilderness Lodge for two nights. If you have little ones go to the site and download some of their coloring pages. Or even if you are an adult! Coloring is therapeutic!! http://www.wildernesslodgecc.com/
On Saturday April 26th, and Sunday April 27th we will be meeting and greeting many people who are also coming to Nebraska from different states to attend this event. Some of the people are actual Orphan Train passengers; some are biological relatives, adopted relatives, or even foster families. We will ride the trains, share stories, photos and take more photos of the many other exciting activities.
Then on Sunday evening Sabrina and I are checking into the Holiday Inn Omaha Convention Center and GET THIS (!) – It is a CoCo Key Resort and for those of you who read my January 2008 post KNOW that Sabrina and I will really enjoy splashing around again on the water slides!! YA BOO!!
http://themeparks.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=themeparks&cdn=travel&tm=8&gps=160_770_788_439&f=00&su=p531.31.150.ip_p532.6.150.ip_p531.29.420.ip_p284.8.150.ip_&tt=11&bt=1&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.cocokeyresort.com/index.php%3F/Omaha/index/
Early Monday morning April 28, 2008 we will take a shuttle bus over to the Amtrak Station http://www.amtrak.com/ and board a train from Omaha to the heart of the “windy city” of Chicago. Since this is a six-hour layover stop Sabrina and I will definitely see some sights in Chicago! We will then hop back on another train to Albany, New York on Tuesday April 29th and finally board a five-hour motor coach bus and arrive at South Station - Boston, Mass on Tuesday evening, where a friend will pick us up and take us HOME SWEET HOME!
I must admit it is an honor for me to be asked to join this magical event and share a part of this history – but the best part with the help of some friends I have I found an affordable way to travel so that I can also bring my ten-year-old daughter Sabrina along to experience this with me! PRICELESS!! .... We are ready to head PLAINS BOUND!
By Train They Came – by Charlotte and Sarah Endorf
Orphan Train History
Between 1854 and 1929 an estimated 200,000 orphaned, abandoned, and homeless children were placed out in what is known today as the Orphan Train Era. The name is derived from the children's situations, though they were not all orphans, and the mode of transportation used to move them across 47 states and Canada.
do not travel read only a page”. St. Augustine
On Friday Morning April 25th Sabrina and I will be boarding a Southwest airplane from the Manchester, New Hampshire Airport and heading “PLAINS BOUND” to Omaha, Nebraska - Leppley Airport to attend the “2008 Orphan Train Celebration”! http://www.orphantraindepot.com/ProgramsAndEvents.html
Back in January 2008, I emailed Charlotte Endorf, writer, author of
Plains Bound: Fragile Cargo: Revealing Orphan Train Reality
http://www.amazon.com/Plains-Bound-Fragile-Revealing-Reality/dp/159800235X to share with her the incredible news The Home for Little Wanderers delivered to me via the phone….that I was picked to be one of the HONOREES during The Home’s Annual Visions and Voices Fundraiser Celebration on May 28, 2008 in Boston http://www.thehome.org/
Charlotte invited to me to come to Nebraska and speak about “The Home for Little Wanderers” during this “2008 Orphan Trains Celebration” event on actual Orphan Trains on April 26 and 27, 2008.
I will be bringing my laptop and do plan on BLOGGING our experiences and I CAN tell you this - our Trip to Nebraska has a jammed PACKED itinerary!
We arrive on Friday April 25th and will be staying at the Wilderness Lodge for two nights. If you have little ones go to the site and download some of their coloring pages. Or even if you are an adult! Coloring is therapeutic!! http://www.wildernesslodgecc.com/
On Saturday April 26th, and Sunday April 27th we will be meeting and greeting many people who are also coming to Nebraska from different states to attend this event. Some of the people are actual Orphan Train passengers; some are biological relatives, adopted relatives, or even foster families. We will ride the trains, share stories, photos and take more photos of the many other exciting activities.
Then on Sunday evening Sabrina and I are checking into the Holiday Inn Omaha Convention Center and GET THIS (!) – It is a CoCo Key Resort and for those of you who read my January 2008 post KNOW that Sabrina and I will really enjoy splashing around again on the water slides!! YA BOO!!
http://themeparks.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=themeparks&cdn=travel&tm=8&gps=160_770_788_439&f=00&su=p531.31.150.ip_p532.6.150.ip_p531.29.420.ip_p284.8.150.ip_&tt=11&bt=1&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.cocokeyresort.com/index.php%3F/Omaha/index/
Early Monday morning April 28, 2008 we will take a shuttle bus over to the Amtrak Station http://www.amtrak.com/ and board a train from Omaha to the heart of the “windy city” of Chicago. Since this is a six-hour layover stop Sabrina and I will definitely see some sights in Chicago! We will then hop back on another train to Albany, New York on Tuesday April 29th and finally board a five-hour motor coach bus and arrive at South Station - Boston, Mass on Tuesday evening, where a friend will pick us up and take us HOME SWEET HOME!
I must admit it is an honor for me to be asked to join this magical event and share a part of this history – but the best part with the help of some friends I have I found an affordable way to travel so that I can also bring my ten-year-old daughter Sabrina along to experience this with me! PRICELESS!! .... We are ready to head PLAINS BOUND!
====
Facts
By Train They Came – by Charlotte and Sarah Endorf
See this link http://www.libreriauniversitaria.it/by-train-they-came-charlotte/book/9781432717339
“Climb aboard to hear the true stories of the children who rode the Orphan Train By Train They Came: Fragile Excess Baggage, Vol. 1 is the perfect adjunct to Plains Bound: Fragile Cargo, which brought us the extraordinary history of the Orphan Train Riders.
“Climb aboard to hear the true stories of the children who rode the Orphan Train By Train They Came: Fragile Excess Baggage, Vol. 1 is the perfect adjunct to Plains Bound: Fragile Cargo, which brought us the extraordinary history of the Orphan Train Riders.
In this latest work, written especially for young people, the Endorfs share the personal stories of those whose lives were forever altered when they were taken by rail to be placed with foster families throughout America”. “Praise for By Train They Came: Fragile Excess Baggage, Vol. 1
"The message of the lives of the Orphan Train riders is one of endurance, perseverance and survival. In this new book, each story is unique unto itself with a lesson to be learned from each." – Mary Ellen Johnson, Founder of the Orphan Train Heritage Society of America, Inc., Arkansas http://www.orphantrainriders.com/founder11.html
--------
--------
Orphan Train History
Between 1854 and 1929 an estimated 200,000 orphaned, abandoned, and homeless children were placed out in what is known today as the Orphan Train Era. The name is derived from the children's situations, though they were not all orphans, and the mode of transportation used to move them across 47 states and Canada.
When the orphan train movement began, it is estimated that 30,000 abandoned children were living on the streets of New York City. Two charity institutions, The Children's Aid Society and The New York Foundling Hospital, determined to help these children.The aid institutions developed a program that placed homeless city children into homes throughout the country.
The children were transported to their new homes on trains which were eventually labeled “orphan trains.
This period of mass relocation of children in the United States is widely recognized as the beginning of documented foster care in America.
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