Orphan Train
By: Khafren Smith
The History of The Orphan Train
The Orphan train was created by three charities dedicated to helping orphaned children in New York City. The Children's Village, The Children's Aid Society, and the New York Foundling Hospital. It was called the orphan train because it was literally a train which ran from the east coast to the midwest placing children who were otherwise displaced, with families
Experience of Orphan Train Riders
The link below shows an interview with a 98 year old woman who went through the experience of the Orphan Train.
Ann Harrison
She didn't know her real name until later in her life, and her adoptive father gave her clues to uncovering her past. She then traveled to Chicgo and New York to persue her singing Career, there is where she learned about her past and her experience on the Orphan Train
Mary Jane Baade
A 14 year old boy, asked his mom for a little sister with blue eyes, his mother then said they would try to get one for him. Mary Jane Baade was put on the Orphan train at 26 months after being raised by Nuns at a catholic church.
Charles Frederick
A german orphan was retrieved and brought onto the orphan train at 6 years old and brought to the midwest to a better family.
Why the Orphan Train Ended
Because of the depression starting, money became scarce and made it even harder for children to be placed via the orphan train. This meant that because many families couldn't afford to feed any more mouths then they had, so the orphan train slowly faded away.
The Orphan Train HD
Citation
"National Orphan Train Complex." National Orphan Train Complex. Web. 16 Feb. 2016. <http://orphantraindepot.org/orphan-train-rider-stories/>.