For 75 years Midwest families had opportunities to select children to take home with them with fewer questions asked than reputable humane organizations now ask before releasing a dog to a new family. Colleen Bradford Krantz of Adel, formerly of Guthrie Center, told about 70 adults and two classes of eighth graders about the orphan train movement at a presentation at the First Presbyterian Church in Jefferson Tuesday.
Hosting Krantz were the Greene County librarians and the Greene County Genealogical Society, with financial assistance from the Greene County board of supervisors.
Krantz is co-producer of the documentary “West by Orphan Train,” which is based primarily on research and the book Emily’s Story written by Clark Kidder of Wisconsin.
Between 1854 and 1929, 250,000 children were sent by train from East Coast orphanages to new homes in the Midwest. Agents or priests in towns along the various rail lines were given about two weeks notice before the train was to arrive, and in that time they publicized the arrival of children needing homes. On that day, the children were lined up in a church or auditorium for the inspection of potential foster parents. Some were taken home and integrated into loving families. Others were taken home and put to work tending children or animals, doing household chores or farm labor.
According to Krantz, about half the children had experiences that would be thought of as satisfactory, while the other half had far less than ideal growing up experiences. A common trait among many of the children as they were interviewed in their 80s and 90s was an “amazing resilience, and amazing positive attitude,” Krantz said.
Of the 250,000 children, between 8,000 and 10,000 were placed in more than 300 Iowa towns. Four of them were taken in by Greene County families. Emil Ernest (EE) Kupfer grew up in Rippey in the Gilliland household. The Genealogical Society lists a Mrs Max Pett as an orphan train rider.
Fred Conroy and Margaret “Maggie” McNulty Cudahy both got off the orphan train at Grand Junction at a stop organized by St Brigid Catholic Church. Fred grew up in Hardin Township, while
Katie Cudahy Kregel, granddaughter of Maggie Cudahy, was a special guest at Tuesday’s presentation. Maggie was one of the fortunate children who was taken in my a couple that that had two sons and desperately wanted a daughter. Kregel shared stories of her grandmother being as pampered and strong willed, and very independent.
Refreshments at the program were provided by Paton librarian Jolene Allen and trustees of the William Paton Public Library. Each person was given a sack lunch similar to what the orphan train riders would have had, with homemade bread, a slice of cheese, and a bit of fruit.
Krantz’s visit in Jefferson was done as a companion event to the Greene County Reads book discussions of Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline. The librarians have 80 copies of the book available to check out. The discussions will be led by Jan Scharingson Thursday, April 16, at 9 am at the Churdan library, at 2 pm at the Rippey library, and at 7 pm at the Scranton library. There is no charge for the discussions, but librarians request an RSVP for planning purposes. Any of the six libraries can take a reservation for any of the libraries. Check with a local library for more information.
