CBS News New York - From 1854-1929, hundreds of thousands of young children boarded trains in New York City, to be shipped west where they would find new families. Link to read more and view pictorial history.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO-CBS Broadcasting) – It seems unimaginable now, but adoption for some families used to be as easy as showing up at the train depot. Link to view clip.
Ninety-nine year old orphan train rider signs her story in Last Train Home: An Orphan Train Story, along with her daughter and the author of the book, Renée Wendinger.
"To have my mother sitting beside me signing her name to her story is a grand moment I will cherish forever," said author Renée Wendinger.
Nineteenth century orphan train editorials exclusive to the trains coming to Minnesota researched and compiled by historian Renee Wendinger
NEW ORPHAN TRAIN DOCUMENTARY: Iowa PBS has produced a new midwest emmy award winning documentary film about the orphan trains entitled, West By Orphan Train. It's a great film that I'm proud to have taken part as an expert orphan train historian. The producers, Colleen Krantz and Clark Kidder, did an excellent job. The film is based on the grandmother of expert speaker and orphan train author Clark Kidder in, Emily's Story, The Brave Journey of an Orphan Train Rider. Learn more about the film at www.westbyorphantrain.com
Industrial school training at the New York Juvenile Asylum
Looking for an orphan train rider sent west from the New York Juvenile Asylum (The Children's Village) researcher Clark Kidder may be able to help you. A link to his website is provided here https://www.newyorkjuvenileasylum.com
ONE BOOK COMMUNITY READ
is a reading program that attempts to get everyone in a city to read and discuss the same book. Each city's program has its own goals; these include building a sense of community and promoting literacy. Many communities across the country have chosen books about the orphan trains without realizing the subject is a very diverse topic. There is no way to truly learn about the orphan trains through one book alone. Recently, the entire community of Pine River/Backus, Minnesota chose the topic of "the orphan trains" and incorporated many authors books written about the orphan trains. I believe this is the first community to do so, and as a result ages 5 to 105 merged into a true one community read and understanding of the orphan trains.
Way to Go Pine River!!!
Legendary Publications / 23923 County Road 29 / Sleepy Eye, MN / 56085 USA [email protected] 507.766.6239
