| 2006 Minnesota Orphan Train Reunion |
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Six Orphan Train Riders attended the Reunion in Minnesota. Left to right: Rosemary Zarling,
Helen Koscianski, Pat Thiessen, Sophie Kral, Sister Justina Bieganek and Laura Norden.
Orphan Train Riders Irvin Dobis and Frank Bruggenthies sent letters to be read because they
could not attend.
Helen Koscianski, Pat Thiessen, Sophie Kral, Sister Justina Bieganek and Laura Norden.
Orphan Train Riders Irvin Dobis and Frank Bruggenthies sent letters to be read because they
could not attend.
| Attendees at the 2006 Reunion in Minnesota |
On a beautiful warm fall Saturday, September 30, 2006, Minnesota held its 46th reunion of New
York Orphan Train Riders at the St. Franciscan Center in Little Falls, MN. Six Orphan Train Riders
from Minnesota were present at our meeting and banquet. They were: Sister Justina Bieganek,
age 94 (St. Francis Convent, Little Falls), Helen Koscianski, age 92 (Winona), Sophia Kral, age 91
(Sleepy Eye), Laura Norden, age 97 (St. Cloud), Patricia Thiessen, age 90 (Becker), and
Rosemary Zarling, age 95 (St. Otto’s Care Center, Little Falls).
Some new officers were elected this year because Steve Boggie, president, and Carol Hughes,
vice president were stepping down. As we did not have any volunteers or accepted nominations
for president, Vicki Koscianski (daughter-in-law of Helen Koscianski, rider) was an absentee
nomination who has accepted the office. Our new vice president is Beverly Sweet (wife of Steve
Boggie). Joan Prochaska and Jan Gonsior will continue as secretary and treasurer.
A “how to raise money and cut our costs” discussion lead to raising our annual dues to $10.00,
but keeping the rider’s dues at $5.00. We decided to cut some costs by having our door prizes
and silent auction items donated and we would try to raise some funds at the Orphan Train
Musical/Play which is being held February 18th through April 1st at the History Theatre in St. Paul,
MN. The play is based on a book by Patty Lynch and the music and lyrics are by Charlie Maguire.
The musical is very well attended and seats fill fast. If you would like more information on the
play, you can email the History Theatre at dan@historytheatre.com.
York Orphan Train Riders at the St. Franciscan Center in Little Falls, MN. Six Orphan Train Riders
from Minnesota were present at our meeting and banquet. They were: Sister Justina Bieganek,
age 94 (St. Francis Convent, Little Falls), Helen Koscianski, age 92 (Winona), Sophia Kral, age 91
(Sleepy Eye), Laura Norden, age 97 (St. Cloud), Patricia Thiessen, age 90 (Becker), and
Rosemary Zarling, age 95 (St. Otto’s Care Center, Little Falls).
Some new officers were elected this year because Steve Boggie, president, and Carol Hughes,
vice president were stepping down. As we did not have any volunteers or accepted nominations
for president, Vicki Koscianski (daughter-in-law of Helen Koscianski, rider) was an absentee
nomination who has accepted the office. Our new vice president is Beverly Sweet (wife of Steve
Boggie). Joan Prochaska and Jan Gonsior will continue as secretary and treasurer.
A “how to raise money and cut our costs” discussion lead to raising our annual dues to $10.00,
but keeping the rider’s dues at $5.00. We decided to cut some costs by having our door prizes
and silent auction items donated and we would try to raise some funds at the Orphan Train
Musical/Play which is being held February 18th through April 1st at the History Theatre in St. Paul,
MN. The play is based on a book by Patty Lynch and the music and lyrics are by Charlie Maguire.
The musical is very well attended and seats fill fast. If you would like more information on the
play, you can email the History Theatre at dan@historytheatre.com.
Joan Prochaska gave a report on the history of the Minnesota
gatherings. The MN reunions were started by Mary Buscher from
Breckenridge, MN and Marie Lenzmeier from Wahpeton, ND. The two
women were having lunch one day and discovered that they both were
orphans from NY. They decided to see if there were any other orphans
“out there” and arranged to have a “reunion” at the Metropolitan
Building in Wahpeton. Nine orphans from the New York Foundling
Hospital attended the first reunion in 1961. In reviewing the minutes of
meetings it showed that only “riders” were invited to the reunions and it
was not until 1984 that spouses could become members and pay
dues. It was only later when children and decedents were invited to
the reunions to increase their membership. One of the biggest issues
the group had over the years was where to hold their annual
meetings. They had members from all over the U.S., but most of the
reunions were held in MN and occasionally in ND and IA. Joan
discovered something very interesting in the minutes, “the name of the
gatherings. The MN reunions were started by Mary Buscher from
Breckenridge, MN and Marie Lenzmeier from Wahpeton, ND. The two
women were having lunch one day and discovered that they both were
orphans from NY. They decided to see if there were any other orphans
“out there” and arranged to have a “reunion” at the Metropolitan
Building in Wahpeton. Nine orphans from the New York Foundling
Hospital attended the first reunion in 1961. In reviewing the minutes of
meetings it showed that only “riders” were invited to the reunions and it
was not until 1984 that spouses could become members and pay
dues. It was only later when children and decedents were invited to
the reunions to increase their membership. One of the biggest issues
the group had over the years was where to hold their annual
meetings. They had members from all over the U.S., but most of the
reunions were held in MN and occasionally in ND and IA. Joan
discovered something very interesting in the minutes, “the name of the
Renee Wendinger provided us with some information on the
Children’s Aid Society (CAS). She told us that CAS donated a
couple of items for our silent auction. And that she was sent a
press release saying that CAS donated their archives to the
New York Historical Society. The CAS archives document tens
of thousands of stories of riders who came from NY to the
Midwest in the nineteenth century. Children’s Aid Society gave
a gift of $300,000 to the NY Historical Society to preserve,
catalog and protect the archived documents. The archives tell
the story of how Charles L. Brace created the concept of family
based foster families for children. The archives include hand
written ledgers, surrender books, flyers, etc. from 1853-1930 in
which 10-30,000 children lived on the streets in NY. The NY
Historical Society’s mission is to explore and keep the rich
history of NY. Their web site is www.nyhistory.org and Children’
s Aid Society’s web site is childrensaidsociety.com.
Children’s Aid Society (CAS). She told us that CAS donated a
couple of items for our silent auction. And that she was sent a
press release saying that CAS donated their archives to the
New York Historical Society. The CAS archives document tens
of thousands of stories of riders who came from NY to the
Midwest in the nineteenth century. Children’s Aid Society gave
a gift of $300,000 to the NY Historical Society to preserve,
catalog and protect the archived documents. The archives tell
the story of how Charles L. Brace created the concept of family
based foster families for children. The archives include hand
written ledgers, surrender books, flyers, etc. from 1853-1930 in
which 10-30,000 children lived on the streets in NY. The NY
Historical Society’s mission is to explore and keep the rich
history of NY. Their web site is www.nyhistory.org and Children’
s Aid Society’s web site is childrensaidsociety.com.
One of our guest speakers, Donna Hubbard who is a granddaughter
of Emma (Glender) Biermeir, talked about how we as decedents are
the ones who need to carry on the history of the orphan train riders.
She shared her grandmother’s documentation and how she is
preserving the documentation. She told how she received information
on her grandmother from the NY Foundling Hospital and how she put
the documentation and pictures together including some of her
receipts, marriage certificate, and death certificate. Donna’s job is to
help people organize their photos. She shared how she organizes
photos in “their box” and the different photo albums she
recommends.
of Emma (Glender) Biermeir, talked about how we as decedents are
the ones who need to carry on the history of the orphan train riders.
She shared her grandmother’s documentation and how she is
preserving the documentation. She told how she received information
on her grandmother from the NY Foundling Hospital and how she put
the documentation and pictures together including some of her
receipts, marriage certificate, and death certificate. Donna’s job is to
help people organize their photos. She shared how she organizes
photos in “their box” and the different photo albums she
recommends.
Mary Ellen Johnson spoke of the twenty years of memory of the
Orphan Train Historical Society. The question she is always
asked is “How did she get started?” So she told us. She loves
what she is doing. When she started out she didn’t even know
what orphan train riders were. She told us of how she was
always the family historian and how she became a volunteer
for a Washington County History Book. She told us how she
applied for a job as a bookkeeper. Hooked up an answer
machine for him and got a job. She told a story about a family
who got an orphan child; a man would go to NY to get some of
these children and stopped at a family and asked if they could
take care of a child over night. They asked the next day if they
could keep her. Mary Ellen also told the story of how she met a
little boy who asked her to find out what orphanage he came
from. She talked to Ethel Lampert from the Children’s Aid
Orphan Train Historical Society. The question she is always
asked is “How did she get started?” So she told us. She loves
what she is doing. When she started out she didn’t even know
what orphan train riders were. She told us of how she was
always the family historian and how she became a volunteer
for a Washington County History Book. She told us how she
applied for a job as a bookkeeper. Hooked up an answer
machine for him and got a job. She told a story about a family
who got an orphan child; a man would go to NY to get some of
these children and stopped at a family and asked if they could
take care of a child over night. They asked the next day if they
could keep her. Mary Ellen also told the story of how she met a
little boy who asked her to find out what orphanage he came
from. She talked to Ethel Lampert from the Children’s Aid
organization.” We just came up with a new name for ourselves in 2005 and now the minutes
revealed that the group referred to themselves as the “New York Foundling Orphans” for over 30
years. Of course this brought up more discussion about a name for our group. So next year we
have on our agenda to finalize a name for our MN gatherings.
revealed that the group referred to themselves as the “New York Foundling Orphans” for over 30
years. Of course this brought up more discussion about a name for our group. So next year we
have on our agenda to finalize a name for our MN gatherings.
Renee also reported that she wrote to the Citizens Stamp Advisory committee to ask them to
consider a commemorative stamp on Orphan Train riders. She explained that you need to
submitted ideas three years in advance. She felt that orphan train riders meet all the criteria:
educational, historical, interest to young and old, does not pertain to one state, but could be
world wide. There is not a time frame for submitting ideas. Mary Ellen Johnson told us that she
also submitted the request for an orphan train commemorative stamp. Who knows, maybe in a
few years there will be an Orphan Train Rider stamp!
consider a commemorative stamp on Orphan Train riders. She explained that you need to
submitted ideas three years in advance. She felt that orphan train riders meet all the criteria:
educational, historical, interest to young and old, does not pertain to one state, but could be
world wide. There is not a time frame for submitting ideas. Mary Ellen Johnson told us that she
also submitted the request for an orphan train commemorative stamp. Who knows, maybe in a
few years there will be an Orphan Train Rider stamp!
Society in NY. Ethel told her that she was “the one.” You’re the one to preserve this part of
history. Hand written ledgers written by Charles Lawrence Brace were sent to her. From there
in 1986 this became an obsession. Cost was $500 to get incorporated. In 1987 they became
incorporated and had self appointed directors. In 1988 they held the first orphan train rider
reunion in Springdale, AR. She didn’t know anyone else held them. They expected 24 and got
over 100 people and they came from all over. She had contacted the local TV to film the
meeting and they filmed over 8 hours. She told the story on how one of the orphans, Fred
Swedenberg, was telling his story and they got him on tape which helped with publicity. Then
she heard about a reunion in Nebraska and then met Mary Buscher. In 1990 she attended a
meeting in MN and was appalled that no one talked about their stories and there was no press,
etc. She tried to convince people to talk to her. This was the first time she heard about the NY
Foundling Hospital. She had only heard about the Children’s Aid Society. In 1990 she was
invited to ride on a float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. She told the story of a local
radio station that was interviewing orphans when several orphans heard the interview. They
called the station and wanted to know where the orphans were meeting. After helping another
person find her relative in NY that day, Mary Ellen decided that she needed to write a book. She
got enough stories to publish a book and pay for the publishing by pre-selling the books. She
told the story of the TV publisher of Unsolved Mysteries who filmed a story of orphans (1989).
One of the orphans, Frances, was interviewed. He was very ill and asked if his story would be
told on national TV. After being told yes, he died. The producer decided not to include this.
Mary Ellen made them air Frances story. Mary Ellen got a salary for what she was doing in
2001. She commented that Volume 4 had the most MN stories in it. There is a conservative
number of over 4 million decedents of orphan train riders that are living in the U.S., and there
are approximately 145 orphan train riders still living in the U.S.
We decided to meet again next year at the St. Francis Center in Little Falls, MN on Saturday,
September 22, 2007. Mark your calendars! We had some time for visiting and pictures, our
delicious chicken lunch with all the trimming and apple pie for desert. And of course a fun time
was had by all who played dirty bingo, (that dice game).
By Joan Prochaska
history. Hand written ledgers written by Charles Lawrence Brace were sent to her. From there
in 1986 this became an obsession. Cost was $500 to get incorporated. In 1987 they became
incorporated and had self appointed directors. In 1988 they held the first orphan train rider
reunion in Springdale, AR. She didn’t know anyone else held them. They expected 24 and got
over 100 people and they came from all over. She had contacted the local TV to film the
meeting and they filmed over 8 hours. She told the story on how one of the orphans, Fred
Swedenberg, was telling his story and they got him on tape which helped with publicity. Then
she heard about a reunion in Nebraska and then met Mary Buscher. In 1990 she attended a
meeting in MN and was appalled that no one talked about their stories and there was no press,
etc. She tried to convince people to talk to her. This was the first time she heard about the NY
Foundling Hospital. She had only heard about the Children’s Aid Society. In 1990 she was
invited to ride on a float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. She told the story of a local
radio station that was interviewing orphans when several orphans heard the interview. They
called the station and wanted to know where the orphans were meeting. After helping another
person find her relative in NY that day, Mary Ellen decided that she needed to write a book. She
got enough stories to publish a book and pay for the publishing by pre-selling the books. She
told the story of the TV publisher of Unsolved Mysteries who filmed a story of orphans (1989).
One of the orphans, Frances, was interviewed. He was very ill and asked if his story would be
told on national TV. After being told yes, he died. The producer decided not to include this.
Mary Ellen made them air Frances story. Mary Ellen got a salary for what she was doing in
2001. She commented that Volume 4 had the most MN stories in it. There is a conservative
number of over 4 million decedents of orphan train riders that are living in the U.S., and there
are approximately 145 orphan train riders still living in the U.S.
We decided to meet again next year at the St. Francis Center in Little Falls, MN on Saturday,
September 22, 2007. Mark your calendars! We had some time for visiting and pictures, our
delicious chicken lunch with all the trimming and apple pie for desert. And of course a fun time
was had by all who played dirty bingo, (that dice game).
By Joan Prochaska