 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
Rider Story: Anna Miller Bassett
Those were the days when Whitewright had seven
grocers, two cotton gins, three drug stores, two banks and
two train depots - the Katy and the Cotton Belt.
"When the train stopped in Whitewright, there were 21
little faces anxiously looking out the windows," said Anna
Bassett of Whitewright.
For 75 years, approximately 150,000 orphaned,
abandoned, homeless children and a few poor families
were brought to the South and Midwest in hopes of finding
a fresh start. This era from 1854 to 1929 was known as
the Orphans Train Era.
In 1918 and again in 1920, an orphan train stopped in
Whitewright, bringing children ready for adoption and
eager for a new life.
"I think I was taken to the orphanage by a relative when I
was three - I have never wanted to know more," said Mrs.
Bassett, who has no brothers or sisters.
grocers, two cotton gins, three drug stores, two banks and
two train depots - the Katy and the Cotton Belt.
"When the train stopped in Whitewright, there were 21
little faces anxiously looking out the windows," said Anna
Bassett of Whitewright.
For 75 years, approximately 150,000 orphaned,
abandoned, homeless children and a few poor families
were brought to the South and Midwest in hopes of finding
a fresh start. This era from 1854 to 1929 was known as
the Orphans Train Era.
In 1918 and again in 1920, an orphan train stopped in
Whitewright, bringing children ready for adoption and
eager for a new life.
"I think I was taken to the orphanage by a relative when I
was three - I have never wanted to know more," said Mrs.
Bassett, who has no brothers or sisters.
"The orphanage I lived at was in New York City. I was well-treated. I remember a room with
25 or 30 little white, iron beds. We each had a locker. I stayed there a while and then moved
upstairs to another room with half-beds for everyone," said Mrs. Bassett.
"The orphanage was sponsored by the Roman Catholic Church, and we paid weekly visits to
a beautiful cathedral with stain glass windows and pipe organ music," said Mrs. Bassett.
The last Christmas before leaving for Texas, we all hung stockings on the foot of our bed
and waited for Santa. I got some fruit and a celluloid doll. That doll came on the orphan train
with me," said Mrs. Bassett.
There were two sponsors, Mrs. Hill and Mrs. Peterson, who rode with 21 children from New
York. "All I know about them is that they came down the Hudson River on a ship to Grand
Central Station to ride the train with us."
Mrs. Bassett said she does not know how many days the journey took that cold January in
1918 and doesn’t remember any stops until the stop at the Katy Depot in Whitewright.
There were several children younger than Mrs. Bassett and at least one set of twins who
were 2-years-old.
"We were taught manners and were well disciplined," Mrs. Bassett said. "Of course, with
that many children, you have to have discipline. Yes, I had excellent manners by the time I
got to Texas."
"The first night was spent in the Smith Hotel next to the Katy Depot," Mrs. Bassett said.
"We each had our own suitcase with a few changes of clothes and our belongings. Early the
next morning, we were up and dressed, hoping to meet our new parents. We went to the
city hall, where there were quite a few people gathered to see us."
25 or 30 little white, iron beds. We each had a locker. I stayed there a while and then moved
upstairs to another room with half-beds for everyone," said Mrs. Bassett.
"The orphanage was sponsored by the Roman Catholic Church, and we paid weekly visits to
a beautiful cathedral with stain glass windows and pipe organ music," said Mrs. Bassett.
The last Christmas before leaving for Texas, we all hung stockings on the foot of our bed
and waited for Santa. I got some fruit and a celluloid doll. That doll came on the orphan train
with me," said Mrs. Bassett.
There were two sponsors, Mrs. Hill and Mrs. Peterson, who rode with 21 children from New
York. "All I know about them is that they came down the Hudson River on a ship to Grand
Central Station to ride the train with us."
Mrs. Bassett said she does not know how many days the journey took that cold January in
1918 and doesn’t remember any stops until the stop at the Katy Depot in Whitewright.
There were several children younger than Mrs. Bassett and at least one set of twins who
were 2-years-old.
"We were taught manners and were well disciplined," Mrs. Bassett said. "Of course, with
that many children, you have to have discipline. Yes, I had excellent manners by the time I
got to Texas."
"The first night was spent in the Smith Hotel next to the Katy Depot," Mrs. Bassett said.
"We each had our own suitcase with a few changes of clothes and our belongings. Early the
next morning, we were up and dressed, hoping to meet our new parents. We went to the
city hall, where there were quite a few people gathered to see us."