Louisiana Orphan Train Museum - Opelousas Louisiana
In the early 1900's, orphans from NYC were relocated to cities throughout the United States where they were adopted by local families. Most of these children had been given up by their birth parents due to economic hardship. Adoptive families were required to promise that they would provide clothing, a home and a Catholic upbringing.
From Cradle to Grave: Journey of the Louisiana Orphan Train Riders
Buy direct from Amazon.
This video is based on the book's Introduction page, with photos of young children from the early 1900s.
On the mean streets of New York City in the early 1900s, abandoned children were either left on the streets to fend for themselves or taken to an orphanage. They were torn from families who were destitute, sick or dying. Treatment of the orphans to some was an injustice, but in actuality it was a blessing. They were given food, shelter and medical care. For so many of these orphans, the only mothers they ever knew were the nuns who took care of them on a daily basis. Many of the children were but tiny infants when they entered the orphanage.
With the passage of time, they were placed on trains and sent to other states. What were the thoughts and feelings of the hundreds of little boys and girls on the long train ride from New York to Louisiana? One has to wonder if these children were fascinated with the train, or were they anxious and afraid of the unknown. Some were too young to realize what was going on. They were leaving everything they knew about and going away to unknown lands.
Leaving the streets of New York, the children came to the countryside of Louisiana by trains, escorted by their nuns, nurses, and agents. The orphan train rider’s stories may sound like fiction, but in reality, it is the story of their lives. From Cradle to Grave is only a small collection of stories from the descendants who put together the bits and pieces they received from relatives.
Although New York was nothing as it is today, it was still more developed than the rural lands the trains would take them to. Here, there were barns, general stores, wide open land, very few houses, many fields, and different types of animals that they had never seen in person before. Many people in rural Louisiana spoke French more fluently than English, so even the language was a culture shock to them. For many orphans, cotton, corn, and sweet potato fields were not only their workplace, but their playgrounds as well, especially in the southern part of Louisiana where farming was the way of life. Many of the orphans who were brought to these farms learned farming first-hand, and became successful later in life even though they may not have had a formal education.
For too many years, they were ignored and their stories were hushed. They were ashamed of being orphans, mostly because they were often reminded of who they were and where they came from. They bounced back, however, they were accepted, and were raised in the cultures of their communities.
As we read through the stories, there is one thing that stands out about these little orphans – they adapted to the life they were brought to and embraced it. There were tears and frustrations, but there was also happiness and joy at the simple things life had to offer. They never had the “poor me” attitude, and many remained in Louisiana by choice when they reached the legal age to travel back to New York if they chose to. They were instilled with values that rarely left them, from an early age to the very end of their life!
Though most have left their earthly homes, it’s time to reflect on what they were able to accomplish. The majority were good providers and overprotective of their children. They were always looking for better things for their children than they had been provided with. Their stories are proof that hard work and a positive attitude make anything possible.
As we read and think about their stories, we cannot help but long for the simple and fulfilling life many of these children grew up with, and cherished all the days of their lives. They rode the rails for a better life. Many became businessmen, educators, and civil servants. Though many were faced with perils and hardships, they overcame those obstacles and thrived as successful Louisiana orphan train riders.
Opelousas & Lafayette
video sums up my day in Opelousas & Lafayette, Louisiana
Opelousas Orphan Train Museum
Government Road OPelousas, Louisiana video #1
For everyone at the KSMB/Home Furniture House Party on 7-28-09, here's video #1. There is a second video so be sure and serach forit. We had fun! Let's do it again Friday. Bobby
National Tour on LPB Louisiana
Dr. Estes Taplin superintendent of Baker School district in Baker, Louisiana, has invited Orrin Checkmate Hudson to come to his school district to train his staff ,students and teachers the Get in the Game KASH is King ! presentation.
The Colfax Louisiana Massacre: A Story about Reconstruction
by Storyteller Zahra Glenda Baker
This is Zahra’s personal story of reconnecting with her siblings and learning about how history is told through the voice of the “hunter”. On a journey back to their Louisiana birthplace, Zahra and her siblings uncover a story of an event that affects the lives of their family, community and the nation.
Centennial Stories: Orphan Train
Orphan train.
OETA-The Oklahoma Network
Writer/Narrator: Billie Rodely
Editor: Charles Newcomb
West by Orphan Train trailer
Check out this trailer for West by Orphan Train, an upcoming public television documentary. Between 1854 and 1929, nearly a quarter of a million children were taken by train from the East Coast orphanages and offered during scheduled stops to those interested in taking them. Experts estimated that fewer than 100 of those children, who were placed all over the United States, are still living today. Learn more at WestByOrphanTrain.com
Evangeline Downs Hotel, an Ascend Hotel Collection Member - Opelousas Hotels, Louisiana
Evangeline Downs Hotel, an Ascend Hotel Collection Member 3 Stars Hotel in Opelousas, Louisiana Within US Travel Directory The newly built Evangeline Downs Hotel, an Ascend Collection hotel, is connected to Louisiana's prestigious Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino, home of thoroughbred and quarter horse racing, gaming, live entertainment, numerous restaurants and more. Thoroughbred racing season generally runs from mid-April through Labor Day weekend, while quarter horse racing runs mid-September through December.
Additional attractions close to this hotel in Louisiana include the Creole Heritage Folklife Center museum, Le Vieux Village historic landmark area, Opelousas Museum of Art and the Louisiana Orphan Train Museum. Opelousas is home to a number of annual events like the Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Festival, the Yambilee Festival and the Holy Ghost Creole Festival.Hotel features include free deluxe continental breakfast, free wireless high-speed Internet access, free weekday newspaper, free local calls and an exercise room. After a long day, guests of this hotel can unwind in the exercise room, or relax at the indoor heated pool and hot tub.For the corporate traveler, this Louisiana hotel provides an assortment of modern conveniences like an on-site business center with a public computer with Internet access, and access to copy and fax service. A banquet and meeting room is located on the premises and can accommodate up to 60 people for most functions.
All spacious and inviting guest rooms are furnished with flat-screen televisions, coffee makers, desks, hair dryers, refrigerators, microwaves, safes, irons, ironing boards, pillow-top mattresses and cable television. Select rooms offer upgraded amenities like wet bars, sofa sleepers and balconies. This is a pet-friendly hotel; fees apply. Ample free parking is provided and can accommodate most vehicles.
Evangeline Downs Hotel, an Ascend Hotel Collection Member - Opelousas Hotels, Louisiana
Location in : 2235 Creswell Lane Extension, Lot B, LA 70570, Opelousas, Louisiana
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What Were the Orphan Trains?
The New-York Historical Society and NYC Media, the official network of the City of New York, have partnered to produce a special series of one minute videos that feature the staff of the New York Historical Society as they answer some of the most captivating questions ever posed to them about the City's fascinating and unique history.
What Were the Orphan Trains?
The term orphan trains refers to the trains that carried poor urban children to western and Midwestern states to be placed with foster parents. The program was started by Charles Loring Brance of the Children's Aid Society but soon had many imitators. It began around 1850 and ran for nearly eighty years. The number of children placed out is estimated to have been over 250,00.
St Landry Parish
Video highlighting Over Louisiana's Aerial Videography
An Orphan Train Rider Tells His Story
In this segment from the West by Orphan Train documentary, Orphan Train rider Stanley Cornell recounts the story of he and his brother’s experiences living in an orphanage and their eventual trip on an Orphan Train in the early 1900s. After being placed in six different homes, they were placed with a family in Texas who raised them.
Educational resource published by Iowa Public Television.
The West by Orphan Train documentary was produced by Colleen Bradford Krantz and Clark Kidder.
Video excerpts provided courtesy of Colleen Bradford Krantz and Clark Kidder.
© 2014 Colleen Bradford Krantz and Clark Kidder
wbot 20151115 westbyorphantrain 07b
Orphan Train in Michigan
From the 1850's to the 1930's, more than 250,000 orphans from New York City and Boston were sent westward. The train made many stops along the way as married couples picked out the boy or girl they wanted. Michigan was one of many middle western states to take in 12,500 children from 3 to 16 years of age. Captivating stories, eyewitnesses and photos make this a very special documentary. Available from michiganhistoryvideos.com on DVD and VHS
History of the Book I Louisiana Creoles
Louisiana Creole scholar Andrew Jolivétte, Ph.D. is an American author and lecturer who is employed at San Francisco State University as an associate professor in American Indian Studies and an instructor in Ethnic Studies, Educational Leadership, and Race and Resistance Studies.
Orphan Trains
Oral history clip with Oliver Nordmark who rode an Orphan
Train,descendant and author Donna Nordmark Aviles talks about trains that ran from 1854-1929. ( Video by Paul Kuehnel ) During a program at Martin Library in York, Pa.
Stop The Violence Opelousas, La
I-49 Riders Of Opelousas Louisiana, organized a Stop the Violence March 2-1-14...
Opelousas is a beautiful place to live, it's a place we call home, it's a place a lot of people call home. With that being said if you call Opelousas your home, we need to come together as one to make Opelousas a better place to live.
Marvin Richard
The Orphan Train
This project was created for the Elementary classroom. The purpose is not to give an exhaustive account. Rather, use it as background knowledge to build upon afterward. Enjoy!
Click here to watch the interview I conducted with Fred Swendenburg's wife.
Orphan Train song by Project 4
Orphan Train (1979 TV Movie) - Complete, Unedited Movie
Orphan Train (1979 TV Movie). This was one of my favorite movies when I was a kid. They used to replay it every few years throughout the 1980's. Join the Facebook group for this wonderful film here -
Written and Produced by - Dorothea G. Petrie
Emma Symms - Jill Eikenberry
Frank Carlin - Kevin Dobson
Sarah - Linda Manz
Liverpool - Graham Fletcher-Cook
J.P. - Melissa Michaelsen
Jessica - Glenn Close
Mr. McGarrity - Morgan Farley
Barrington - Severn Darden
Mouse - Charles Fields/Charlie Fields
Ben - Peter Neuman
Tony Santini - John Femia
Annie - Sara Inglis/Sarah Ingliss
Dutch - Andreas Manske
Bruce - Scott Rogers
Mrs. Comstock - Justine Johnston
Mrs. Gardner - Sue Ann Gilfillan
Nellie - Barbara Hallie-Foote/Hallie Foote
Danny - Mike Hammett
Thigpen (Barrington's secretary) - Paul Thigpen
St. Landry Parish claims state tourism honor
Celeste Gomez, director of the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission, addresses the Louisiana Travel Promotion Association Summit after winning the Louey award, given to top visitor bureaus in the state.
TMF Rehab Earns National Recognition
KETK - Trinity Mother Frances Rehabilitation Hospital has received top recognition from Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation (UDSMR®) for the ninth consecutive year. The hospital ranked in the top ten percent of qualifying rehabilitation hospitals for 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007 and 2006.
UDSMR® is a non-profit group that evaluates rehabilitation hospitals on their delivery of quality care that is effective, efficient, timely and patient-centered. To determine the rankings, UDSMR® uses a system that measures the efficiency and effectiveness of a hospital’s rehabilitation programs. The system evaluates and tracks a patient’s progress through the rehabilitation process to document gains. This is the ninth year that UDSMR® has issued the awards.
In 2014, Trinity Mother Frances Rehabilitation Hospital is pleased to report that:
• The average length of patient stay was 12.6 days.
• 87 percent of Trinity Mother Frances Rehabilitation Hospital patients were able to go home at discharge.
• It holds disease-specific certifications from the Joint Commission for its stroke and hip fracture rehabilitation programs.
“Our UDSMR® ranking allows us to benchmark our performance against national data and confirms our ability to help our patients achieve excellent outcomes,” said Chief Executive Officer of Trinity Mother Frances Sharla Anderson. “The rehabilitation programs and services at Trinity Mother Frances help patients reach a higher functional level in a shorter period of time, which helps them to return to normal life more quickly.”
The data used for this report was based on 12 months of 2014 data, drawn from both Medicare and non-Medicare patients. The results were weighted and combined into a single composite score, and each hospital was assigned a percentile rank from zero to 100 relative to the 783 qualifying subscribers in the UDSMR® database.
About UDSMR®
About UDSMR®: Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation (UDSMR®) is a division of UB Foundation Activities Inc., a not-for-profit corporation affiliated with the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York. Founded in 1987, UDSMR® administers the world’s largest medical rehabilitation database, and its instruments provide the field with a common language and measurement tools for outcomes and functional assessment. CMS has adopted UDSMR®’s FIM™ instrument as the basis for the IRF PPS, and UDSMR® provides exclusive training and support to the agency.
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About Trinity Mother Frances Rehabilitation Hospital
Trinity Mother Frances Rehabilitation Hospital, a joint venture between Trinity Mother of Frances Health system and HealthSouth, is a 74-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital that offers comprehensive inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation and home health services. Serving patients throughout East Texas and the hospital is located at 3131 Troup Highway and on the Web at tmfrehabhospital.com.
About HealthSouth
HealthSouth is one of the nation’s largest providers of post-acute healthcare services, offering both facility-based and home-based post-acute services in 33 states and Puerto Rico through its network of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, home health agencies, and hospice agencies. HealthSouth can be found on the Web at healthsouth.com.