Morrison Historical Society hosts Bryn Callahan, Moline, IL, on Sunday, June 30, 2019, as speaker. His Orphan Train program begins promptly at 1:30 p.m. at Morrison’s Heritage Museum, 202 E. Lincolnway, Morrison, IL. The air-conditioned building is accessible to all via a ramp at the back.
As State President of the Children of the American Revolution (C. A. R.) organization, Callahan picked a project to bring attention to more than 10,000 riders of the Orphan Train that were placed in homes in Illinois from 1854-1929. Many children were placed in Carroll, Whiteside, and Lee Counties. His 3-times-great-grandfather, Richard Wilhelm Groharing, was one of these children.
Groharing found a new life in Illinois after being left in a New York City orphanage with his brothers. William was placed in the Thomson-Fulton, IL, area; Edward, was placed in the Amboy, IL, area.
Local residents Judy Groharing Deter and sister Debby Groharing Vaughn will share information about their link to the Groharing brothers.
During his term, Callahan will lead 600+ Illinois C. A. R. members in funding a commissioned bronze informational plaque, to be installed on a sculptured bench, at the Amboy Railroad Depot Museum. Two children from the Orphan Train wait for possible sponsors to take them home to a new life. It is believed that this is the first Orphan Train memorial in Northwestern Illinois.
In the late 19th century, nearly a quarter of a million New York City, NY, children had resided in the New York Juvenile Asylum. These waifs were homeless, orphaned, and/or living in squalor on the streets. The tipping point had been reached, and a solution was to relocate children to families in the Midwest–the Orphan Train Movement. Some came to Whiteside County, IL.
Children would experience the gamut of emotions, treatment, new family life experiences, and adult success. Debate still exists as to the benefit of this mass migration, but alternatives at the time did not present themselves for the vast number of children who could not be nurtured.
Click here to watch a two-minute video about the resettlement of New York City’s “miserable homeless children” between 1854 and 1929.
