About the Orphan Trains The Orphan Trains started in 1854 through 1929. The Orphan Trains took children to the West in hope for a better life. The Orphan Trains were for homeless children, street urchins, half orphans and street rats. The Orphan Trains were started by Reverend Brace. Most children came from New York and were placed mostly in Kansas, Nebraska, Ohio, and Iowa and 44 other states. The average age of the children was 9 years old. If the children were not chosen, they were sent to the next state. They could leave the family if the adoptive parents

did not treat them correctly. For example, if the parents treated the children like slaves or whipped the children. Some children found good homes out West. The kids that were transferred to other states were not rich kids with healthy parents that own a huge farm with lots of horses. These children were not rich and their parents were very sick and some children didn’t even have parents. Thank you for reading the first article of the Ohio Times!

Written by Matt and Chris1

The Ohio timesTHE BEST PAPER IN OHIO - Since 1802

Susan’s InterviewToday I interviewed one of the orphans who rode the Orphan Train. Her name is Susan. She is 10 years old and she told me that she went on the orphan train when she was only five. When she got on the train she felt nervous, scared, and unloved. She also said that the ride was long, boring and nobody would talk to her. She doesn’t like her new parents. They have 7 children and two newborn babies. When Susan got to her new house, her new mother put her to work immediately with the new babies who are spoiled and cry over everything. Susan says, “At night, I get a total amount of 3 hours sleep. All other hours are spent with the babies so the parents can sleep.” Late one September night, Susan packed food, clothing, blankets, and some other stuff into a tablecloth. The moon was full that night. She took off on the trail

into the deep woods of Hickory Head. She was looking for a nice area to sleep for the night. She found an abandoned old house and rested there for a few days. Then she heard that her parents had put up a two hundred dollar reward for her return. Susan went back home and her parents were so mad that they sent her back to New York when she was nine years old.

Written byJane and Caitlin

The Ohio times

THE BEST PAPER IN OHIO- Since 1802

The Orphan Trains were a good idea because the children who were homeless could have another chance to have a family again. The Orphan Trains were a good thing because they brought the homeless children to the West. They were brought there because their families had no money to buy food to make the children happy. One reason why it was good was that the orphans could live longer if the Orphan Train kept on running because if it did not start, the children would die on the street. If Charles Brace never found that child on the street, the Orphan Trains would not have started to run in 1854. This is the 3rd article from Ohio Times. Written by: Sean

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Good and Bad

Dear PriyankaDear Priyanka, I just adopted two children and I have no way at all to cheer them up. I adopted them a week ago. They are always sad. They refuse to eat gourmet food. They will only eat bread and soup. They said they only wanted to eat what their mom had given them. My wife and I cannot convince them to go to school where they will learn to write, so they can send a letter to their folks back home. What can my wife and I do?

Signed, Worried New Dad

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Dear Worried New Dad,

The children probably are not used to the way things work in your house. They need time to settle in. After all, it has only been a week. If they don’t feel comfortable after a few months, ask them why they are so upset and calm them down. Be the kindest dad you can be. They will see that they have a new, kind family to live with and that they will be much safer living in the West.

Sincerely, Priyanka

The Ohio timesThe best paper in Ohio

Resources:

1. kancoll.org 2. pbs.org3. Orphantrainsdepot.com4. Iagenweb.org5. kids-learn.org6. Childrenaidssociety.org

7. orphantraindepot.org8. Neh.gov9. 42explore2.com10. the-inn.org11. Nyfoundling.org