Interview


We interviewed the Orphan Train author Donna Nordmark-Aviles.
Key:
TT= ThinkQuest Team
DNA=Donna Nordmark - Aviles

Here are some questions we asked her:

TT- Why do you think it is important for children and adults to know about the orphan train?

DNA- I am interested in seeing as many people as possible learn about the Orphan Train Movement of 1854-1929. Over 250,000 children were “placed out” on farms in the Midwest during that time and very few people that I encounter have ever heard about it, let alone understand it. I have written 2 books about the subject. FLY LITTLE BIRD FLY! and BEYOND THE ORPHAN TRAIN are true stories of my father’s journey, along with his younger brother, on the orphan train. They are both written at the 5th grade level and I frequently visit schools to talk to students about my books and The Orphan Trains.

TT- What interested you in learning about the topic of the orphan trains?

DNA- I became interested in the orphan train movement after listening to my grandfather, who was a rider, tell about what it was like to be placed on the train with his brother and sent to Kansas.

TT- Who started the orphan train movement?

DNA- The orphan train movement was started by a minister from Connecticut by the name of Rev. Charles Loring Brace in 1854. A similar movement – known as the baby trains-began shortly after that by Sister Irene Fitzgibbons of the Sisters of Mercy. Rev. Brace began with the establishment of the Children’s Aid Society. The society opened orphanages to take in the estimated 30,000 homeless and/or neglected children that were living on the streets of New York City at the time. When the orphanages became overcrowded, Rev. Brace needed a new solution. The solution was the placing out of children to the mid-west communities that were in need of additional farming labor. It was believed, at the time, hat the best place for a child to grow up was home of a Christian farmer. The term “Orphan Train” was not used at that time. That term came to use into use in the 1960s, long after the trains had stop transporting children.
After 75 years, the last orphan train ran in 1929. The reason the movement ended was twofold. The nation began implementing social programs to help poor families and the concept of childhood was changing. Previously, children were just considered small adults who should work as adults do. The concept of “play” during childhood was now becoming more acceptable along with the notion that families should be kept together whenever possible.

TT: Are you related to anyone on the train?

DNA: My grandfather, Oliver Nordmark, was an orphan train rider in 1906. He rode with his brother Edward to Kansas where they were placed on a farm together. A year later, they were removed from that farm, and rode the train again to Mankato, Kansas and were placed on separate farms. They were 5 and 8 years old when they first rode.

TT: Do you have a list of names or just one person’s name?

DNA: There are many stories of people who rode the orphan trains. A new museum opened in Sept. 2007 in Concordia, KS dedicated to the orphan train movement and the children who rode the trains.

TT: Why do you think the orphan train was and is important for people to know about?

DNA: The orphan train movement was a social experiment in our nation’s history that has long been overlooked.  In essence, it was the beginning of our current day Foster care system. There were many possible aspects of the movement, as well as negative ones. Learning and understanding from past history of the orphan trains was allowed to die, what’s to say the idea wouldn’t be tried again in a similar fashion at some point in the future. All history is valuable and should be retained in order to benefit from those that came before us and to avoid making previous mistakes. Over 250,000 children – and all of their families to come – were affected by this social experiment. Those children deserve to regain their in America’s history books. They were strong, determined people who for the most part, survived situations that we today can only imagine. They are proud of their lives they led despite their difficult and often sad beginnings. Their story should be kept alive so that we, and future generations, can learn from their determination and character.
Did you know that there were 2 future governors who rode the orphan train when they were children? Andrew Burke rode the train to Indiana and later became governor of N. Dakota. John Brady also rode to Indiana and was later appointed the first governor of the territory of Alaska.