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Post by chuckcapps on Jul 14, 2010 22:48:59 GMT -5
I am a little rusty on this, and I know it's been awhile since the inquiry was made, I lived in the Bartholomew County Children's Home from about October 1967 until August 1970. The "Orphanage" was closed after the children's home was built. I think the transition from "orphanage" to "children's home" occurred around 1966 it could have been earlier but not much.
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Post by chrisdieters on Oct 17, 2010 15:17:48 GMT -5
I am interested in ANY information on the Childrens Home that came after the Francis Thomas Comfort home..I was a resident there and would like to try to put together a web site with information abot the Home I grew up in. I lived in the Childrens home from 1976 to 1982 , I was a part of the "family unit "mentioned above. Jim Weaver was the director then. I welcome anyone with photos or information to contact me. I am also looking to try to have a reunion of some sort if anyone has a desire to do that . I am also looking for some of the people I lived there with. If you know anyone who lived there or YOU lived there please contact me. My name then was Chris Riggin and I lived in the girls wing run by Sally Petri and her husband. my email is chrisdieters@hotmail.com Thank You!!!
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Post by David Sechrest on Oct 19, 2010 6:30:35 GMT -5
Chris, as you're probably already aware, Harry McCawley has written several articles regarding the Children's Home, reunions, and such. You might want to contact him at The Republic.
Haven't I read in past Harry McCawley articles that there is/has been reunions of the children that lived there (or am I thinking of something else?)
Good luck with your venture!
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Post by chrisdieters on Oct 20, 2010 20:30:21 GMT -5
Thank You I will email him asap...in reference to the past reunions I know of only one that was for the home that is now the detention center.They held it in the 90's. I see from past posts that they have been having reunions for the original home for many years. I want to compile the history of the current building. I do not live in Columbus anymore so I have not always been able to read the Republic so I have missed the articles. Thank you for your help and I have enjoyed this message board and all the pictures of Columbus.
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Post by richard on Apr 5, 2012 8:43:49 GMT -5
From The Republic April 5, 2012:
The annual reunion for the “kids” of the Frances Comfort Thomas Orphanage is a tradition that dates to 1999 and stems from the actions taken by two brothers to bring this unusual group together.
Woody Robbins of Greenwood and his late brother Don Chandler of Columbus had come into my office one day that year to ask for help in publicizing their efforts to find former residents of the old brick house on Cherry Street at Illinois Street.
Woody and Don were born into a Brown County family that eventually expanded to include four boys and two girls. In 1930, when both were infants, their father died and their mother was unable to care for the family.
Don was turned over to a Columbus family, but Woody and the other children were consigned to the orphanage.
Woody would be there for six months before he was eventually adopted. The two other brothers lived there several years. Although they lived for much of their lives less than an hour’s drive from each other, it would be 50 years before Woody and Don came together.
At some point in their new relationship, the two began exploring the idea of reaching out to other Frances Comfort Thomas orphans.
The subsequent stories drew dozens of calls to the brothers. Far from being ashamed of their status as “orphans,” the alumni of the Illinois Street house wanted to share parts of themselves with others who knew what they were experiencing.
That led to the first reunion in 1999 at Donner Center. Several dozen former orphans turned out for the event. A descendant of Lillian Gaddis, one of the most beloved of the staff members in the orphanage, dropped by with memories and photos.
That first meeting launched a tradition that will be renewed later this summer.
Mortality has taken its toll on the group. We’re down to 20 or so who regularly attend,” said Woody. “Some of the other folks have either passed on or just aren’t well enough to come to something like this.”
The toll has been personal for Woody who, within a few months since the last reunion, lost his wife and brother Don.
Small as the group might be, they still serve as a reminder of a passing time and an age when such things as orphanages were necessary.
The annual reunion for the “kids” of the Frances Comfort Thomas Orphanage will be held on June 16, 2012 at 11:30 a.m. in Papa’s Deli on Third Street Columbus IN.
Harry McCawley is associate editor of The Republic. He can be reached by phone at 379-5620 or by email at harry@therepublic.com.
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Post by David Sechrest on Apr 5, 2012 19:34:47 GMT -5
Thanks for posting that info, Richard.
In the last couple of years, I got back in touch with an old grade school friend of mine who lived at the orphanage for a spell. Funny—we both attended State Street School and shared some of the same classes. When Mom and Dad moved to Rosstown in December, 1964, I attended Wayne Township School. And so did my friend. We shared the same classes there, too.
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larry
HCI Forum Board Member
Posts: 22
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Post by larry on Jan 6, 2013 6:20:18 GMT -5
I grew up a couple blocks from the "orphans' home" and several of the children went to E Col Church of Christ, my home church. I recall an instance where the older children "ran away" from the home, but they were back in a short time. I actually saw them making a break for it. Never heard anything negative about the home.
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