Immigration Orphan Train
Author Ren'e Wendinger is from southern Minnesota and is the youngest of five children. She has heard orphan train stories since she was 10. Her mother, Sophia (Kaminsky) Hillesheim, 1917 orphan train rider, was one of the children of the orphan trains taking part in a phenomenal journey from New York City to Minnesota. Her experiences, along with many others, were not part of history commonly written or known about until Ren'e, an avid historian, researched the epoch of the largest mass migration of children to occur in American history. Inspired by her mother, Ren'e has written and published two books about the orphan trains embracing authoritative research with compelling stories from the people who 'made history' aboard the orphan trains of New York.
Ren'e is a speaker on the subject of the orphan trains and immigration experience offering a historical PowerPoint symposium to educators and schools, community and civic organizations, and libraries and historical centers. She is an author of several titles, history essayist, and hon. president of Orphan Train Riders of New York organization. She has lectured at Ellis Island, New York Grand Central Terminal's 100th Anniversary, is a keynote orphan train historian in the PBS film documentary, West by Orphan Train. Her books have been utilized in numerous theatrical productions, and a concentrated graduate level college course has been built on Wendinger's books alone.
100 participated
Through the partnership of Vine Faith in Action Center and the Blue Earth County Library, the audience will gain a greater knowledge of Orphan trains, their impact on the residents of the area at that time and the affect this movement had on the children who took part in this journey. This part of Midwestern history provides insight and perspective into one segment of rural life in America. The audience response will be measured by observation and anecdotal responses after the program.
The audience learned about the orphan trains from the East Coast that brought children to the Midwest for a variety of reasons; to escape the poverty, exploitation and crime of big cities and provide new opportunities for adoption and unfortunately, cheap farm labor. Participants gained a greater understanding and appreciation of life for some children in the early 1900's.
Vine Faith in Action Center, Mankato Free Press, Minnesota 93, KEYC-TV, Blue Earth County Library