Wanted HOMES for CHILDREN

A company of homeless children from the East will arrive at TROY, MO., ON FRIDAY, FEB. 25th, 1910

These children are of various ages and of both sexes, having been thrown friendless upon the world. They come under the auspices of the Children's Aid Society of New York. They are well disciplined, having come from the various orphanages. The citizens of this community are asked to assist the agent in finding good homes for them. Persons taking these children must be recommended by the local committee. They must treat the children in every way as a member of the family, sending them to school, church, Sabbath school and properly clothe them until they are 17 years old. The following well-known citizens have agreed to act as local committee to aid the agents in securing homes: O. H. AVERY   E. B. WOOLFOLK   H. F. CHILDERS WM. YOUNG   G. W. COLBERT Applications must be made to, and endorsed by, the local committee.

An address will be made by the agent. Come and see the children and hear the address. Distribution will take place at the Opera House, Friday, Feb. 25, at 1:30 p.m.

B. W. TICE and MISS A. L. HILL, Agents, 105 E. 22nd St., New York City. Rev. J. W. SWAN, University Place, Nebraska, Western Agent

The advertisement on which the above is based appeared in the Troy Free Press Feb 11, 1910.
Troy is in Lincoln County.

In the late 1800's-early 1900's, poverty was rampant in America. With 

limited work available for immigrants, the children of such families suffered immensely. In 1854, the estimated number of homeless children in New 

York was 34,000. Something had to be done about it.

Charles Loring Brace founded the Children's Aid Society in 1853. Brace's plan was simple. He would send notices to Midwest towns (such as the one above) announcing the time and date a train-load of orphans would be arriving. The trains would leave New York City carrying the children and 

two adult agents from the society.

As the train made its stops, the children would be paraded before eager onlookers. Some needed a farmhand, some simply wanted a child to call 

their own. Many made lasting friendships on the trip across the country. 

'Once', the Orphan Train Series is about six children, all of varying ages, all from different backgrounds, who weathered the long ride to the Midwest, and questionable futures. Some found love and family, some found unimaginable despair at the hands of strangers, but all vowed to meet again one day.

These are their stories.