NORCAL-L Archives

Archiver > NORCAL > 2008-02 > 1203957796


From: "EdrieAnne Broughton" <>
Subject: Re: [NORCAL] Home of Benevolence
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2008 08:43:16 -0800
References: <mailman.1251.1203926775.18951.norcal@rootsweb.com><B488D415-CB21-4C3A-9B26-C5C010838145@comcast.net>
In-Reply-To: <B488D415-CB21-4C3A-9B26-C5C010838145@comcast.net>


In earlier days children were often placed in orphanages during times
of need and fetched later. A death or serious illness in the family
often necessitated getting the children out of the home. The death of
a parent often caused this or the serious contagious illness of a
parent, grandparent or other sibling. They didn't have a foster
parent program so orphanages were often a temporary foster system. A
former neighbor lost his father when he was a toddler. The mother of
this now retirement age man put her sons in an orphanage and went back
to school for nursing. When she finished she took them out again. At
least one of the sons was bitter about this but as near as I can see
she did what she had to do. I think it was better than putting a
child in an apprentice situation like my grandfather was when his
mother died. He still 'lived' at home but had a paycheck to bring
home to his father and step-mother. Grandpa lost his mother at age 4
and was apprenticed by age 10...in California.
EdrieAnne

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