I am searching for information about St Josephs Orphanage, AND for other children that were at that orphanage at the time I was was there. My name is Ione (Felzer) I was at the orphanage from approximately 1927 until 1938.

I was there from the summer of 1938 until spring of 1943. I was eight years old when I went in and 13 years old when I came out. Father head was the chief administrator, my favorite priest was father Williams and my favorite nun was Sister Burnette.
If I remember correctly the main building was four stories above ground and the basement housing the dinning area and some other rooms. The 1st floor was mainly administration offices and a music room. The second floor was class rooms, and the third had some class rooms and dormitories, and the fourth housed all the kids in an open area that was jammed packed with cots. Some where on the second and third floors the nuns were housed. The boys were housed on the left and the girls were on the right. Behind and abutted to the main building in the middle was the community hall on the first floor and the church was on the second and third floors. There was a big stair case in the middle of the building that connected the floors and small staircases on both ends of the building. Looking at the main building there was a play ground to the left and beyond that there was a utility building that housed the laundryroom, showers we took every Saturday and a wood working shop with an incinerator in the back. The farm unit was near the utility building and the priests building was in the front of all of that. In the back of the main building there was another building that housed the kids under six and went as high as the 1st or second grade afterwards they were sent to the main building.It also had a basketball court and all of this connected to the main building via a small tunnel. I think it was 39 or 40 that Babe Ruth was to pay us a visit and we all had to get our haircuts in that baskeball court. He never showed but we were all thrilled any way.
The Bishops' house was on a small incline about a half a mile away towords the east river where we use to go cray and bull head fishing. I was an altar boy that got to serve for the bishop on Sundays once in a while and boy do I remember those meals the nuns would serve up after the bishop's mass. There were main roads in front of and behind St Josephs that I don't remember the names of but I remember a penitentary a few miles down the back road.
I had some good and bad memories there but the discipline is what kept me out of jail when I hit the streets of Chicago. One thing those nuns taught me was the difference of right and wrong that still sticks with me today enabling me to live a happy retired life. I'm 75 years old now raised three kids, a grandfather of two boys and a great grandfather of a beautiful 6 year old great grandaughter. If you want to hear more details about my life in the prewar era at St Joseph's I can send you more.

Hi!
My mother was in St. Joseph, from 1926 until 1938 her last name was Les Perance, first name Theresa, she had a lot of brothers and sisters at the orphanage as well. She passed away three years ago, but I am trying to find out as much about the orphanage as I can, pictures, is it still standing? I would like to go and visit. Any info would be great!!
Thank you,
Kim Pearson-- IL

Thank you, I loved reading about the orphanage, my mother was there 1926 to 1938. She passed away three years ago, can you tell what you remember about Christmas. And do you know of any historical societies that have pictures?

Thank you,
Kim Pearson

Welll Kim Christmas is a vague memory but I do remember
those bags full of fruit, popcorn balls, nuts and hard candy.
I remember assembling in the visitors hall or community hall
which ever you prefer, and Santa Claus would pass a brown
bag of goodies to each of us. I picked over that bag very
carefully, I wanted it to last as long as I could. The visitors
hall was right beneath the chapel in the middle of the home.
It was some time before xmas because during the xmas
week we were to busy with mass every day, choir practice
for the xmas hi mass, benediction and of course the
most important was midnight mass. Xmas week was
definatley a holyweek. the nuns kept the boys seperated from the girls
and the only time I seen my sister is when
mom came to visit us. My mom was a brave woman
who should have a monument in her honor the way she
brought herself through the depression with 2 kids. I
hear about single mothers today with kids who have a
tough time can you image what it was like for a single
mother with 2 kids in the depression when they were
considered second class citizens. We were considered
lucky tobe in the orphanage with 3 meals a day and
a bunk to crawl in at night. Back in those days we
were another mouth to feed but those nuns fed us the
best way theycould. I hear the only thing left of that
orphanage is acemetary. I always thought that school
would have lasted for ever.
Any way xmas was the best time of the year at St
Josephs next to ash wednesday before the lent season
that was celebrated with a few goodies. Every body got
some toys and mine came from donations since my mom
could barely scrape up enough fare to come and see us on Sunday. Her food staple was candy bars since they only
cost a nickle and it was the only form of nourishmment
she could afford. Her xmas's were terrible but mine were
good. It made her day and ours to visit on Sundays, she
hardly missed a one. My sister and I had one loving parent
and there were many in there who had none. My sister
passed away this year and I will miss her greatly, she was 78 years old. Mom passed away in 1978 reeking with pain from
cancer. She lived in pain and died in pain, it took her three
years to pass on, and she has to be in a very hi place in heaven.There should be monuments to the women who
suffered trying to keep there family's together so kids, like
I was, could have a happy xmas.

Thank you, so much for sharing. It does sound like you had a great mom!! My mom was not as lucky, she never spoke of anyone coming to visit her. But she did have lots of brother and sisters. My mom told me the Christmas tree had real candles that the nuns would light on Christmas Eve. My mom too said she had good memories and some not so good. But for the most part she liked it, and never wanted anyone to feel sorry for her, like you said it was during the depression and she was getting fed and clothed. My mom was a great mom as well to me could never have any of her own children, adopted me when I was 3 days old. I miss her as I am sure you miss your mom. In the end we will all be together!
Best wishes,
Kim
PS -- I printed out your story and will keep with my mom's keepsakes.. thank you again.

did you have any luck finding anything out about who was there? I had some uncles sent there when their mother died. They were sent there in 1929 or 1930. One died while there and I would ldike to see if therer is any more information on him. The name was Sylvan Kille and he would have been 6 in 1930. Other brother's that may have been there were Clayton (12) and Grafton (9).

My Father and my Aunt were also at St.Joseph's from about 1937-1947. My dad shared selective memories from the place, none of them good. I know that the orphanage shut down around 1980, and have been researching, including contacting the Catholic Authorities there, but there are no records. They said the records were "lost" but I highly doubt it. Both my aunt and father have told me horror stories about thier time there.... beatings, rape, molestation, abuse of many sorts. If your mom had some fond memories she was one of the lucky ones. I would be interested in any info you have, and would be willing to share what I have as well. You can contact me at MOTHERNATURELIVES@SBCGLOBAL.NET. D. Boomgarden

My grandmother and her two sisters (Marie, Agnes and Julia Thompson), as well as one of her brothers (Pete) were at St Joseph's in the 30's. Here is the list of females living in the orphanage on the 1930 census as well as the ages.
Ralph Steffen 7
Adele Arnes 13
Dorothy Bonville 7
Theresa Bash 14
Lucille Berkich 2
Viola Berkich 4
Blanche Breault 13
Margaret Brown 9
Edna Bowers 10
Agnes Bowers 13
Gladys Cariveau 8
Caceilia Cornelissen 10
Verna Calewaerts 9
Mary Calewaerts 6
Beverly Coryurski 3
Dorothy Cychosz 4
Eliz De Bruin 12
Jeanette De Bruin 10
Montana Dolney 11
Catharine Doulo 15
Bertha Denis 7
Gladys Denis 5
Genevieve Denis 3
Helen Felzer 13
Mary Felzer 4
Anna B Felzer 6
Minnie Gomand 22
Lucille Getchius 10
Ruth Getchius 10
Marie Gillespie 10
Eliz Hartinger 11
Irene Huff 5
Lorraine Harren 8
Marian Harren 5
Ada Jones 14
Ora Jones 12
Beulah Jones 6
Geneva E Johanski 11
Marie Jonsinski 6
Mary Jones 5
Mary Kelly 11
Anna Kelly 10
Carola Kelly 5
Evelyn Kahler 9
Georgia Kraemer 14
Anette Krause 14
Grace Lesperance 6
Rouabelle Lesperance 14
Rose Lesperance 14
Elvis Lesperance 3
Dorothy Lipski 8
Agnes Lagina 6
Eliz Lehman 9
Mary Lapimie 8
Mary Pouks 12
Vivian Lindsley 2
Laverne Matzke 2
Betty Monfils 6
Madonna Monfils 8
Rose Monfils 4
Bernadine Moreaux 5
Mary Micheaux 2
Mary E Miller 8
Rose M Mitko 5
Lillian Meyer 9
Christine Mincheski 7
Clara Mincheski 9
Anna Michald 12
Anna Neidl 3
Christina E Alsen 16
Mary Anne Peer 15
Sophie Peer 13
Paulina Peer 8
Margaret Piette 9
Marye Peters 9
Angeline Piekarz 9
Helen Pfankuch 8
Florence Richter 5
Florence Rennert 13
Geneveive Rennert 10
Jeanette Rogoski 6
Florence Rogoski 7
Viola Roy 16
Agnes Roy 10
Eliz Skenandore 3
Manie Sprang 40
Grace Sleger 8
Dorothy Sleger 5
Anna M Sleger 11
Ruth Sleger 10
Julia Thompson 12
Grace Thompson 9
Agnes Thompson 7
Modie Titulaer 15
Leona Titulaer 9
Bernice Vercauteren 3
Ellen M Vanryzin 14

Hi, My mother, Irma Williams and my Aunt Ida were at the orphanage. My mother was born about 1922 and was about 12 years old when she was sent to the orphanage. Did you know them per chance?