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St. Joseph's Orphan Home

St. Joseph's Orphan Home

Posted: 11 Jan 2005 2:15AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: McGrath Mc Grath
Actually, in the 1930 census for Columbus, Franklin, OH, it was St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum. The address was 812 East Main Street. Does anyone one have any history on this Home? Especially interested in the 1930s.

The Catholic Record Society of the Diocese of Columbus website is a very welcome addition to Ohio research - THANK YOU!!

Lynn Pankonin

Re: St. Joseph's Orphan Home

Posted: 11 Jan 2005 11:46AM GMT
Classification: Query
I don't see St. Joseph's referred to on our site. Are you speaking of something you saw in one of our Bulletins?

I will do some asking around on this one.

Rick.

Re: St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum

Posted: 11 Jan 2005 4:15PM GMT
Classification: Query
St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum was at least at one time, if not for it's duration, a part of the Pontifical College Josephinum: see http://www.pcj.edu/aboutus/history.html and http://www.pcj.edu/journal/history.htm

Their home page further clarifies:
"Founded in 1888, by a German immigrant priest, Msgr. Joseph Jessing, the Pontifical College Josephinum was granted pontifical status in 1892 by Pope Leo XIII, thus becoming, and remaining, the only pontifical seminary in the Western Hemisphere.

Originally founded by Msgr. Jessing, in 1875, as an orphanage, today it educates seminarians from the United States, Asia, Africa and Europe."

I've emailed the Josephinum's Archivist for more information. I'll post information I receive from him here.

Rick.

Re: St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum

Lynn Pankonin (View posts)
Posted: 12 Jan 2005 1:17AM GMT
Classification: Query
Rick:

Thank you! I have been searching for awhile now and you are the first to break through that brick wall.

I noticed from the link you gave that St. Joseph's moved north of Columbus in 1931 so the 1930 census was the last in Columbus itself. In 1930 there were only about 26 children, all males, listed at the Orphan's home on East Main Street and several "officers", all female, most from Germany. My husband's father and uncle (both deceased) were two of the "orphans" in 1930.

I look forward to hearing what you find out from Josephinum's Archivist.

Again, thank you so very much!

Lynn

Re: St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum

Posted: 12 Jan 2005 11:13AM GMT
Classification: Query
I would guess that the location "north of Columbus" refers to the Josephinum's current location at 7625 N. High St.: which was described as 11 miles north of Columbus back then...but currently it is part of Columbus.

I did hear back from the Archivist. We will be speaking in the next couple of days - and meeting in the next couple of weeks to go over what they've got.

Hopefully we'll get alot of goodies to share!

Rick.

Re: St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum

Lynn Pankonin (View posts)
Posted: 12 Jan 2005 5:39PM GMT
Classification: Query
Thank you, thank you, thank you!

LP

Re: St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum

Posted: 14 Jan 2005 12:59PM GMT
Classification: Query
Are you still looking for your father?
Is he in the 1930 Census of the Orphanage you referred to?
Can you tell me what page that entry is on for my own knowledge?
From bits and pieces I am picking up, I believe the Orphanage ceased to exist very shortly after 1930.
Rick.

Re: St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum

Lynn Pankonin (View posts)
Posted: 14 Jan 2005 8:04PM GMT
Classification: Query
Yes I am still looking for information - and I hope primary source records - of his stay at St. Joseph's in Columbus. Donald and his brother Eugene (now both deceased) were there in 1930 (McGrath in the census listing was spelled Mc Grath, with a space between the Mc and Grath). Their mother shows up in the 1930 census as a boarder in Marion, Ohio. The whereabouts of their father, Michael Anthony McGrath, is a mystery at this time. I believe this may have been a "hardship" case and the boys were put there because mom and/or dad were unable to care for them properly. Just a theory but that practice was more common than most people realize during the Depression.

Below is a excerpt and citation of the census for 1930 of St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum, 812 East Main Street, Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio. It is image 1 of 1 at Ancestry.com. The bracketed [ ] entries are mine taken from birth records for both Donald and Eugene.

1930 U.S. Census for: St. Joseph’s Orphan Asylum, City of Columbus, Ward 4, Franklin Co., Ohio, ED # 34. Apr. 3rd 1930, page 1A.

Ancestry.com source: Year: 1930; Census Place: Columbus, Franklin, Ohio; Roll: 1795; Page: ; Enumeration District: 34; Image: 947.0.

Line # 25: McGrath, Donald; Orphan; male; white; age at last birthday 8 [b. Aug 22,1921]; single; attended school any time since Sept. 1 1929 – yes; Able to read and write – blank [may have been recent admissions]; born in Ohio, Father born in Ohio; Mother born in Ohio; no occupation or trade.

Line #26: McGrath, Eugene; Orphan; male; white; age at last birthday 7 [b. August 31, 1922]; single; attended school any time since Sept.1, 1929 – yes; Able to read and write – blank [may have been recent admissions]; born in Ohio, Father born in Ohio; Mother born in Ohio; no occupation or trade.

Hope this is the information you wanted.

Lynn

Re: St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum

Posted: 14 Jan 2005 8:51PM GMT
Classification: Query
When I speak to Michael @ the Josephinum I will be sure to get what I can from them on your father and uncle. I'll not only share whatever I can get from him but also confirm what is and is not available - or still existing.

I think the seating of the new Bishop has probably put Michael behind...I am hoping to hear back from him soon.

Rick.

Re: St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum

Lynn Pankonin (View posts)
Posted: 14 Jan 2005 9:24PM GMT
Classification: Query
The two small words "thank you" are not even adequate but they're all I have at the moment.

THANK YOU!

Lynn
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