Orphanages in West Virginia - Family History & Genealogy Message Board

Re: orphangae in cabell county wv

AnneMaxwellStevens — 2013-03-10 01:59:55Z

The Prichard School operated in Ona, WV during that time period. It was a school for needy children and orphans.

Re: orphangae in cabell county wv

AnneMaxwellStevens — 2013-03-10 01:58:45Z

Possibly the Prichard School in Ona?

Re: Orphange in Clarksburg Wva.

nfb101 — 2012-11-10 01:10:53Z

I was there from about 1946-1952. I was also in the Harmonica Band and my sister player the Marimba.

Re: Orphange in Clarksburg Wva.

davery13890 — 2012-11-09 12:32:32Z

I worked at Kappa Sigma Pi from 1972 until 1975. I would love to know what happend to some of the kids that lived there. The Able family, the Harden Family. We had several kids that we loved there. My last name at that time was Rossi.
Mr and Mrs Tutwiler were the director and the secretary there at that time.

Re: orphanage around Beckley West Virginia

funnyjardar — 2012-10-02 14:28:59Z

I was wondering about the one in Huntington that you said you lived in? When did you arrive and what was its name? My grandma was adopted and I'm trying to find her in the 1930's census but having problems. Her biological parents are hard to find in 1930's as well. I know she lived un Huntington with her adoptive family.

Re: orphangae in cabell county wv

JodyMontgomery39 — 2012-09-23 13:27:05Z

my mother was in one called cabell county home for children has lots of memories frm this school.

Tassey

mtnborn — 2012-09-09 13:59:27Z

My aunt, Mildred "Pat" Tassey was sent to WVA to have a baby in 1931/2. Her children are trying to trace this child who may have been raised by the Travis family or may have been in the Grubdy School ?spelling?location).

Re: Sacred Heart's Children's Homes - Clarksburg WV

russ489 — 2012-06-13 21:09:33Z

Sacred Heart Children's Home operated as an orphanage from 1928 until 1970.

Re: Orphange in Clarksburg Wva.

ZEDDRGA — 2012-05-24 20:03:51Z

Was there from about 1956 to1959 or 60.my brother bill and sister linda were also there. i remember russel christian.remember jack linval,steve matheney.hattie c hill ran the place,along with pop davis.remember the wiener roasts and eating watermelon on the fourth of july.swimming at highland dam in the river.some good times and some not so good times.

Re: Orphange in Clarksburg Wva.

Marshall1425 — 2012-05-21 20:28:44Z

I was there. My name is Marshall (Tucky) Ray. My sister and were ther. Her name is joyce Darlene (Dolly) Ray She played Marimba and I played harmonica. I also did speeches.

Re: Orphange in Clarksburg Wva.

grammy3158 — 2012-04-11 14:32:06Z

I was there then. Donna Berdine at that time.

Re: Orphange in Clarksburg Wva.

grammy3158 — 2012-04-11 14:30:53Z

I lived at Kappa Sigma Pi for several years early 50's. Would love to get in touch with some of the folks that were there at the same time. One was my first love Ronnie Burton Frame and his sister Brenda. Hattie Hill was our caretaker. I was in the Marimba and Harmonica Band. I have a lot of fond memories of being there. Went to visit a couple years ago and now it is Presley Ridge. Would love to hear from anyone that was there.

Re: Orphange in Clarksburg Wva.

Tiffini1632 — 2012-02-23 01:38:26Z

Was this boys name Russell Christian?

Trying to find my mothers (Betty Layne) brothers.

Joylynn9 — 2012-01-23 18:32:51Z

I have been looking for information on my Mothers(born in 1940), brothers from what she told me they got separated when she was little.I belive that her mother Maude died before her dad (Howard Layne) who got hit by a train in 1944, that is when they got put in foster care. She Always said she thought one of her brothers name was floyd. The names associated are William Layne married Betty,(mother and father of Howard) Howard Layne married Maude.

Sacred Heart Children's Home

JanetLatini — 2012-01-03 20:49:53Z

Any info on the Sacred Heart Children's Home? My dad and his two sisters were raised there from 1929-1947. Dominic Lopez, Philamena (Thelma) Lopez, and AnnaMarie Lopez.

Re: Orphange in Clarksburg Wva.

j4jenki — 2011-11-07 10:10:06Z

I didnt get there until 1955 - 1956. Is there a way to get some pictures of the orphanage?

Re: Orphanage back in 1870 to 1890

severstoneslade — 2011-07-20 17:41:09Z

Going thru all my posts and saw this. Sorry It took me so long. Thanks for responding. I'll check it out

Re: Sacred Heart's Children's Homes - Clarksburg WV

debbiejarrell_1 — 2011-07-20 17:27:15Z

I am trying to find out some information about this place also. Do you know if it was an orphanage in 1957 to 1959? I know someone that was there at the time.

Sacred Heart's Children's Homes - Clarksburg WV

jsmith7889 — 2011-04-26 22:57:10Z

I'm looking for any info regarding the Sacred Heart's Children's home in Clarksburg, WV. If you were there around 1952 - 1968, I would love to hear from you. I am looking for info on 2 siblings that were orphans there and got adopted. Their older sister did not.

Re: orphanage around Beckley West Virginia

dleftwmbyrd1 — 2011-04-11 12:12:42Z

I lived in an orphange in Huntington W.Va. it closed in 1956
and then I lived in one at Elkins W.Va..It has been hard to find any information. My name was Price.

orphanage around Beckley West Virginia

heyyybartender — 2011-04-06 01:08:56Z

I am looking for the orphanage my granmother was from in West Virgina. Before my grandmother passed she showed me a photo of her in an orphanage with approx 20 other children. Unfortunatley at the time she would not part with the photo and since her passing I have been unable to locate it. It was the only pucture there was of her as a small child. Her mother was Chippewa Indian of the Siouna tribe, Cora Collins. Her mother was murdered in 1932. Her father was English, Robert Lee Richmond. I need information on the orphanage to go back further. My grandmother sent to an orphanage, was never adopted and seperated from several siblings.

Re: orphangae in cabell county wv

lnnmathecc — 2011-01-27 06:07:53Z

My dad was in an orphanage called Huntington Mission and Orphanage in the 1940s. They are "just" a mission nowadays.

Re: Orphanage back in 1870 to 1890

katrp — 2010-12-13 17:57:06Z

Maybe in Randolph County called Odd Fellows Home
http://www.wvculture.org/goldenseal/fall03/oddfellows.html
also here is a sad but great video done on youtube.com

Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q26vfJQOQfo

part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXbluCfPfks&feature=relat...

I hope this helps you.

Re: orphanges in Elkins, WV Stella Harris/ James or Harold Harris??

katrp — 2010-12-13 17:56:28Z

This tells a little about the Odd Fellows Home in Elkins, WV

http://www.wvculture.org/goldenseal/fall03/oddfellows.html

Also a great video done on youtube.com

Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q26vfJQOQfo

part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXbluCfPfks&feature=relat...

I hope this helps.

Re: Orphange in Clarksburg Wva.

fy137 — 2010-09-14 01:10:08Z

THE KAPPA SIGMA PI HOME WAS ON LAUREL PARK RD. I LIVED THERE DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR OF 1952- 1953 AND WOULD LOVE TO HERE FROM ANYONE WHO WAS THERE DURING THAT TIME

Re: orphanges in Elkins, WV Stella Harris/ James or Harold Harris??

aaronliddle — 2010-07-11 17:48:31Z

my name is Bruce Liddle, avbas5grandkids@yahoo.com, my Mother named Sarah Ruth Skaggs was in thr orphanage in Elkins sometime during the 30's.

Orphanage back in 1870 to 1890

severstoneslade — 2010-05-15 15:21:18Z

I cannot find anything on my Great Grandfather James Albert Kincaid, born 1870 either Va or WV. Could have been Highland or Randolph county. He lsited father and mother on his Social Security application as Robert Kincaid and Betsy May Robinson but I cannot find anything on either in Va or WV.It says born in Highland county. His marriage license says born in Randfolph county and does not list parents. His death cert. does not list parents. I am wondering if maybe his parents died and he was raised in an orphanage or "poor house" or if he really did not know his parents names and made them up. Does anyone know what orphanges and poor houses were in those counties and also Greenbrier county back then. He doesn't show up on a census until 1900 with his wife Cora Vance and children, Lillian, Myrtle and Pierce.

Re: Orphanges in Berkeley County West Virginia

Shudy62 — 2010-04-27 16:39:47Z

i have family listed as inmated in the 1930 census. Showing them in Leadsville,Randolph county, WV. Names are Thurl & Thelma..twins born around 1917 and younger brother Clayton Smith born in 1920. SHows their mother listed and more children and older children are with her. So this is the only conclusion I could come up with. Don't know whatever happened to them. Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks...Suellen

Re: orphangae in cabell county wv

daniellelins — 2009-10-13 19:37:13Z

Hello,
was wondering if you had any luck in finding the name of the "home" for that time period. I also have family that was placed in the "the home" . Looking for info.

Thanks- danielle

Re: Ethelyn Marie Woodford

daniellelins — 2009-10-13 19:33:48Z

Hello,
I'm to, are looking for family that was put into an Orphanage in the 1930's, I was wondering if you ever found out the name of the tow tall white buildings in Huntington. I have names but no name of the home.

Hope you can help,
Danielle

orphanges in Elkins, WV Stella Harris/ James or Harold Harris??

mikepritchard_1 — 2009-09-07 00:09:38Z

Looking for info on orphanages in @ Elkins WV----Info on Mother Stella Harris-worked at a hotel/restraunt--- child possibly named James/Harold born @ 1926. Mother may have had a few other children--children may have been placed and removed several times

new martinsville

hillbilly579 — 2009-08-10 14:58:09Z

My father-inlaw was born in New Martinsville and put in an orphanage untill he was about 2. His mother than came for him. Any idea how I can find a list of those orphanages. I'm trying to find a birth certificate or maybe document with that kind of info. Dianne

spencer orphan

clmilliner — 2009-06-28 18:52:17Z

Is there any record of an Elizabeth Spencer in an orphanage servicing the Pocahontas or Greenbrier County area? She would have been born between 1905 and 1915.

orphangae in cabell county wv

jplymale2005 — 2009-02-24 04:01:15Z

Lookinf for an orphangae in cabell county wv, back in the 20's or 30's era. Does anyone know of any back then??

lost aunt

montevallo35115 — 2008-09-30 02:56:56Z

i am looking for a girl named shelby at birth " quinn,looman,barnes" that was adopted in 1903 - 1940"s, she was adopted by reynolds,

Re: Orphange in Clarksburg Wva.

j4jenki — 2008-08-30 12:50:20Z

My borther and I were located there in the mid to late 50's, just looking for contacts of those who were there during that time frame. Mainly looking for a boy named Christian, he would be now maybe in his late 50's early 60's.

Re: Orphanges in Berkeley County West Virginia

BFudge3451 — 2008-05-20 21:18:03Z

Bob,
I would like to suggest that perhaps Lena did not reside in an orphanage in WV, but in OH instead. I have kept your note in my file for a long time thinking I could tie Lena in to my family in Berkeley Co., but could not. Below is my findings of late.

I found a tree in Ancestry.com family trees of a person who said Lena was born on 16 September 1899 in
Warren Co., Ohio. That motivated me to look in Warren & counties near Warren Co.

In 1900, I found a Lena Freeze listed with her mother Eliza Freeze and siblings living with grandparents, Isaac Tubord/Dubord in Clinton Co., OH, which is the county next door to Warren Co.

In 1910 census, Garland Freeze, age 13, a sibling of this Lena, was a resident of the Children's home in Clinton Co., Union Twp. None of the other children from this family were housed there. This would align with Lena coming from an orphanage and living with the Nolls in 1910.

Garland was the only Freeze listed in Clinton Co., in 1910. I could not find any Dubord/Tubord family members living in Clinton Co. either. Obviously something tragic happened to cause this child to be placed in the children's home.

I can not explain how this Lena would get from Clinton Co. to Summit Co., OH, but this seems a person to investigate further.

Star of Hope Child Refuge, Mineral Co WV

tattoedcat — 2007-08-28 00:09:21Z

Looking for information on Evelyn Hanlin, b. 1/1/1916 in Hampshire Co WV. By 1920 Census she is an orphan in Welton, Mineral Co WV. Institution is not named. By 1930 she is listed in Star of Hope Child Refuge in Welton, Mineral Co WV. Siblings: Emily, Arlie N, C Ruth, Beulah, Garland, Dorothy, Mary

Ethelyn Marie Woodford

patsuelov — 2007-08-20 18:56:38Z

My Mom was an orphan in an institution and was a ward of the state till she turned 18. She said the orphanage was two tall white buildings in Huntington. She was there from 1928 until ?????
Woodford was the name she took from the last family she lived with in Lost Creek. She was given a birthdate of 3/10/28.
Anyone remember this place?
Thanks,
Patti

Searching for information on Grandfather abt 1889

aepeel2005 — 2007-03-22 03:59:55Z

My Grandfather told this story. He and brothers and sister were in an orphanage in West Virginia when he was very young. He never knew or was to young to know why they were put in the orphanage. He said the orphanage burned. The children were given names from a list matching up as well as they could the ages to the children. He was given the name of Roy M Johnston. The people at the orphanage sent children to Pa. for a short time and some children on to Cincinnati, Ohio. After getting to Ohio he ran away to Kentucky and somehow met up with a German man named Mr. Conn or Mr Kohn (not sure of spelling) he worked and lived with him. At some point he ended up in Ghent, Kentucky and raised a family. If anyone has a similar story please let me know. I sure need help I have checked alot of census without a lot of luck.

Re: Hazel Burks

RegNMINiles — 2006-07-02 03:34:53Z

I checked page 405 of the out-of-print book titled, Adoption Agencies, Orphanages and Maternity Homes--An Historical Directory, and it lists Saint Vincent's Children's Home in Wheeling. In 1923 the name was St. Vincent's Home for Girls, in Elm Grove (a branch post office of Wheeling)--both places are in Ohio County, WV.

So if your mother was Catholic, consider St. Vincent's as a possible institution in which she resided. Another possibility is St. Alphonsus' Orphan Asylum, 2136 Market St., Wheeling.

If she was in the orphanage during the federal census of 1920, you could look up her entry--the census is indexed by surname under the Soundex system. Better yet, seek free help on a message board devoted to the genealogy of Ohio County :

http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec?htx=board&r=an&p=l...

It's better to have a specialist with experience in researching censuses. There is also the matter of Ancestry.com charging a subscription fee for online access to censuses--something for which the specialist might have already paid.

The federal censuses of 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 (and earlier) have been released from confidentiality. It appears that West Virginia did not conduct any censuses of its own in the interdecennial years (such as 1925).

You might be able to find libraries and historical societies at Google.com and they can be asked if they have records from the orphanage of interest and if they have census records.

Reg Niles

Hazel Burks

2006-06-06 23:43:01Z

I am searching for the orphanage my mother was in, in Wheeling West Virginia, between 1920 to 1925

searching for sister from 1943

2006-06-01 15:22:11Z

Marlene Marie Phillips dob 8/5/1943 in Clarksburg, wv
Parents were
charles junior phillips of wv and
ruth ellen dobbins of Clarksburg
signed away custody of her 1946 +/- 2 years
She was housewife he was in the navy
Her original birth certifiacte is still on record at the harrison county courthouse

Orphanges in Berkeley County West Virginia

BobLongbottom — 2006-01-31 22:35:18Z

I am extremely interested in finding what orphanages would have been in existence between 1895 and 1910 in Berkeley County West Virginia and whether or not there are any existing records of the orphans.

My Grandmother Lena Freeze age 10 - was listed as "from the orphans home" in the 1910 Census in Berkeley Co., West Va.in the Robert S Noll household. She married my Grandfather Joseph Snyder in 1920

Re: 1930 ST VINCENTS ORPHANAGE LOGAN CO WVA

wizardnc — 2005-12-12 21:16:15Z

Here is a good starting point for anyone researching any orphanages in the United States: http://www.usgennet.org/usa/topic/orphanages/

Steven Stymiest - Webmaster
Orphanages topic at ALHN

1930 ST VINCENTS ORPHANAGE LOGAN CO WVA

2005-12-11 01:59:24Z

CAN ANYONE TELL ME ABOUT THIS ORPHANAGE

IM SEARCHING FOR TWO SISTERS WHO WERE THERE IN 1930 ERA

HELEN AND RUTH SWIST

DOES ANYONE KNOW OF THEM

THANKS SO MUCH

GINGER
SEARCHDE@AOL.COM

Need Info on Orphanage in Oak Hill

MountainMamma28 — 2005-08-18 06:25:03Z

Hi,
I was wondering if anyone knows of an Orphanage that was located in Oak Hill, WV. I understand that it closed down many years ago. I know a man that was adopted out of this orphanage and is trying to locate siblings, he believes that his birth name may have been Hodge? I don't know where to begin trying to find info, so I am going to start here. Any help would be very appreciated.
Connie

Re: Orphange in Clarksburg Wva.

RegNMINiles — 2005-05-30 01:25:30Z

Nancy, your spelling is correct : Kappa Sigma Pi is listed in the special census of 1933 which, to the best of my knowledge, did not collect the names of the inmates of institutions---just statistics.

It was published in 1935 as :"Children under Institutional Care and in Foster Homes, 1933." Cataloged under: UNITED STATES. Bureau of the Census. The home is listed in Clarksburg, WV, but no street address. Residential care, under fraternal auspices, for 41 dependent white boys.

Of course, the name sounds like a Greek-letter college fraternity. Maybe Google can find it.

A sentence in your query needs explanation : "Left there with a family named Kniceley." You leave a kid at an orphanage to be raised without his family, so "with a family" is confusing. If KNICELEY is his birth name, say so---if you repost your query. Your father's birth parents' names would be on his full copy birth certificate if the original was never amended. One or both of the birth parents should be in the federal censuses of 1920 and 1930, which Ancestry.com has online for the benefit of its subscribers.

Reg Niles

Re: Crittenden Home in Wheeling West Virginia

RegNMINiles — 2005-05-30 01:01:59Z

Florence Crittenton (note the spelling of her surname) died in 1882 and her father decided to create a chain of maternity homes in her memory.

I checked the 1982 book, "Adoption Agencies, Orphanages and Maternity Homes : An Historical Directory." Page 404 shows the home was, in former times, located in Elm Grove, WV, a branch post office of Wheeling. The 1979 name and address = Florence Crittenton Home of Wheeling, West Virginia, 2606 National Road, Wheeling, WV.

Maternity homes do not open their records to adoptees, and almost all of them did not do their own adoptions. The parent organization eventually became the Florence Crittenton Division of the Child Welfare League of America. The CWLA moved from New York City to Washington, D.C. The Division may be inactive. I wrote to the CWLA in the early 1990s on the letterhead of the Adoption Bibliography Center and they did not give me a reply.

Reg Niles

Re: ORPHANAGES WHEELING WVA AREA

RegNMINiles — 2005-05-30 00:48:42Z

I checked the 1982 book, "Adoption Agencies, Orphanages and Maternity Homes : An Historical Directory." Page 405 lists several orphanages in Wheeling that are Roman Catholic and old enough to have been in existence in 1909-10. The book is mostly for post-1923 listings, to serve living adoptees.

The "Official Catholic Directory" has been published by P.J. Kenedy for many years. During the early 1900s, its title was "The Catholic Directory, Almanac and Clergy List, Containing Complete Reports of All Dioceses . . ."

However, it seems to me that the federal census of 1910 would be the best source of information. Every institution and every inhabitant should be listed. Some people post queries saying it's difficult to find the right Enumeration District for an online census. If that is true, you could seek a volunteer with census experience on a message board.

There are over 2,000 queries on the board for Ohio County, WV, which would embrace Wheeling :

http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec?htx=board&r=an&p=l...

Sometimes the old records of orphanages wind up in the custody of historical societies and state libraries. In the case of a Roman Catholic orphanage, I suppose inquiries could be directed to the diocese or motherhouse of an order of nuns. The Official Catholic Directory (latest year) would have addresses.

Reg Niles