This text was obtained via automated optical character recognition.
It has not been edited and may therefore contain several errors.


Orphan Train Heritage Society
Reunion Continued
for purchase by mail-order during the year. OTHSA members and friends are urged to donate an item or two to the “Country Store” to be sold.
George and Audie Meason from Odessa, Texas
Frankie Lawson presented Mary Ellen Johnson with a very special doll.
arrived at Reunion Headquarters with daughter Patty Higdon who had an arm in a cast. This did not slow Patty down as she, George, and Audie fell into showing and selling the items brought to be sold.
“I was just looking for a place to sit down and there was an empty bench beside the table. People thought I was taking care of things so I just did,” Patty laughed.
George spends cold winter evenings at the family home in Odessa, Texas, cracking and hulling pecans. He brought several bags to sell and they went quickly.
Frankie Lawson’s dolls were gorgeous and a hit with buyers. Bill and Sunday Landkamer brought woodworking items.
So many wonderful handmade items were brought that there is not enough room to thank everyone. However, Mary Ellen is trying to find the person who made the little squeezable heads that gives you a kiss. She wants to leave one for Leroy when Reunion ’90 comes up just in case he misses her.
The purpose of having a “Country Store” at Reunion ’89 was to raise funds, and it was a huge success.
Vnlnnv* 0
To add to the fun, Shirley Vajdos (OTR Joe Vajdos’ wife) circulated among the attendees “soliciting.” With a twinkle in her eye and that bright cheerful smile her efforts raised enough money to pay for the Xerox copier and some left over for supplies.
The Research Room proved to be far too small for the number of folks wanting to look through the open research files and notebooks of newspaper articles, computer print-outs and other information available. However, Pat Young and Renee Johnson guided researchers, sitting at a long table as well as those standing in the aisles, to material they were seeking.
As ideas were exchanged, others within hearing range would be writing down addresses, methods, and ideas, often interrupting to make sure the spelling was accurate.
The intensity with which the material was being used assured all present that OTHSA’s growing archives will prove even more valuable year after year.
Information such as copies of Evelyn Trickel’s research has now been added. Evelyn hand carried the materials to Mary Ellen Johnson, then remained on hand to offer her help. Evelyn Trickel, Michael Patrick and Evelyn Sheets combined efforts for a number of years to research the Orphan Trains. Their efforts resulted in the publication of a new nonfiction book soon to be available.
Carol Phillips, New England Home For Little Wanderers, Boston, Massachusetts, brought
Carol Phillips


Orphan Train Riders of BSL Document (114)
© 2008 - 2024
Hancock County Historical Society
All rights reserved