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Mary Buscher submitted the following newspaper account of the 1991 Orphans Reunion in Minnesota.
Orphans reunion
THE 31ST REUNION of the Orphans from the New York Foundling. Home in N.Y. City was held in Melrose Friday, Sept. 13 at the VFW Clubrooms.
Back in the 1920's trains from New York went westward bearing hundreds of orphans making stops at cities and villages as they went along. People met the trains and chose children or babies they wished to take into their homes to care for and educate according to the times.
Twenty-six of such orphans met in Melrose for their annual meeting last Friday. There was a total of 60 people in all--family or friends accompanying them here, coming from Oklahoma, Iowa, Wisconsin, Florida, California, South Dakota and Minnesota. These people are like one big family--they belong to each other. Those attending from Minnesota came from Minneapolis, St. Paul and the surrounding area, Brainerd, Little Falls, St. Cloud, Alexandria and Melrose.
Rose Ringsmuth, 95 years old from Waite Park attended as did Agnes Markowitz, 92 from St. Cloud. Also present was Fr. Robert Schmainda's mother, Mrs. Helen Schmainda from St. Anna. Guy DeLeo, a famous musician from the Big Band Era could not be present this year because of health reasons. He resides in New Ulm now. He wrote a letter to the group that was read at the meeting. He and all the orphans are very devoted and faithful members of the group. A1 LaMoure, St Paul, had a birthday, Friday, and that was celebrated at the reunion. All present sang "Happy Birthday" for him.
The late Joe Frie, husband of Marie Frie came to this area on an orphan train in 1905 when he was only one and a half years old. Mr. and Mrs. Herman Frie who lived three and a half miles north of Freeport took Joe into their home and raised him. He married Marie Welz and they are the parents of six children, four sons and two daughters. Joe was very faithful to the orphans organization and served as vice president many years. Joe died in 1984 and since then his widow, Marie has carried on the interest in the orphans group attending the annual meetings and continuing a friendship with them. There are 15 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren in the Joe Frie family.
Marie and her family hosted a party for the orphans at her home Friday. The guests were happy to meet Marie's sons and daughters and get acquainted with them. Marie served a delicious lunch for them and they all had an opportunity to visit and get up to date with the happenings of the past year.
Some of the orphans attended Mass at St. Mary's Catholic Church and Fr. Ralph Zimmer-mann welcomed them and visited with them after Mass.
At their business meeting they decided to have their next annual meeting at the St. Francis Center in Little Falls in September, 1992. They are an enthusiastic group and are always eager to meet again.
All appreciated and enjoyed the party Marie Frie hosted for them and the opportunity to meet her family. They left Melrose with a good feeling in their hearts.
MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY - 1992
Responses to the Membership Directory, 1992, Form are arriving daily at OTHSA headquarters. January 21,
1992, is the cut-off date for receiving information.
In 1990 a directory was made and several members complained about not getting their info into it, so this time we are making sure the same form is mailed to everyone who sent in their membership no later than Dec. 31, 1991.
Presently 191 membership renewals have been received out of over 600 1991 memberships. More are arriving in the mail each day and over 90% are expected to renew.
New members are joining, as well.
OTHSA has 79 Lifetime Menbers.
CROSSROADS Vol. 18, January, 1992 page 14


Orphan Train Riders of BSL Document (140)
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