Looking for information on an orphanage in Rhode Island. I think it might of been named St.Aloysius Home Chapel-My father and his sister were placed in this place for a while. I want to find records on him. I was told it was catholic-

I was a bus monitor in the early 1990's and we had a child placed at St. Al's as it was known. I beleive it was in Providence or Cranston, RI. Have you tried the catholic church dicese in Providence?
Maybe they can help you! I don't know if St. "Al's" is around anymore but your spelling is correct on it.
Good luck in Finding your family!
Let me know how you make out.

thanks for the info.i will check it out.

Hello,
It is on the North Smithfield North Providence line and it was a catholic orphanage. It is still part of the church but no longer an orphanage. If you call the catholic diocesse they might be able to tell you if and where any records might be. You can also try DCYF in Providence. If you family went through them they will have records and you can request to see them. It takes a little while for them to find and get them but they try their best to help. I hope this has helped some. Good luck in your search.

Firstly: Ignore the AOL email addy that comes up if you click on my name. Iv'e tried to change it a couple of times but the old one still is what comes up. New one if you wish to contact me directly is miyukichan0987@yahoo.com

Now St.Aloysius Home Chapel: I've read the replies to your original post and I can tell you as a life long resident of the area of RI where St.Aloysius Home was that the town of North Providence [my hometown] does not boarder on North Smithfield BUT North Providence does, in it's northwestern corner, boarder on the Town of Smithfield. If you look at the two town names, it's easy to see how the confusion of the two occurs.

The replies are correct that St.Aloysius Home was owned by the Catholic Diosese of Providence. As for getting any kind of assistance from them regarding records or individuals, if the office that handles such things[and I don't know which part of the Diosese offices that would be] are as cooperative as the Catholic Cemeteries Office, you're in for a damn long wait. My experiences there have been very officious and uncooperative staff and after nearly 4 years, a fee paid and a form filled out and submitted, I'm still waiting to find out the location of an ancestor's grave in St. Ann's Cemetery in Cranston, RI. You might be better off to try and locate state or town records on the individuals. DCYF, Department of Children, Youth and Families, that was suggested in one of the replies, is a RI State Department and can be contacted at: 101 Friendship St, Providence, RI 02903. The General Information phone number is: 401-528-3500.

St.Aloysius Home Chapel was located on Austin Ave in the Town of Smithfield, RI in the section of town known as Greenville. Austin Ave runs off of RI Rt. 44/Putnam Pike right in the center of Greenville village. Look at a RI map, locate I-295 which is a loop route to the west of the City of Providence and just to the west northwest of Providence, I-295 crosses Rt. 44. From that interchange look to the west on Rt. 44 about two miles and you'll see the village of Greenville in the Town of Smithfield.

And the fact that the Home was closed is correct. The building still exists though off hand I can't remember what the new use is. I could check if you wish to know or even take some photos of it if you would like.

Good Luck and feel free to contact me.

Page 360 of the 1982 book titled, "Adoption Agencies, Orphanages and Maternity Homes--An Historical Directory" treats Saint Aloysius Home under Greenville, part of the town of Southfield in Providence County, RI. Its address in a 1976 source was 40 Austin Ave.

It was operated by Sisters of Mercy of the Union. Its legal title was Rhode Island Catholic Orphan Asylum. Boys attended St. Peter's School. The home was perhaps named after St. Aloysius Gonzaga. I do not know what became of its records.

Reg Niles

My mother was one of it's orphans. I too am looking for records. She was in two orphanages one for infants and the other for children/young adult (to age 16). Off the top of my head I dont remember which one Saint Aloysius is. If any one has info I too am looking. My mom is still alive at 89 and does remember things I know she has mention names of some of the girls and names of the sisters.

Hello I agree with you on trying to get records from the diocese. I too would like a picture too if that is alright with you. I've been trying to find info on my grandfather.
Father Bushwa was a very difficult man I understand and i'm having a hard time. I'm working on at least 20 years.

Well, although I at one time lived in area, I've never taken a picture of the old St. Aloysius Home but the building is still there along with 40 acres of land.

If you go to the link below, this is the page for the property on the tax assessor site for the town of Smithfield. There is a fairly good photograph of the central part of the building. Just to orient you, if you were standing in this spot taking the photograph you would be facing roughly SW and looking down Austin Ave. towards the direction of the village of Greenville in the town of Smithfield.

http://data.visionappraisal.com/SmithfieldRI/findpid.asp?iTa...

I hope the picture of the home is what you are looking for.

thank you,