Orphanages in Rhode Island - Family History & Genealogy Message Board

Re: Orphanages-Rhode Island

Cosmooed — 2013-04-19 23:34:00Z

Hello, my brothers and I were there in the early 50's when we were there, we were on the boys side.o, at that the dormitories were separated by the chapel. Wish I could help you but can't. I had several relatives who lived in Smithfield Ma.

I hope you are succesful in your quest.

Re: Orphanages-Rhode Island

TCHOQUETTE821 — 2013-04-19 17:33:43Z

My brother and I were there at St. Al's in the late 50s his name was Bobby Choquette he is 63 now, and lives in Florida.
We were there for 6 years, til we went to a foster home in SSmithfield in 1964. I too am looking for some one her name was Nancy Rodriguez, she was from Cuba and she had a sister nnamed Clara. I would love to hear from her!!!!

Re: Exeter Home for the Feeble Minded

laddcurator — 2013-03-05 02:23:41Z

I've been researching the Exeter School for a good many years. I can't help you find patient records; it's my understanding that much of what once belonged to the institution was destroyed, and the rest disseminated throughout the State - some of it to private collections - after the institution was abandoned. However, I do come across quite a few historical pieces in my work - censuses, antiquarian journals, photographs, newspaper articles, & etc.

I invite you, and anybody with a similar inquiry, to message me with your questions. If you are seeking a specific individual, I would need to know that individual's name and a discharge date/range. In this regard, I cannot promise answers, but I would be glad to keep an eye out for anything that may be of interest.

You may reach me here, on Ancestry.com, or at laddcurator@gmail.com for a quicker reply.

Re: St.Francis Orphanage,Woonsocket,RI

SandraKay2000 — 2013-02-22 20:54:33Z

In the Ancestry.Com website, check out the 1930 census for the name of the child in the orphanage at that time. Every child in the orphanage is listed.
Census: Year: 1930
Roll: 2181
State: Rhode Island
County: Providence
Township: St Francis Orphanage
Enumeration District (ED): 4-282
Page: 2b
Family no: 1

Re: Orphanages-Rhode Island

Cosmooed — 2013-02-15 21:32:37Z

I was at St Francis Home in Woonsocket but it was in the late forties, it is still there but it is now a nursing home for the elderly. As far getting any records from the Diocese I think you need to contact the Chancery in Providence archive department they may help you or knowing the church they may not depending as to why you want information. Good luck

Re: Orphanages-Rhode Island

Cosmooed44 — 2013-02-15 21:21:01Z

I was in St Aloysius Home back in the early 50's and just curious if there is any one out there who was a resident like me. I remember the nuns who took care of us and the priest who was there. But I don't remember to many of the kids. I was in what they call group 5 & 6 that was for the small kids I had two brothers there also who were n group 7 & 8 that was for the older boys. I would be interested in seeing if there is any out there that was there when I was. The school then was called St Peter's

Re: St.Francis Orphanage,Woonsocket,RI

sunny817 — 2012-11-27 13:49:00Z

Hi Louise,
I wish i knew where to get informatiom, but i don't. I was there with my sister in 1957. I do remember we were all taken out in the back yard to view spunick, the russian space ship. I remember when i got there that they cut my hair above my shoulders and gave me a hair perm. Why? they said it would cut down on lice...right..i guess lice don't like curly hair . I suspect the nuns didn't like long beautiful hair. my sister was 6 and wet the bed sometimes and they were really hard on her. I do remember a sister Vivian and i don't believe i liked her. There was also a woman who worked there, but i don't remember her name. I think she had been an ophan and stayed on to work there. She was really nice and she is the only one i remember, i think her last name was Coty or cote or something like that. I remember the play yard in the back with the thing that spins around. I remember the hill to get up to Mt St Francis was very STEEP...and i was scared to death of it...still am. Went back to visit a few years back and thought the hill would look smaller...it didn't...i had to go the long way round to get out of the area. The building looked smaller though. I didn't go in, i wish i had. I also remember a dwarf named Janette ( weird how i remember her and her name) Maybe because i had never seen a dwarf before. After school we used to put on full aprons and upstairs in the dorm they had a round wash sink were we could all wash up. Our bed and little stand was right next to each other which i believe held one small and one little larger towel. If we were good, sometimes a little music was played right around Christmas at bedtime. My mother died dec 4th 1957 and we were called up to mother superior and she informed me and Deb of her passing, i actually remember her crying and showing emotion that i was not used to by the nuns. I cried because she cried and Deb cried because i was crying and then i noticed something terrible, while crying i had left a bit of snot on her beautiful white part of her habit....it truly upset me and i didn't know what to do about it. I hoped she wouldn't notice and she didn't...still bothers me to this day.

Well, that's it for now..please tell me what you remember.
Sunny

Re: St.Francis Orphanage,Woonsocket,RI

micmacshaman — 2012-11-26 19:07:32Z

Hi Sunny,First of all I love your name, I hope the sun always shines on you forever. I have a idea I was there around the same time you were there! I have an older sista that was there the same time I was there and I remember they tried to drown her in the bath tub she was choking, I heard her cries, I yelled at them to stop hurting my sista, so they (nuns) did! I wish I could find records of us being there. I so glad to hear from you please write me again. Let me know where I can find information,Please.Louise

Re: St.Francis Orphanage,Woonsocket,RI

sunny817 — 2012-11-26 11:15:00Z

Hi Louise!

Very nice to hesr from you. Yes, i lost my sister and although my life is full of people, nothing is really the same without her. I drove up there one day (to the orphanage) and i could not get over how much smaller the building looked to me....my memories are really clear about that place. We were there in 1957, it was the year my mom died. Do you remember what year you were there? I was 9 and my sister was 6. I live in Cranston RI...you?

Look forward to hearing from you.
Sunny

Re: St.Francis Orphanage,Woonsocket,RI

micmacshaman — 2012-11-25 20:54:13Z

My name is Louise I was at 4 of the orphanages in R.I. until I was 15 yrs. old. I would be very interested in your being in your study! Have a great day Louise!

Re: St.Francis Orphanage,Woonsocket,RI

micmacshaman — 2012-11-25 20:48:42Z

I'm so sorry to hear your sister passed away!! I was @ Mt. St. Francis Orphanage too maybe the same time your sister was there, I was at St.Vincent De Paul Infant Asylum also in R.I..I was very young maybe a baby not sure!!!, in the 1950's. Please email me . Louise

Re: St.Francis Orphanage,Woonsocket,RI

Randyboucher — 2012-11-25 06:48:30Z

Hi
I along with my two older sisters was there around 1963,64. I was four or five.the first night there a wrestled a nun to the floor. She was trying to take my underwear of. There rule was that you couldn't wear them under your pj's at night. She won. That was my welcoming. I was never allowed to visit with my sisters. I could see them across the playground, but I was not allowed to go over and talk with them. The nuns were mean. T remember one night a kid was crying and the nun opened the window and hung him outside by his feet. She said if he didn't stop crying, she was going to drop him. You could hear a pin drop. I had never smelled ivory soap before, but that's the soap they used. To this day when ever I smell that it takes me right back there. I do not remember most things but when I did some research about st Francis, there was a picture of that nun. I never remembered what she looked like until I saw that picture. It all came back. I actually started to shake, and could not sleep that night. The only other thing I can't account for is marks on my back. Did not even no they were there until a doctor one day at a yearly physical said it looks like you got cought in bar wire. So I hope this helps you a little. I've been back one, to show my partner it. We live in Seattle now, but went home for a visit. It's not a orphanage anymore. I just stood there . He said you don't have to do this if you don't want to. I wanted to. I wanted to see this place again. It looked a lot smaller after all those years. I wanted to go inside so bad to see it again. But I didn't I just walked in the playground where my sisters played. Just to say I did it, they couldn't keep me away. If I go on I will start crying. So is time to go. If you have children, give them a hug.

Re: Exeter Home for the Feeble Minded

daisymom411 — 2012-11-07 13:55:48Z

I have been to that website, but I cannot seem to find any of the records. Their site says that certain records are at the RIHS, the State Archives, and the Dept. of Children, Youth & Families. The latter seems to be where I can find documents but on their website, I see nowhere that is in relation to that specific school.
Did you have family there once upon a time?
I am really hoping to find some information around the 1930-1940 range.

Re: Exeter Home for the Feeble Minded

jantonelli81 — 2012-11-07 00:03:59Z

Hi,

I have run into a similar situation. I came across Rhode Island College's "State Home and School Project" at the web address www. ric. edu / statehomeandschool / resourcesEnos. html (eliminated spaces when typing into your browser). I emailed the people in charge of the project for information regarding how to access records. There is also a lot of info on this page that I have not been able to sift through as of yet. Maybe it would be some help to you?

Re: Orphanages-Rhode Island

drogalism — 2012-09-23 19:24:17Z

I found my mom info from the orphanage using "Family Search which is another genealogy site, this one is "FREE" good luck

Re: Orphanages-Rhode Island

drogalism — 2012-09-22 02:16:03Z

I put my mom's name in the search and i was able to find the census for St. Aloysius.hope this helps

Re: Orphanages-Rhode Island

athompson1945 — 2012-09-22 00:09:37Z

Hello,
I am looking for records reguarding my father Henry J. Aldsworth and his brother John Aldsworth.
My father was born 06/30/1918. His father was killed in a work related injury 2 months before his birth. I do not know what year he was placed in St. Aloysius but his mother brought him back home in either 1934 or 1935.

Thank you for any information.

O'rourke's children center

tytyjas6 — 2012-09-14 03:01:24Z

I lived at the children center from 1955 to 1958 I was in cottage G then in cottage N, My best friend was Stanley Sears, best female friend was Cathy Fish, she my sister Marie Elaine were very close as well.

Exeter Home for the Feeble Minded

daisymom411 — 2012-05-08 20:07:46Z

I have just recently found out that my grandmother was at the Exeter Home, later known as The Ladd School, somewhere between 1930 until just before 1940. I have heard and read some horrible things about this school. I read somewhere that their records are still sitting in the basement of this place? Does anyone know if this is true? If they are not, and I do hope they aren't, does anyone know where I can obtain any records? My grandmother was one of 10 (out of 17) children to be placed in an orphanage in 1925 and then be shuffled around Rhode Island for the next 15 years.
I have found most of my grandmothers siblings, but am desperate to find them all, but need to start at one place.
If anyone can give me information regarding Exeter Home, please contact me.

O'Rourke Children's Center

daisymom411 — 2012-05-08 20:07:30Z

I have recently come across information that at least 2 of my grandmother's siblings were at the O'Rourke Children's Center, assuming this is the same place that would be listed on the RI State Census in 1935 as "610 Mt. Pleasant Ave."? I am curious as to how I can obtain any records? I do have copies of both of their census records for the year 1935, but nothing else. I am having trouble locating these 2 children after this particular census.

Prospect Street Orphanage in Smithfield, RI?

daisymom411 — 2012-05-08 20:07:12Z

I am wondering if anyone can help me with some information I recently came across regarding my grandmother's siblings. I have copies of the RI State Census 1935 and for two of her siblings, they are listed as "state child" with the address only listing "Prospect St. in Greenville, Smithfield, Providence County, RI." This state census does not give much information. Can anyone decifer any of this information for me? Was their an orphanage on Prospect St?

Rhode Island Infirmary

daisymom411 — 2012-05-08 20:06:49Z

I am looking for one of my grandmother's sisters who was born in 1934 in Providence, RI. The RI State Census 1935 listed her in the Infirmary and I believe she was "taken away" from her parents, as her father is listed in that same census in the State Prison and the children are scattered all over RI in different homes and orphanages. Does anyone know how I can find out what happened to her? Her (birth) name was Irene May Turgeon b. June 13, 1934.

Re: St.Francis Orphanage,Woonsocket,RI

joycerwillis — 2012-02-28 13:39:24Z

My mother and her brother were placed at St. Francis when they were small children, as my grandmother could not care for them. They remained there -- on and off-- until they were in their teens.

I would be very interested in hearing more about your experience there, and especially your short story.

Thanks,

Joyce

Re: St.Francis Orphanage,Woonsocket,RI

joycerwillis — 2012-02-28 13:39:10Z

My mother and uncle spent much of their childhood at St. Francis, between the years of 1916 and 1922. I would like to help you with your research if I can.

Joyce

Re: St.Francis Orphanage,Woonsocket,RI

sunny817 — 2012-02-15 11:19:08Z

Thank you, i will.

Re: St.Francis Orphanage,Woonsocket,RI

bprovensal — 2012-02-15 03:18:58Z

Sunny I am so sorry for your loss. I will keep in touch with you and would hope to talk with you any time on line. You can reach me at Bpro4845@aol.com. I will be in Woon, in June. Please keep in touch

Re: St.Francis Orphanage,Woonsocket,RI

sunny817 — 2012-02-10 13:15:36Z

Yes, i think i would....but my sister died recently on june 1st 2011, my heart is broken...we stayed together all of our lives.

Sunny

Re: St.Francis Orphanage,Woonsocket,RI

bprovensal — 2012-02-10 00:02:19Z

HI Deborah and Sunny, I was born and raised in Woon. and I have always had an interest in the orphanage and the children who may have lived there. I would like to do a study of the orphanage and residents. Do you think you wou;ld be interested?

Re: St.Francis Orphanage,Woonsocket,RI

ElwoodDonnelly — 2012-02-08 02:47:46Z

are there records of orphans who were housed there?

Re: St.Francis Orphanage,Woonsocket,RI

ElwoodDonnelly — 2012-02-08 02:46:39Z

I was there for a couple of weeks in 1953 and again in 1954 after hurricane Carol. I was 3 and 4 respectively and can remember very little.
My siblings were there too and they are 1 1/2 years older, 3 years older and 5 years older. Between all of us are some memories, mostly of mean nuns who cared very little for any of us.
I would like to see pictures of the original building, and would like to talk with anyone who was there at the same time.

Re: St.Francis Orphanage,Woonsocket,RI

DeborahAnn49 — 2012-01-21 14:32:36Z

My aunt told us of how she had gone to visit my mom and uncle after she had married out of the orphanage at age 17....she remembers seeing many items from their home including the family Crucifix hanging on the wall of the orphanage.These items should have been returned to aunt Lucille when she moved out but the nuns kept everything except a jar that my Grandmere had embedded using some sort of plaster or clay with small things like buttons,eye-hooks old nails hair pins etc.It's quite something to see. It made me happy to see the where my creativity came from.Although I have never met them (my grandparents) I am forever learning who they were

Re: St.Francis Orphanage,Woonsocket,RI

caligal71 — 2012-01-18 22:20:16Z

I work there as a nursing assistant some of our residents were actually orphans there. I heard there was a fire and at times bed alarms go off when no one is in the room. Last year it was sold to american senior living. we are known as Trinity Health and Rehabilitation. I am so intrigued by the stories about this building and Woonsocket history in general.

Re: Orphanages-Rhode Island

ggrimes30 — 2011-12-15 16:05:58Z

We just recieved a baptismal record of my husband's father john joseph grimes dated june 26,1933 probably at age 9.signed by Sister Mary albeus R.S.M He was there with three sisters Eva,Shirley and etta.any info from the same era.Thank you,mrs. Henry grimes

Re: St.Francis Orphanage,Woonsocket,RI

russito — 2011-11-06 22:20:51Z

I was placed at St. Francis the summer of 1945. I was 5-years old and my experience mirrors many others with the cruel nuns and their child abuse. I was there only a few months and remember a huge amount including VJ Day in August 1945 when we watched the fireworks from the rooftop of the orphanage.
I've written a short story depicting my experience and observations that I would like to share with you. Send me an email at russito@aol.com

Re: Orphanages in Rhode Island

drogalism — 2011-10-06 21:33:41Z

my mom 93, Clara Denault is still alive but of no help any more as of about a year. I myself have some of her stories. I would also like to get in touch with any one that I can to see about records. She was in both At Vincent and St Aloysius. Please email me at drogalism@yahoo.com. I am no longer a member of ancestry.com at the moment. I am using the free trial at the moment. Thank you very much

Re: St.Francis Orphanage,Woonsocket,RI

Someone_10 — 2011-10-05 17:41:00Z

Does anyone or they're parents remember hearing the bell ring from the tower? I have the original bell dedicated to the orphanage by the architect. Dated Sept. 2 1912.

Re: Patrick O'ROURKE Children's Home, Providence, RI 1948-49

DNitschkeMusselwhite — 2011-10-01 00:58:23Z

Wow, I am not sure why, today, I started thinking about my time at the Children's Center. I am now 47 and think I was about 8 - 10 when I first went there. My caseworker was Richard Bloomfield. Damn, I can't believe I remember that. I recall being placed in solitary after some kids and I were bouncing on our beds in our dorm. I can visualize the place like it was yesterday!

Re: RI State Home and Orphanage - O'Roarke Childrens Center

Denise_Vaz — 2011-09-25 19:46:04Z

Robyn,
I am sorry to hear about your story. It is never to late to reply to a post. Someone could still be waiting for a reply no matter how longs it takes.
I am no longer active with this search but this person might still be. sweetfern1 Contact her because she might be able to help you and interested in your story. I hope this helps you. Please let me know the outcome of this.
Denise

Re: RI State Home and Orphanage - O'Roarke Childrens Center

robynmcgarrahan — 2011-09-25 01:47:04Z

although its probably too late for a response to your search on this sight for residents from the children's center, I still found myself compelled to respond. My name is Robyn and I was sent there when I was around 12. My mom committed suicide when i was 7,after her death my father split,and we went to stay with an aunt an uncle for about 4 or five years,at which point they picked me up as I was walking home from school one day,my clothes were in a garbage bag,they never said a word to me,just drove me to the orphanage left me in the car while they went in an did whatever they had to,to sign me over,then came out to the car,told me to grab the bag and go in the door they had just come out,I stood there unsure what was going on,they said go in and drop that bag off to the lady at the front desk, we will wait out here.. Feeling uncomfortable and sure that something bad was about to take place,I did as I was told and went in the door waiting for the woman to get off the phone so I could give her the black garbage bag that I later found out was all my clothes and that was going to be where I was to live.. I felt so alone, I wondered what I had done to be what I felt like as being thrown away...

Re: RI State Home and Orphanage - O'Roarke Childrens Center

robynmcgarrahan — 2011-09-25 01:47:03Z

Re: RI State Home and Orphanage - O'Roarke Childrens Center

robynmcgarrahan — 2011-09-25 01:46:59Z

Re: RI State Home and Orphanage - O'Roarke Childrens Center

rhapsody1000 — 2011-09-09 19:36:51Z

I kind of remember being at this childrens home. I was born in 1944 and I believe I was quite young when there and then placed in a foster home. My name then was Cole and I had 6 siblings. I believe some of us were taken from our parents due to drinking. How can I find out if I was there? I do think I remember that it was not a pleasant place and the staff was very harsh.

Re: St.Francis Orphanage,Woonsocket,RI

hesarvis — 2011-08-25 21:49:49Z

Have you had any response to your requests for records of children you might have spent time at St. Francis. I believe my Mother (maiden name Lillian Elliott) might have spent some time there prior to 1927.

Re: RI State Home and Orphanage - O'Roarke Childrens Center

1_joffley — 2011-08-20 01:37:40Z

I lived at the O'Rourke children's center from 1955 to 1964.

Re: RI State Home and Orphanage - O'Roarke Childrens Center

1_joffley — 2011-08-20 01:37:40Z

I lived at the O'Rourke children's center from 1955 to 1964.

Re: RI State Home and Orphanage - O'Roarke Childrens Center

1_joffley — 2011-08-20 01:37:39Z

I lived at the O'Rourke children's center from 1955 to 1964.

Re: RI State Home and Orphanage - O'Roarke Childrens Center

1_joffley — 2011-08-20 01:37:31Z

I lived at the O'Rourke children's center from 1955 to 1964.

Re: St. Francis Orphanage

spotinc1 — 2011-08-09 16:27:24Z

These pictures are of the front of the orphanage (it is a large facility with three floors, a basement and a physical plant.
Also a picture of a baby in the orphanage in a high chair, from a lady who as a child went there during the day, but was not an orphan. She went home every night, as it was the parochial school she attended. That is her family picture taken outside the orphanage.

The last picture is the "nursery school".

Re: St. Francis Orphanage

spotinc1 — 2011-08-09 15:50:17Z

A typical dorm would be uncarpeted to eliminate germs, each child would have a locker and a bed. My mom remembers making her bed after prayers every day before breakfast.

Breakfast would be hot cereal or eggs and toast, sometimes pancakes or french toast, sometimes cinnamon toast, served at a round table with milk and orange or tomato juice.

Re: St. Francis Orphanage

spotinc1 — 2011-08-09 15:23:04Z

I do not know of any "records" but I would like to visit the Museum of Work in Woonsocket, as I heard they do have information and pictures. I live in Florida, so this is not going to be easy. The orphanage is still in use, but as a a hospital now, so you can see the building. As far as pictures online go, I have seen a similar orphanage run by the Franciscan nuns in New Jersey (at about the same time as the Woonsocket orphanage). It helps to see the room of metal beds and round tables set up in the dining room.

Because your father's age when he went in to the orphanage, and because he spoke only French, I am guessing his parents or grandparents once worked in the mills of the area and that his heritage is originally from Quebec (from where most of the French speaking people of that area came from). Woonsocket had a strong church centered culture which included parochial school. They taught one half day of English (math was also taught in English) so your father should have had some exposure, unless he was not attending school yet when he became an orphan.

The nuns were strict, but from what my mom has told me, it was necessary for survival. The good thing was she got an excellent education including Palmer writing method, English and French, gardening (for ag science), and religious studies... school was most of the day on weekdays with school taught in French in the beginning of the day and taught in English after lunch, church was all day Sunday, and Saturday was usually spent doing deep cleaning chores first and then free time -- outdoor activities or indoor (my mom was there until age 15).
Castor oil was given as a cure all, and other measures were taken to try to keep orphans from getting sick, but this was the 1930s and antibiotics were not in use until later. An infirmary was on the premises for children who were very sick.
The benefits of being in an orphanage were three square meals, a roof over your head, and care to make sure that all was spic and span and well-disciplined. The sisters were polite. If you were out of order, you could expect punishment of some kind...a slap on the knuckles with a ruler, or loss of privileges. My mom was stopped from fighting a bully and her hair was cut off at the quick (right where the braid meets the neck).

Sleeping arrangements were lots of metal bunk beds in a huge room with large windows. The yard outside was well manicured with gardens and rose arbors and a shrine to St Mary. A medal with St Christopher was often given as a gift (patron saint of travelers).
My understanding was that the nuns made an effort to make an orphan employable and useful, so as to be readily adopted into society.
My mother's name was Barbara Hope in the orphanage. Her given name was Ernestina Tremblay French. Her mother's name was Bertha Tremblay but she was known as "Hope".

My mom was given a her first communion, confirmation and confession in the chapel. The convent (nun's quarters)was housed in a separate building. It was much easier for boys to be taken in by a home than it was for a girl, but you can understand that given the times, it was not very easy to find a home willing to support a child; so it is commendable that the nuns found your father a foster home in that day.