The orphanage that is the focus of my blog, has been known by many different names, making it very difficult to research or gather information about. See post below where I have listed all the names that I have found so far. I'm hoping that through the help of this blog those of us who have had family either living in this children's home, or family that has worked there and contributed in some way to this children's home, can gather here and help all of us learn more about those days in this home. If you have additional information or stories that you would like to share you can either comment below on one of the posts, or send an email to me at gspne61@gmail.com (Photo is from the Elizabethtown College: Church of the Brethren Photograph Collection and may be used only for non-commercial educational purposes.)

Friday, March 1, 2013

Neffsville Brethren Children's Home in 1945

Neffsville Brethren Children's Home photo from 1945 with Rev John W Hevener and his wife Elva M Hevener of the Lititz Church of the Brethren. (Photo is from the Elizabethtown College: Church of the Brethren Photograph Collection and may be used only for non-commercial educational purposes.)
While searching for additional information about my grandmother and her brother in this orphanage, I ran across this photo from 1945 and some additional information. From 1944-1957 the house parents, or superintendents as some called them, were Rev. John W Hevener and his wife Elva M Hevener both from the Lititz Church of the Brethren.

I have already received a phone call from a woman who is in this photo and is planning to have her daughter send me the names of all of these children. Her married name is Dorothy Owens and once I receive that list of names I will post them as well to this blog.

Based on obituary information, another child in this photo is George Harrison born in 1941 and lived in this orphanage for approximately 10 years.

Unfortunately, the Lititz Church of the Brethren seems to be unwilling to share information from their archives with anybody not currently a member of their church, but hopefully, I'll locate somebody soon who is on the "inside," and we can get to those records.

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4 comments:

  1. Hevey C.February 23, 2014 at 8:33 AM

    My cousin posted this pic and a link to your webpage on FB. The Rev. John and his wife Elva are my Great Grandparents. My dad was born in 1945 but has always shared a lot of family stories that were passed down. I will show him this picture and see if it brings any memories back about this orphanage.

    Curtis Hevener

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  2. UnknownMay 3, 2016 at 7:10 AM

    Those are my grandma and grandpa. My name is Bruce Hamilton and my parents Bob and Ruth who also used to help with the children. When I was little I played with the children while my family took care of them and the place. My sister, Avaline who was older also helped with the children and could tell you things to help fill in the blanks. She by the way is still a member of the Church of the Bretheren. Hope this helps and I also would like to find out more of the children I probably played with when I was a kid.

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  3. UnknownNovember 3, 2020 at 9:02 PM

    My dad and brothers were there about 1937 their names are Clarence and Melvin Wasltermeyer I have a pic of my dad in front of the building Can you give me info. I can also send a pic

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