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.)

Brethren Children's Home Survivor's Board

During the years of 1913-1962 it is estimated by the Brethren Church that there were approximately 900 children who lived in the Neffsville PA Brethren Children's Home. Some stayed there for only a couple weeks and others stayed as long as 18 years, but all of them were survivors of some type of abandonment and very difficult times that no child should have had to live through. These children really were survivors and I believe that it is very important to list as many of them as possible on this blog.

I am going to start out with the list being alphabetical by last name but still showing the year or years that they lived in this home, when known. Until we are able to locate actual records from the Children's Aid Society or the Brethren Church the majority of this list will come from census reports and newspaper clippings, as well as first-hand information from those who lived here and their family members. I am excited to see how many of these 900 we can list here and to see how quickly this list grows to completion.
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Batterdorf, Howard - born abt 1923 (1940 census report)

Chandler, Verna - born abt 1917 (1920 census report) 

Connor, Elwood - born abt 1918 (1920 census report)

Domonic, Kenneth - born abt 1932 (1940 census report)
Doupler, Dolores - born abt 1934 (1940 census report) 
Doupler, Gloria - born abt 1932 (1940 census report)
Doupler, William - born abt 1930 (1940 census report) 
Ebling, Mary - age 9 (1930 census report)
Ebling, Sarah - age 6 (1930 census report)
Faust, Ralph - born abt 1915 (1920 census report)
Fray, Lester - born abt 1932 (1940 census report)
Geib, Alvin - born abt 1929 (1940 census report)
Heffelfinger, Sara - born 1919 (personally known) 

Heffelfinger, Franklyn - born 1917 (personally known) 

Herr, Edgar - born abt 1915 (1920 census report) 
Howard, Charles - born abt 1916 (1920 census report) 
Hurst, Mildred - born abt 1917 (1920 census report)
Lehman, Edith S - age 10 (1930 census report)
Lehman, Elias A - age 9 (1930 census report)
Lehman, Lloyd E - age 11 (1930 census report)
Lehman, Willard E - age 12 (1930 census report) 
Myers, Robert - age 5 (1930 census report)
Myers, William - age 9 (1930 census report)

Nicholas, Raymond - age 5 (1930 census report)
Purcell, Caroline - age 7 (1930 census report)
Purcell, Geraldine - age 6 (1930 census report)
Purcell, Lloyd E - age 9 (1930 census report)
Ristenhlatt, Clara - age 11 (1930 census report)
Rueppel, Harry F - age 9 (1930 census report) 
Rupp, Alice - 1906-1921 (died while living in orphanage, age 14)

Schaeffer, Mabel - born abt 1939 (1940 census report)
Shutter, Russel - born abt 1912 (1920 census report)
Smith, Clarence O - age 9 (1930 census report)
Stark, Malvon - born abt 1929 (1940 census report)
Stauffer, Samuel - born abt 1915 (1920 census report)
Stoner, Harriet - age 7 (1930 census report)
Stoudt, Betty - born abt 1926 (1940 census report)
Swope, Gloria - born abt 1936 (1940 census report)
Swope, Frances - born abt 1939 (1940 census report) 
Swope, Kenneth - born abt 1933 (1940 census report)
Swope, Robert - born abt 1932 (1940 census report) 
Thompson, Raymond - age 5 (1930 census report)
Waltermeyer, Marlin (died 1933 in Orphanage age 12) 
Zellers, Earl - age 3 (1930 census report) 


 

1 comment:

  1. UnknownJune 14, 2021 at 8:46 AM

    My name is Joy Gawel. Delores Doupler ia my mother. She is still living. She had 6 children and we are all living except for my younger sister. She was married to Benjamin Behrens who passed away in 2015. Her brother William died in the home. Her sister Gloria passed away about 3 years ago.

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