Bringing the Orphan Train Experience Out of the Shadows

by Donna Nordmark Aviles
(Hockessin, DE)

Fly Litle Bird Fly! and Beyond the Orphan Train

Everyone has a story to tell. Many of our older relatives lived through amazing, often unknown, periods of American history that today's youth find fascinating to read about. Making audio tapes of these experiences is a great way to begin to tell their stories. It is a lot easier than writing things down, and you have the added bonus of capturing the person's tone of voice to learn what they were feeling about a particular experience or event. Your writing can then reflect those emotions as your characters are developed.

In 1906 my grandfather, Oliver Nordmark, along with his brother Edward, were placed on one of America's orphan trains from New York City to Kansas in search of a home. They were living in the Children's Village Orphanage on Long Island after being abandoned by their parents who could no longer care for them. Oliver was 8 years old; Edward just 5.

When he was 75 years old, Oliver sat down and recorded the story of his early life, speaking for over three hours. Those tape recordings became the foundation of my first two books, "Fly Little Bird, Fly!" and "Beyond The Orphan Train" which were published in 2004 and optioned by Los Angeles screenwriter William Rotko (Breach, Universal Pictures) in 2007. How did this happen, you might ask? Maybe some things were just meant to happen, but my theory, and I continue to stand by it, is that it only takes one book in the right hands to get something started, so try anything at least once. A very small-town paper did a story on my books and Mr. Rotko's father happened to be retired and living just outside this town. When he read the story, he contacted his son with instructions to "buy the rights, it will make a great movie". Whether or not that actually happens remains to be seen but - hey - at least "Hollywood called!"

Although written at the 6th grade level and being used in many schools in the 4th and 5th grades, both books are also seeing some success with older readers who are enjoying learning about this much overlooked piece of American History.

The orphan trains began in 1854 as a means of dealing with the over 30,000 homeless and neglected children that were living on the streets of New York City. With over 4 million new immigrants arriving through Ellis Island between 1840-1860, overcrowding, unsanitary living conditions, and joblessness plagued the city.

Transporting children in groups of 20-40 at a time, trains traveled west as far as the railroad would take them, offering children to farmers in small towns along the way. By the time the movement ended in 1929, over 200,000 children were placed out in this fashion.

My third book, "Peanut Butter For Cupcakes, A True Story From The Great Depression", is due out by the end of June, 2008.

Following the stock market crash of 1929, Oliver loses his job at the silk mill and is forced to allow his wife to take a job at the local coffee shop - with unforseen tragic results. Left to raise 6 children on his own, life with Oliver is full of fun and adventure one minute but marked with poverty and abandonment the next. This is a story that will leave you with a deeper understanding of life in the 1930's and how 'boys will be boys' even in the hardest of times!

Writing your memoir or autobiography centered around a particular historical time or event is an excellent way to then present your books to schools, community organizations or genealogical societies - and be sure to always follow up your presentation with a book sale/signing. Schools will often take orders for your books before you arrive so that they can be pre-signed for the students.

Remember, once these older members of our families are gone, their stories will go with them unless we take steps to preserve them now. So, get recording and writing!

Visit Donna's site.