June 12, 13, and 14 will bring Orphan Train descendants and enthusiasts to Concordia for the Annual Celebration held every year. Thursday’s events are all free and open to the public, beginning with tours of the Complex from 1 to 4 p.m. Two new window coverings in the Jones Education Station will be dedicated at 4:15 p.m. After a short break, all are invited to attend a wine and cheese event from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. in the depot museum.
Friday’s Keynote Speaker Greg Markway will kick off Celebration events on Friday at 9:30 a.m., in the Cloud County Community College’s President’s Addition, Second Floor. All Friday events will be held at the college. A silent auction and 50/50 cash raffle will be conducted during the day. There will also be a special DAR presentation at 4:30 p.m.
At 11 a.m., Lori Halfhide, head researcher for the National Orphan Train Complex, will provide information about the method of placing out used by the Children’s Aid Society. Halfhide was born and raised in Horton, Kansas. She graduated from Horton High School and attended Cloud County Community College in Concordia, where she now resides with her husband and two sons. Lori has been finding information about Orphan Train Riders and Orphan Trains in general since 2016. She conducts in-depth research for Riders’ descendants and for Complex use. This research has resulted in numerous articles on Orphan Train riders published in Concordia’s Blade-Empire newspaper. Lori also has developed a number of presentations about the Orphan Train History.
At 1:30 p.m., Don and Martha Pauley will share the fascinating details uncovered when they decided to expand their interest in history and genealogy after retirement. They are Iowa natives who met at the University of Kansas in 1967 and were married two years later. Their recent discoveries of Orphan Train stories have led them to develop the life story of Don’s orphan train rider and her family.
Following a break, one of the most popular events of the Celebration will take place at 3 p.m. A number of Descendants of Orphan Train Riders will be on hand to share the stories of their Riders, including circumstances that led to placement by the organizations of the movement, their new home situations, and their adult lives. Every year there are new stories shared and familiar stories updated.
