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The I.O.O.F orphanage was outside Sunbury, Pennsylvania. It operated for many years, providing homes for needy children. Some where along my travels, I collected three different “newspapers” from the orphanage. They are from June 1940, November 1940 and March 1941. The paper was called Bugle Notes. I scanned the papers, OCR recognizable and offer them to anyone that would like to download them. The originals I am donating to the Northumberland County Historical Society.
I AM A PSU STUDENT AND DOING A PROJECT FOR SCHOOL ON FAMILIES AND MY GRAM IS 91 YEARS OLD AND HER AND HER OTHER 4 SIBLINGS ALL WENT TO THIS ORPHANAGE. MY GRAM AND HER ONE SISTER ARE THE ONLY ONES LEFT TO TELL ME INFORMATION ABOUT MY FAMILY HISTORY AND MY GRAM JUST GOT DIAGNOSED WITH MILD DEMENTIA A FEW MONTHS BACK. HER ONE SISTERS REPORT CARD IS IN THE ONE COPY OF THE BUGLE NOTES AND I COULD NEVER THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR POSTING THESE! GOD BLESS AND MUCH THANKS, AMY STETLER
Amy – I am so glad that you got some family history from those notes. I love hearing stories like yours. My best wishes to your Gram and hopefully she will receive helpful treatment for her dementia. Best of luck to you in your studies.
Sally
I and my sister spent some time there when our parents were going thru a divorce. 1957 ? I remember the son of the family that ran the home teaching me how to fish in the pond out back
My mother and one of her older sister spent many years there while their father, who was widowed, had to join the Army. I think they went there around 1948. She tells us many stories of growing up there. I would love to find more information about the orphanage. Where do you think would be a good place to start? Thanks, Amy B. (funny that the last post was by an “Amy” too!)
I would highly suggest visiting the Northumberland County Historical Society. I am sure they will be able to provide you with information on the orphanage. I would also suggested posting on the Ancestry.com message board for Northumberland County for others who may have already done some research on the orphanage. Good luck!
Thank you for scanning in the old issues of the Bugle Notes. What an awesome resource. I’ve often wondered how the community took care of children whose parents were unable to do so in the “old days” in Northumberland County. I learned so much from both from the newsletter and the other readers’ comments.
Don’t forget to check out my compilation of births, marriages and deaths from the Sunbury American, also listed in one of my postings, available as a PDF download. You might find a relative there!
Anyone know any information on the school desk..I have one from the school with an actual ink well..interested in the history of this. My Mother and siblings lived there from approximately1928-1938.
my mother was in there in the 50s and wants to find some of the kids from then so if u get any info let me know please her name is robin lewis
i can not rember the kids from that date i and my sister were there in the late 1955. I do rember after the home closed we where living in Pottsville . the children had been transfered to the childres home there,,,and they remebered me at the local pool down the hil from the home. would love to touch base with my friends.
Thank you for the copies of the Bugle Notes. I found my mother, Aida May Snyder, in all of them. Such a blessing to read about her time there. She had good memories.
I am so happy to hear when people find relatives in those old newspapers. Thanks for sharing!
Great to see that others are interested in the IOOF orphanage. A couple of years ago I videotaped the interior and exterior of this building with some men that grew up there. It was hilarious to hear of their hijinks as boys. Anyhow, I have an extensive amount of photos, postcards, and some old records that I have accumulated over the years. There is an “orphans” reunion every year in Sunbury Pa right around Labor Day if anyone is interested. The Odd Fellows were a blessing to many boys and girls that would not have had a home if not for their generosity. I have been told by many that they received a good moral upbringing there.
I now live in CA but when i was back for a visit I was taking photos of the place and was chased off by this group that was runing it…the last I know it is on the market for 6 mil.