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From the first registrant’s triumphant entry to the last crumb swept from beneath the tables, OTHSA’s reunion of “riders” was a remarkable gathering of kindred spirits laughing, hugging revealing past lives that would always share a common bond, one that can never release them from their unique experience. It was an ingathering of love... a love that so many of them had been denied in their early lives, not because it hadn’t existed, but because they had never known why it had been taken away.
The homogeneous group of 20 riders ranging from mid-sixties to mid-nineties had been corporate executives, private business owners, farmers and librarians, many of whom were now grandparents and traveling retirees. States were represented from coast to coast (the Carolinas, California) and border to border (Texas and Michigan). Brothers adopted, separately, attended the reunion as well as co-workers who had worked side by side for more than ten years never having known the other was an “Orphan Train Rider.”
The media was in evidence at the Vocational Technical School throughout the reunion being held there, and the focus was on the riders, their memories, their growth beyond each humble beginning and their survival. It was an open forum with every rider being given an opportunity to share the story that only they, themselves, could tell. The consideration and interest shown by the listeners, themselves riders, bordered on awe.... Hands reached out in pats and squeezes...smiles and tears were freely interchanged and interchangeable.
The vitality shared by all of the riders seemed to be a ‘special’ energy that flowed in and around them allowing them to appear as fresh, after all day, as they had with the first cup of coffee in the morning. There was no thought of leaving as long as even one of them had something to say. They remained in support of one another.
Those in attendance were attentive to the special writer-speaker, Joan Lowery Nixon, who had authored a series of children’s books about the “Orphan Train” experience, but the real success of this reunion was in the camaraderie of the riders, themselves.
If there was a criticism of the reunion weekend, it would be that perhaps we tried to squeeze too much into three short days...and yet...what would we leave out?
Call for Photos
If you took photographs or videotaped any or all of the first annual OTHSA Reunion, we ould like copies for the archives.
The video taping arranged for by Mary Ellen uohnson experienced some mechanical malfunctions. Every inch salvageable has been recovered by the production crew, and 3 7. hours of the Reunion are on videotape. A copy of the videotape is $15.00 each or $30.00 for a set of 2 videos. Contact OTHSA if you would like to order a copy.
Peg Kildare Oeft) and Pat Young took time out for photos during the Reunion.
Orphan Train Heritage Society of America Route 4, Box 565 Springdale, Arkansas 72764 Tel. (501) 751-7830 (evenings and weekends only)
Mary Ellen Johnson, Editor Kan Woodward, Artist
Newsletter published quarterly	.
Newsletter subscription rates — yearly.............$15.00
Newsletter individual copy rates — each ...........$ 4.00
This is a national organization founded to locate, document, and preserve information about the Orphan Train riders.
Membership information sent upon request.
Advertising information sent upon request.
All rights reserved.
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