LCCH 1896Saturday we spent some time at a reunion for children and staff of the Lucas County Children's Home. It was the third such reunion. The first was in 2008 when an historic marker was placed across from the front gate of the large facility, which provided service for almost a hundred years.
The home was established in 1867 to support destitute orphan children, to be called the Protestant Orphan's Home. The first three children were placed in a private home. Later came the larger buildings, and in the 1940's my Beloved Husband and his two brothers were placed there, more than once.
No, they were not orphans. Both parents were living, and both had multiple siblings. Just as the Civil War impacted families, so did the Depression and World War II. Their father off in the army, the family splitting by divorce, lack of money - it was in the boys' best interest to be protected there.
We took some photographs of them from that time period. We didn't realize they would become part of the scrapbook and end up in the museum archives. A fitting place for part of a county's history. And, part of theirs.
The three boys were separated in 1947. One stayed with their mother, the older two went to Oklahoma with their father, ending up adopted out of another children's home. They were not reunited until 1983. Names were changed. Adoption records closed and sealed. Research was difficult, but the truth became known and a family healed.
Except for their father, who died without seeing his sons again.
He made a decision about his family without understanding the consequences of his decision.
We make such a decision about our eternal life, too. So many people choose to be outside God's family. It is a conscious decision, knowing He offers eternal life with Him. Also knowing His word commits to eternal life without Him awaits those who turn Him down. Some look upon that as Him condemning them to hell, when the offer stands open to the moment of death, they still tell Him "No. I do not believe."
He loves us enough to provide Himself a sacrifice. The gospel is summed in a single verse:
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Ask Him about it. Accept the adoption.
My grandfather who was born in Toledo, OH and adopted by the Robbins family when he was 11 years old, may have spent some time in the LCCH. He may have been the Lewis Norton on the 1900 census (it was very interesting to see the children referred to as "inmates").
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, my mother spent most of her childhood in foster homes and all of her full blooded siblings were adopted.
Any information about how to verify if this was my grandfather would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Paul Gutierrez
paulpolar@yahoo.com