Here’s a reminder to mark your calendars for a historical presentation at the Rock Island Depot in Stuart on Thursday. The Stuart People Active for Library Services (PALS) will be hosting the “Taking the Orphan Train” program beginning at 7pm.

Author and railroad aficionado Rudy Daniels will lead the discussion. He talks about what will be included on Thursday.

“The orphan train movement is unique to the United States. No other country has anything that’s similar to it. It started just before the Civil War and the movement continued as a charity-based operation until the 1920s. From that point on the various states took over foster care and the juvenile justice system was starting to be established throughout the country. So there was really no need any longer for an independent charity of orphan trains to continue.”

Daniels says that Iowa in particular ranks third in the number of children who were established in homes due to the orphan train movement. He estimates the total amount of children established in Iowa was well over 5,000. There is no registration required for the free event but seating is limited. Refreshments will also be served. To hear more from Daniels on the program, listen to today’s Let’s Talk Guthrie County program.