St. Paul Catholic Orphanage (education, teacher, buildings)
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If anyone knows of anyone who was in this institution in the late 1930s or 1940s, please let me know. I'm interested in talking to people because my mother, Mary Lou Weber, was there at that time.
Thank you so much!
My Uncle Raymond FRYE (FREY, FRY) was in this orphanage sometime between 1910/1920s. My mom met him when he was grown up because he found my grandmother (his Mom) because court records were not sealed then. He visited his siblings (my mom & others) several times then just moved and no one ever heard from him again. Of course they are all deceased now but for 45 yrs I have tried to learn more. I posted the only picture of him online years ago. I just have this empty space in my heart that wants to know more as he is the only one I haven't been able to include in my family history. I want his exact birthdae and any records I can have. I have been praying for this for a long time. If you can be of any help, I would appreciate it. Thank you. The photos of the orphanage as it was when he was there would be real nice too.
My Uncle Raymond FRYE (FREY, FRY) was in this orphanage sometime between 1910/1920s. My mom met him when he was grown up because he found my grandmother (his Mom) because court records were not sealed then. He visited his siblings (my mom & others) several times then just moved and no one ever heard from him again. Of course they are all deceased now but for 45 yrs I have tried to learn more. I posted the only picture of him online years ago. I just have this empty space in my heart that wants to know more as he is the only one I haven't been able to include in my family history. I want his exact birthdae and any records I can have. I have been praying for this for a long time. If you can be of any help, I would appreciate it. Thank you. The photos of the orphanage as it was when he was there would be real nice too.
Also, it was known that back then, many of the orphans then went on to Western PA Industrial school for boys.
So glad I found this forum. Pittsburgh Orphanages are at the heart of my brick walls. I have only a
story told to me by my dad befre he died and it has yet to be enough to find out anything for certain.
The story is my grandmother Anna McCormick grew up in an orphanage in Pittsburgh. I find an Anna McCormick age 14 as a laundry maid in Mercy Hospital in the 1920 census. Was Mercy Hospital an
orphanage as well. She then marries right after leaving the orphanage. Has two sons in 1925 and 1926. My father and my Uncle. She and their dad part ways. She marries someone else whose name is unknown to me. Around 1930 she dies giving birth to a daughter who dies also. My father would only say that he and Billy wanted to stay with the step father. Back then single men did not raise children and certainly not stepfathers. So dad and his brother went into the Orphanage. He never told me the name, only said that it was a catholic boys farm and he was devastated by being required to kill chickens. He gained a very intense dislike for Nuns and Priests. Would anyone know
what the name of this boys farm would be? And where I might be able to find orphan census records to try and locate both them and their mom?
Their mother apparently always told people after her divorce from their dad that she was going to make sure the boys were raised in a good family and not in an orphanage as she had been. Sadly ironic that they ended up in one. Anyway I have been working on this for ten years and getting no where. Perhaps someone knows these institutions and can give me some guidance.
Thank You
Annie
1930 die
Does anybody knows if there is any hOme for kids( poor kids I mean) I want to do something good, but I cannot find any place to do it. If anybody knows please let me know.
You know I think that the help you are wanting to provide would be helpful for children who are in shelters with their mothers. Sometimes related to a father/stepfathers abuse. In that situation when a mother leaves she leaves belonging behind.
You might want to look in the area for battered womens shelters. The
kids could sure be comforted by kindnesses from others.
Just a thought.
Annie
If anyone knows of anyone who was in this institution in the late 1930s or 1940s, please let me know. I'm interested in talking to people because my mother, Mary Lou Weber, was there at that time.
Thank you so much!
Sorry I can't help you on that time frame, but I use to live there. I grew up there as a kid, late fifties early sixties, St. Paul is now used for a Seminary. You would probably do better to call them and ask if they have records there. They may not cause part of the orphanage burnt down. That was the part with the Chapel and the girls dorms. Hope you find the information you're looking for.
[quote=kodabear;5157626]My father and his younger brother were there during your time, his name is Howard Skufca. Do you know him?[/quote
My name is George,
I was in St Pauls Orphanage, in the early 50's tru '54, and did know of Thomas sufka, (did i spell that right?), and may have some pics of him, i have a lot of pics of St Pauls, esp the children that were there with me. If u have any further interest, please contact me via e/m, REDS@NEO.RR.COM, would love to talk with others that were in St Pauls. I thank god every day for the wonderful education i rec' at St Pauls, esp the beautiful "Sisters of Mercy" Please feel free to contact me
I was at St Pauls from 1940-1950, knew a few Webers if this will do you any good.
dan maher
Hello, my name is George, and i was at ST PAULS FROM THE LATER 40'S TRU '54, I did know of a "Richard Weber", we played in the band together, (The orphanage band), under Mr. DiMagio., and if i look hard enough i may be able to locate pics of him in my scrap book, have numerous pics of the buildings, children that were there with me, and the wonderful sisters of mercy, if i can be of further help, feel free to contact me at my e/m address. I just stumbled upon this site, and was thrilled to learn of it because of my education at st pauls....
Dear Memariah and anyone else who may be able to help with info. on my father:
My father lived in Snowshoe, Penn. and was put in an orphanage at the age of approx. 6. He was born on 1/26/17. He said it was a Catholic orphanage run by very, very strict Jesuit Priests. He stayed there until he was old enough to get out by himself, and neither he nor his brother and sister were ever adopted. His name was Stephen Skrencak. Our last name has been changed over the years and letters were transposed. I do remember him describing the orphanage as being on a hill and there was a church, and that is all. Is it possible that someone could find something in their research. I am trying to find out anything about what orphanage this was as well as obtaining any information on my father during his life there. My father died in 1995 and rarely talked about it other to say that the priests were very strict and he had to learn latin, etc. Can anyone help me?
Anne
Last edited by midge2914; 05-27-2009 at 09:10 AM..
Reason: typo's
Hi, really new at this. Hopefully someone can help. My husband's family has never followed their roots and started after his father died. His great grandfather died after 6 year illness and left his wife with 12 children. Some of the older children were able to care for themselves, the youngest died months after her father. The surname is Cook and they came from Washington, PA. In there grandfather's obit it said the younger ones were from Pittsburgh and my husband's aunt said that her father had told her they were in a Catholic Orphanage and wondering if it could be St. Pauls, does anyone know if the building is still standing? Their first names were Ruth, Irene, Harry, Verne and John....Anything would be helpful. Thanks
My mother was in this orphanage from 1937 to 1945. Her name was Ernestina Martha French. The nuns changed her name to Barbara Hope. She married Richard Jacks in 1949 and became Barbara Ernestina Jacks. He passed away. She remarried in 1959, her name then was Barbara Ernestina Hon. She passed away in 1984. My name is Pam and I can be reached at [email]spotinc@bellsouth.net[/email] for stories to share.
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