The Homes (Life at the Homes)

Welcome to December of 1929! Iowans were fascinated by a newspaper's weekly installments of a fictional story about a young woman named Jean Marie. The questions asked and the responses of readers give insight into the controversial topics of the day. At the Homes, Baby Frieda finds a family and the elderly residents take care of the medical needs of one of their own. Learn more about the health care of the children - tonsil operations, whooping cough, measles, mumps, scarlet feve...

Rev. William Thalacker joins us for Guest in the Homes. He is the son of the Klein's daughter Erna and was named after his grandfather William Klein. He shares his recollections of his grandparents and his visits to the Homes. He provides insight into what Rev. Klein may have experienced as a German Lutheran pastor. Rev. Thalacker also shares recollections of his time on the Board of the Homes during the 1960s.

Ruth Nelson joins us for Guest in the Homes. She is the daughter of the Klein's daughter Erna and she shares her recollections of her visits to the Homes and also of her grandparents and mother. She recalls the stories of the Klein's time in North Dakota and also what happened when her grandfather brought home his first (and only) automobile.

Barbara Fritschel joins us for Guest in the Homes. She is the daughter of the Klein's oldest daughter Sammy and she and her brother Curt visited their grandparents often when the Kleins lived on the 2nd floor of the Home for the Aged. Barb and one of the orphan girls became friends and Barb was allowed to spend the night in the girls' dormitory. On one occasion, she also got in a bit of trouble. Listen to find out what happened.

Welcome to November of 1929! November begins with a birthday celebration for Mrs. Klein and a little girl from Muscatine. Financial woes continue and the threat of foreclosure hangs over every aspect of life on Burlington Road. But there are happy times, too, as Thanksgiving is celebrated. We also learn about weddings at the Homes. Do you know what a charavari is? Join us to find out.

Podcast guest Rev. Paul Ostrem is the former pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Muscatine. Zion's history and the history the Homes have been intertwined since the very beginning. Rev. Ostrem talks about his research involving Pastor John Haefner that culminated in a book entitled "Dennoch!" Pastor Haefner's triumphs and struggles within the Muscatine community provide valuable insight into what it meant to be a U.S. citizen of German descent in the period before and after World War I. T...

Podcast guest Coby Budridge talks about her family's journey to the Homes. Her father and aunt were residents of the orphanage as children and learn how Coby uncovered their story and her family's history.

Welcome to October of 1929! As the month begins, aviation advances continue to be made around the the world but, at the Homes, they are welcoming visitors and preparing for a long winter. Money woes continue and in asking for money to pay the debt, the newsletter urged: "The more debts we pay, the sooner we will be able to banish the wolf of interests which is now unbidden eating the food of the children." A brother and sister who grew up at the Homes come back for a visit and the girls...

Welcome to September of 1929! Newspapers around the world are analyzing President Hoover's first 6 months in office and the stock market takes an ominous tumble. On Burlington Road, everyone at the Homes is making final preparations as they build a sufficient food store for winter. Professor Ziegler, the director of the Orphans' Band, shares some of the challenges and joys of this special activity for the children. One of the former band members has a serious health issue that leads to ...

Welcome to August of 1929! So much in the world has changed since the children, the elderly, the workers, and the Kleins were living down on Burlington Road as shown by the August newspapers being filled with aviation news and comments by Thomas Edison. Even though the Homes' newsletter gives only a brief mention of the orphans' surprise contact with early Iowa aviation, you'll hear the fascinating background about how it was possible for them to take to the skies. There is also a delightful ...