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Archiver > ORPHANAGES > 2001-11 > 1005370641


From: Nathan Stewart <>
Subject: [Orphanages] Roll Call
Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2001 00:37:21 -0500


My interest in the list is personal. This list was originally proposed by
me as a way for those of us who were orphanage raised to share experiences
and chat. I am pleased that it has evolved into a genealogy list as I have
an interest there too.

I lived (in the 50s) in the Church of God Orphanage in Sevierville
Tennessee USA. In the early 60s the name was changed to The Church of God
Home for Children. Last year, the name was changed to The Smoky Mountain
Childrens Home. The Home continues to serve youngsters who need care and
has about 100 residents. Oddly...in the 50s we had 300 kids on campus with
about 75 employees. Now they have 100 kids and still have about 75 employees.

The early focus of the Home was to provide housing, clothing and food along
with spiritual guidance to kids whose regular families couldn't care for
them. Today the focus includes those issues but also recognizes the extreme
need for counseling as most of todays kids come from extremely abusive
situations. Some of the horror stories of mistreatment that I have heard
would reduce the most callous of men to tears.

I served as president of the Alumni Association for several years and as
such was in touch with many people who grew up in similar homes. Not all of
the stories we could tell are easy listening.

Our Alumni Association sponsors a reunion every two years and see about
300-500 former residents return to see old roomies...share a laugh or two
about some eccentric houseparent...and retell stories from our past. Many
of us consider our orphanage friends as our true brothers and sisters and
feel closer to them than to our own blood kin.

Nathan Stewart




http://www.mindspring.com/~bumposcout

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