Comments on: The Orphans of Oakdale Cemetery

By: destiny

destiny — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 11:30:03 +0000

I lived at Wittmyer for 2 years. It is haunted. I saw a few ghost myself. I was walking to my class with my teacher and another student and they pointed at the middle school building and said look do you see it. I couldn’t see it at first but then I could it was a tall woman with long black hair and wherein what looked like goggles. I am not lying. I even asked a staff member why don’t they get the ghost hunters there? She said they wanted to but the president said confidentiality of the other clients but it is really haunted…

By: James L. Mitchell

James L. Mitchell — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 06:58:38 +0000

Thanks for the postings of Annie Wittenmyer Home in Davenport, Iowa, I always wanted to know the history of the section of the Buildings and the Cementary. It looked like it had been an Orphanage Home for children by the way it was structered. I’ll be trying to get more information as time goes by. I love History.

By: Jimmie D. Peterson SR

Jimmie D. Peterson SR — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 20:23:03 +0000

Iwas at the Annie Wittenmyer Home in Davenport iowa from 1941 to 1953
. I spent about 4 years in foster homes,I was five years old when iwent there and aix teen when i was released i have meny meny stories I can tell abouy this place some good some BAD Alot of the records i have I got from the state at the Department Of Human Services 1305 E. Walnut ST Des Moines Iowa 50319-0114

By: SCblogger

SCblogger — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:13:24 +0000

We do not have the actual records from the Home as they are kept by the State of Iowa. I strongly think we may be able to answer your question about a third brother. Our research email is specialcollections@davenportlibrary.com. (posted by Amy D.)

By: Robert Edward Meacham, II

Robert Edward Meacham, II — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 21:45:58 +0000

Russell Arthur & Robert Edward Meacham were placed in the Orphanage beginning, in or about 1924. There was a third brother with them, Alan maybe, that died while there. Can you let me know if there is any information available regarding this crew?

By: SCblogger

SCblogger — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:27:14 +0000

Hi!

No records from the Iowa Soldiers’ Orphans’ Home exist prior to 1910, but our Special Collections Center has photographs of and articles about the Home that might give you an idea of what life as a resident of the Home might have been like.

Please contact our Center (specialcollections@davenportlibrary.com) for more information!

By: joann conolly cousino

joann conolly cousino — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 11:39:44 +0000

My grandfather was there in 1895 as stated by the registry.Trying to find my grandfathers life as a child.Anyone have anymore info or pictures that could help me?

By: Donna Self

Donna Self — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 22:04:00 +0000

My grandmother and her siblings lived here. Losing father to coal mining accident and mother to TB the yr before 1906. I read of screams coming from the graveyard. By her accounts life there, without the fire, was tortuous.
She was not a complainer!!!!
Unable to reach the sink she stood on a stool to wash many dishes in scalding water..the boys worked long hrs on the farm. The little food they were fed was horrible gruel.
They used harsh chemicals on the head for lice. Her once thick hair never grew back. Her hands were twisted from being beat. Coming to the defense of her siblings was her biggest issue and when she was beaten most.

By: Scott Peters

Scott Peters — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 09:44:20 +0000

pertaining to the orphans buried in oakdale cemetery which I recently visited on a “Ghost hunt”.. I am a resident of Davenport, IA and recently ventured into this cemetery specifically to visit the orphans. What struck me as an unexplainable oddity would be a burial with no name, nor dates.. but read as follows “Limb of Unknown Child” As we all know, it would be hard not to notice a child losing a limb and not being identified unless the accident which occurred multiple children and in such case, barely identifyable.. I’ve been looking into this supposed fire and have nothing to show for it. Anyone else know any details on this? -Scott

By: swesson

swesson — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:56:12 +0000

State of the art child care in 1860 certainly looks different from our viewpoint almost a hundred and fifty years later, doesn’t it?

From what we’ve read, most people then were pretty impressed (and so are historians) that the children of the Home were so well cared for and that so many survived the carious epidemics that hit our area.

But child care has certainly come a long way, hasn’t it?

Sarah