The Homes (Life at the Homes)

Welcome to July of 1930! It's summertime at the Homes and that means a 4th of July celebration and lots of visitors. You'll learn about a book that was used to plan outdoor activities and about the children's participation in a promotion from the Eastman-Kodak company. Even in the midst of all the fun, young and old are canning garden produce for the long winter. On a somber note, M...

Welcome to May of 1930! As Iowa leads the way in introducing night baseball, the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Bill is argued in Washington, DC. On Burlington Road, money is tight but their love of music is always a welcome distraction. Throughout the years, a variety of individuals and music ensembles performed including an opera singer and a traveling troupe of German men who looked like they stepped righ...

Welcome to June of 1930! Iowa is celebrating its national champion but June at the Homes means only one thing ... the annual Orphans Day celebration. The weather limits attendance in the morning but the afternoon was a success. Andy shows his range of hosting abilities in this episode -- he recites his great-grandfather's Orphans Day sermon from 1939, does his best "Ben Stein" to su...

Welcome to April of 1930! While the first day of the month is full of light-hearted pranks, the mood turns more serious as President Hoover's first term is evaluated and the 1930 census kicks off. The world is changing -- whether it's demographics as revealed by the information collected by the census enumerators or public opinions about those in need -- the Homes is impacted by an ever-...

Welcome to March of 1930! March came in like a lion for the citizens of Muscatine and there was certainly a lot happening including news of the death of Mira Hershey.  Ms. Hershey, daughter of lumber baron Benjamin Hershey, had generously donated her father's home on Burlington Road following his death to Rev. Reinemund so that he could start the orphanage. Learn how she left Muscatine and ma...

Join us for Guest in the Homes as we interview Rev. Larry Stumme, son of former Homes' superintendent Rev. Lawrence Stumme. Larry was 5 years old when his father accepted the call to the Homes and he shares his recollections and what made the Homes such a special place. He also shares incredible stories of his experience and involvement in the Civil Rights Movement.

We're back for Season 2 and we're excited to share what life was like at the Homes in 1930. At midnight on January 1st, Muscatine rang in the new year with church bells and a parade. On Burlington Road, the Homes were caring for 60 children and 39 elderly residents and financial pressures were mounting. We share more information about what brought the Kleins to the Homes in 1921. A speci...

Welcome to February of 1930! Wedding bells are ringing as the Klein's oldest son Herb gets married. The orphans celebrate Valentine's Day and receive special treats from a teacher and her class in Kansas and a friend of the Homes who made his Valentine's contributions an annual tradition. The "orphan patriots" also celebrate the birthdays of Presidents Washington and Linco...

In a special episode of Guest in the Homes, we interview the Klein's grandson Ron Klein. Ron is a Professor Emeritus at Columbus State University in Georgia. His father was Rev. and Mrs. Klein's oldest son Herb. Ron shares his recollections of his grandparents, his family, and also of his time living at the Homes for one year in 1939. Fair warning: this episode was recorded in a broom cl...

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 h...

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. 

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...

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.

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 H...

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.

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...

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...

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 speci...

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...

Welcome to May of 1929! The month starts with news of tariffs and also the reemergence of the 17 year cicadas. The newspaper in May contained an article about one of the elderly residents of the Homes. He had been the Sheriff of Muscatine County in 1893 and we learn about the Saloon Wars and its shocking result. There is also a delightful story of a fun afternoon for the children.

Welcome to June of 1929! June bring Orphan's Fest - the largest event of the year at the Homes. Visitors come from far and wide for worship and fellowship and to see the Homes. They need good weather and good publicity to make the event a success.  Having as many visitors as possible was especially important this year because they would be dedicating the new building and more visitors meant m...

Welcome to July of 1929! In July, President Hoover tasked a committee of experts to study the health and protection of children. He was an orphan himself and the New York Times speculated that "it is not too early to predict that whatever else he does, he will be remembered above all for what he has done for the children of the world." The workers and residents were ready to celebrate th...

Welcome to March of 1929! The people of Iowa are excited for the inauguration of a new U.S. President. Herbert Hoover was born just up the road in West Branch. Financial troubles continue in March and calls for bigger donations continue. There is also concern about the Messenger newsletter not paying for itself. The newsletter is a vital pipeline to supporters and they ask for cash and also specif...

Welcome to April of 1929! Muscatine is celebrating April Fool's Day and one of the old folks at the Homes pulls a prank that makes the front page of the newspaper. Who is he and why do we want to know more about him? The April newsletter contains a statement regarding Jewish people and instead of ignoring it we wanted to talk about it. Thank you to our guest Dr. Terry Lindell who shared his e...

Welcome to February of 1929! Similar to today, February brings talk of the groundhog and people wondering whether he will see his shadow. Unlike today, the Homes' newsletter shares personal information about the children and the old folks.  The February episode has the special story of one of the most important people in the Homes history - Miss Louise Wittig.  Her life and life's work i...