Friday, February 7, 2020
The location of the Old Cemetery at St. Joseph's, Bethany, Oklahoma
Tuesday, September 10, 2019
STONES IN THE OLD CEMETERY
An individual recently contacted me about the cemetery and sent photos of stones still in the area. There is a large memorial stone in place (as noted previously) but there are three stones on the ground. One has an inscription visible.
Michael Wegner 8 Feb 1861 to 17 Oct 1930, His name, along with his two sons, are listed on the memorial marker and other records validate the information and identity.
Other records indicate this man listed in an index of Catholic Cemeteries. That source showed him (with those dates) two children in the Catholic Cemetery in Wilburton, Latimer, OK. The others listed were an Edward A. 1903-1922 and a Joseph M. 1910-1927.
That may have been the plan to be buried there. His stone in the Bethany grave appears to indicate he was there at St. Joseph's in their Senior Adult Care Center at the time of his death. Many families had been forced to turn their children over to the care of the nuns when wives died and they themselves took ill or lost their jobs. That no doubt explains the children.
He appears to also be the man found on the 1920 Census in OKC. On that record (S.D.5, E.D. 161, Sheet 14A) was a Michael Wagner, born in Germany with children (all born in Minnesota): Francis, dau, 19; Edward 17; John 14; William 11; Joseph 9; Lee, 7. In 1905, a man of that same name is in Norton, Winona, Minn. (That record showed a John, Lizzie and a Michael).
Are the three stones Wegman and his two sons? The marker and other historic evidence support that conclusion.
So many people of the time saw their families decimated by illness compounded by widespread great poverty, homelessness, and joblessness of the late teens through the 1930's.
Anyone with information about this family, or these stones, please email me and I will post updated information.
Michael Wegner 8 Feb 1861 to 17 Oct 1930, His name, along with his two sons, are listed on the memorial marker and other records validate the information and identity.
Other records indicate this man listed in an index of Catholic Cemeteries. That source showed him (with those dates) two children in the Catholic Cemetery in Wilburton, Latimer, OK. The others listed were an Edward A. 1903-1922 and a Joseph M. 1910-1927.
That may have been the plan to be buried there. His stone in the Bethany grave appears to indicate he was there at St. Joseph's in their Senior Adult Care Center at the time of his death. Many families had been forced to turn their children over to the care of the nuns when wives died and they themselves took ill or lost their jobs. That no doubt explains the children.
He appears to also be the man found on the 1920 Census in OKC. On that record (S.D.5, E.D. 161, Sheet 14A) was a Michael Wagner, born in Germany with children (all born in Minnesota): Francis, dau, 19; Edward 17; John 14; William 11; Joseph 9; Lee, 7. In 1905, a man of that same name is in Norton, Winona, Minn. (That record showed a John, Lizzie and a Michael).
Are the three stones Wegman and his two sons? The marker and other historic evidence support that conclusion.
So many people of the time saw their families decimated by illness compounded by widespread great poverty, homelessness, and joblessness of the late teens through the 1930's.
Anyone with information about this family, or these stones, please email me and I will post updated information.
Friday, August 9, 2019
INFORMATION SOUGHT ABOUT CHAPEL
Monday, December 14, 2015
ANNOUNCEMENT
Due to circumstances beyond my control, this page will not be added to for the foreseeable future. This has been a labor of service to help those who lived in the orphanage make connections, learn about their 'home', etc. Many wonderful people shared their information, photos, etc. At this time, however, this page will be going to sleep for a while.
Monday, August 24, 2015
A Comment
Eric Stell has left a new comment on your post "1912 Blessing of St. Joseph Orphanage, Bethany, Ok...":
My name is Eric, my father and uncle were in the st. Joseph's orphanage from 1949 to 1953 so its a good possibility you have met them they also have some stories that truly haunt them to this very day. so, I can only imagine what you must have been through yourself even though its a touchy subject, things of this magnitude need to be brought to light regardless of certain allegations and I do realize it has been 66 years now but we would like to have the opportunity to confidentiality discuss this further with you... the actions displayed by some of the staff in this institution were atrocious and completely criminal and I personally feel its time to literally dig up the past and force them to finally face the fact's!
my email address is stellar995@gmail
hope to hear from you
My name is Eric, my father and uncle were in the st. Joseph's orphanage from 1949 to 1953 so its a good possibility you have met them they also have some stories that truly haunt them to this very day. so, I can only imagine what you must have been through yourself even though its a touchy subject, things of this magnitude need to be brought to light regardless of certain allegations and I do realize it has been 66 years now but we would like to have the opportunity to confidentiality discuss this further with you... the actions displayed by some of the staff in this institution were atrocious and completely criminal and I personally feel its time to literally dig up the past and force them to finally face the fact's!
my email address is stellar995@gmail
hope to hear from you
Saturday, April 25, 2015
The Problem with the Census
Many of the databases being used to locate people on the census have gone to a name driven format. This means that without a name to search the census is invisible.
Monday, July 7, 2014
2014 REUNION
2014 St. Joseph’s Orphanage & St. Joseph’s Children’s Home Reunion. AUG, 14, 2-4 PM
Join us in celebrating the reunion of former residents and staff members of St. Joseph’s Orphanage in Bethany, Oklahoma, and St. Joseph’s Children’s Home in Oklahoma City in the Garvey Room at Trinity Gardens, 3825 N.W. 19th Street, Oklahoma City.
If you ever lived or worked at the orphanage or children’s home and would like to receive information about this reunion, please mail, e-mail or phone your contact information to Jane Moon, Catholic Charities, 1501 N. Classen Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73106, jmoon@catholiccharitiesok.org, 405-526-2308.
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Memories
Pete Martinez (Marty) left this comment: "Hi, this is Marty. I remember a fellow that was an all around-Jack of all trades. He had red hair, and a glass eye, that at the time, for a young boy, was really cool, to take out and show us. I am wondering if he is the same as the caretaker mentioned in another blog, a Gerard Oneil, a caretaker in the 60's (by then we were gone). (the Martinez family).
If he is the same, he used to make us (boys) skate-racers,fashioned like a "T" with those old metal skates made for concrete. We would propel ourselves, from two sides of the flagpole circle, and converge in a terrific crash. 8 o'clock medical patchup, by Sister Mary Peter, was something to behold. Today, whenever I see a pair of old metal skates at the swapmeet, or in an antique shop, just can't help but chuckle and remember. "
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
1930's Census of Facility
If you have names of individuals who were residents in the facility for the 1930 census, please leave a comment. The 1930's is proving harder to locate and perhaps with names, I can find the entries. Likewise, if anyone has done a transcription of the Orphanage for 1930 please leave a comment. I will gladly post the list.
1940's Census of St. Joseph's Orphanage
The U.S. Federal census is available for the facility for 1940. It was located in Council Grove, a sub-district of Bethany. The bad news is the copy is very faint and hard to read. It may require many eyes working on this to decipher the names listed there.As any information or transcribed names become available, I will post them here.
Baptisms
Thursday, November 21, 2013
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Life Scenes ca 1963
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| The Church in the background |
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| Msgr Isenbart with some children |
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| At the grotto behind the church |
1960's View
In the early 1960's the area of NW 39th Expressway was still evolving, it was rural land heading out of Bethany and major growth still some time in the future for this corner where the current NW Chamber of Commerce now sits.
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