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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Durham => Topic started by: njlois on Friday 03 February 12 17:10 GMT (UK)

Title: Help Needed Identifying Photo - Orphanage around 1935-38
Post by: njlois on Friday 03 February 12 17:10 GMT (UK)
My aunt is in this photo, her daughter has it dated around 1935, but in 1935 my aunt would only have been 8 years old.  She looks more like 11 or so to me, which would make it around 1938-39. 
My mother was also in the same orphanage, although she is not in this picture.   She was 3 years older than my aunt.  What was the age that a child/young woman would have left the orphanage?
Does anyone recognize this?
It was a Catholic orphanage in the Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Durham area.
Thanks!
Title: Re: Help Needed Identifying Photo - Orphanage around 1935-38
Post by: stanmapstone on Friday 03 February 12 19:12 GMT (UK)
If you don't get an answer there is the North East Catholic History Society www.rcdhn.org.uk/nechs which may be able to help.

Stan
Title: Re: Help Needed Identifying Photo - Orphanage around 1935-38
Post by: njlois on Friday 03 February 12 19:22 GMT (UK)
I'll try there as well - thank you!
Title: Re: Help Needed Identifying Photo - Orphanage around 1935-38
Post by: njlois on Sunday 01 April 12 16:24 BST (UK)
I received information from St. Cuthbert's care, my aunt was at St. Mary's Tudhoe until 1936, at which time she transferred to St. Joseph's Darlington where my mother, her sister was.  So this must be St. Mary's!   It's wonderful to be able to find some information!
Title: Re: Help Needed Identifying Photo - Orphanage around 1935-38
Post by: stanmapstone on Sunday 01 April 12 16:38 BST (UK)
There is a photo of St. Mary's at http://www.picturespennymoor.co.uk/orphanage.html

Stan
Title: Re: Help Needed Identifying Photo - Orphanage around 1935-38
Post by: njlois on Sunday 01 April 12 16:49 BST (UK)
Thanks Stan, my Mom and my aunt went for a visit back to the UK in the 1980's, I know my aunt was looking for places from the old days, she found the location of the school and said told us that it was just rubble, pieces of bricks.   Since the picture says it was demolished in the 1960s that certainly makes sense.   I wonder what's there now. 
Title: Re: Help Needed Identifying Photo - Orphanage around 1935-38
Post by: trish627 on Thursday 30 May 13 14:18 BST (UK)
Hi, I'm new to this site, but I just received this very same picture from a friend of my mom's.  My mom just died last month, so I went through her addresses to notify people of her death.  I received a nice card with this picture from the little blonde girl in the front row.  Her name is Norma and my mom is in the back row to the right, my moms name was Philomena, but she went by Pat.  Her sister, my aunt, was also at this school, but was older and her name was Mary Ruby.
The back of the picture says "St Joseph School" 1937 or 1938.

I am completely stunned this is the very same picture.

My mom didn't talk too much about this place, because of the bad memories.
Title: Re: Help Needed Identifying Photo - Orphanage around 1935-38
Post by: stanmapstone on Thursday 30 May 13 14:47 BST (UK)
You can download a copy of The Spennynews from 2007 at  http://www.spennynews.com/Spennynews93.pdf page 14 has an article on St. Mary's Orphanage, Tudhoe.

Stan
Title: Re: Help Needed Identifying Photo - Orphanage around 1935-38
Post by: stanmapstone on Thursday 30 May 13 15:03 BST (UK)
There is some information about St. Joseph's School at http://www.missing-ancestors.com/st_joseph%20IND%20SCH%20GIRLS%20CARMEL%20RD%20DARLINGTON%20INFO.htm
You can see the school on the 1955 and other maps at http://www.old-maps.co.uk/maps.html?coords=427435,514786

Stan
Title: Re: Help Needed Identifying Photo - Orphanage around 1935-38
Post by: trish627 on Thursday 30 May 13 15:25 BST (UK)
Hi Stan,

Did the school change names?  The documentation has St. Joseph's closing 1926, but the back of the picture was taken in 1937 or 38 and it says "St. Joseph School, Carmel Road, Co. Durham, Darlington.
Do you know of any other pictures?

Thanks,
Trish
Title: Re: Help Needed Identifying Photo - Orphanage around 1935-38
Post by: njlois on Thursday 30 May 13 15:29 BST (UK)
Hi, I'm new to this site, but I just received this very same picture from a friend of my mom's.  My mom just died last month, so I went through her addresses to notify people of her death.  I received a nice card with this picture from the little blonde girl in the front row.  Her name is Norma and my mom is in the back row to the right, my moms name was Philomena, but she went by Pat.  Her sister, my aunt, was also at this school, but was older and her name was Mary Ruby.
The back of the picture says "St Joseph School" 1937 or 1938.

I am completely stunned this is the very same picture.

My mom didn't talk too much about this place, because of the bad memories.

Also stunning news to me. So apparently this was taken after my aunt switched from St. Mary's to St. Joseph's - which means that although she's not in this photo, my Mom was there at the same time.  My Mom (still living) never speaks of it either.   Did you ever contact Norma or whoever sent you the photo?  Recently my cousin sent me a couple of other photos.  I'll have to look through my email for them and post them here.  Perhaps someone may look familiar to you!  So Trish, your Mom and sister were there, and my Mom and her sister were as well.  Coincidences!   I have confirming information that I received from St. Cuthbert's Care.  St. Joseph's was still active in the time period your Mom was there.
Title: Re: Help Needed Identifying Photo - Orphanage around 1935-38
Post by: trish627 on Thursday 30 May 13 15:40 BST (UK)
I am in the US in Maryland and Norma lives in Illinois.  The only contact I have had with Norma is the recent notice I sent to her about my moms death.  I will contact her now (I only have her address) to ask her of any more information she might have.  My aunt was born in 1924 and my mom was born in 1927, so this would make my mom in this pic about 10 or 11.

Norma did mention that my aunt was in charge of her.  So the older girls probably had the responsibility to take care of the younger ones.

I wish I would have had this before my mom died.  She would have loved to have seen this picture.  Even though I know there were a lot of wounds created at this place.

My mom took me out of Catholic school in the 60's because she was so afraid of the nuns hurting me, like they hurt her.

I will let you know of any information I receive.

Thanks,
Trish
Title: Re: Help Needed Identifying Photo - Orphanage around 1935-38
Post by: njlois on Thursday 30 May 13 15:45 BST (UK)
My cousin came across these photos when going through my aunt's things.  I don't know if they are from the St. Mary's time period or the St. Joseph's.   Do any faces look familiar to you?
Title: Re: Help Needed Identifying Photo - Orphanage around 1935-38
Post by: trish627 on Thursday 30 May 13 15:50 BST (UK)
I don't see any attachment of photos's.
Title: Re: Help Needed Identifying Photo - Orphanage around 1935-38
Post by: trish627 on Thursday 30 May 13 16:51 BST (UK)
I don't see any attachments of photo's.
Title: Re: Help Needed Identifying Photo - Orphanage around 1935-38
Post by: njlois on Thursday 30 May 13 17:03 BST (UK)
I'll try this a different way:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v26/parrotheadlois/photo2_zpsc7484990.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v26/parrotheadlois/photo1_zpsf7037a9d.jpg)
Title: Re: Help Needed Identifying Photo - Orphanage around 1935-38
Post by: stanmapstone on Thursday 30 May 13 17:06 BST (UK)
Hi Stan,
Did the school change names?  The documentation has St. Joseph's closing 1926, but the back of the picture was taken in 1937 or 38 and it says "St. Joseph School, Carmel Road, Co. Durham, Darlington. Do you know of any other pictures?
Thanks,
Trish
I assume it was the Certification as an Industrial School which ended on 4th October 1926. Existing Industrial Schools were later merged with reformatories to create the approved school system in 1933.

Stan
Title: Re: Help Needed Identifying Photo - Orphanage around 1935-38
Post by: stanmapstone on Thursday 30 May 13 17:12 BST (UK)
"Certified industrial schools were promoted as an alternative to reformatories"
You can read about Industrial Schools at http://www.workhouses.org.uk/IS/

Stan