Allen County, Indiana Genealogy

Also known as the Reformed Orphans Home, 2525 Lake Avenue, now Crossroad Child & Family Services at 1825 Beacon Street. See our Crossroad Child & Family Services section.

The Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana has a Fort Wayne Children's Home / Crossroad history 1880s-1950s by G. Benge on their Members Only section.

September 29, 2022 post by Crossroad Child & Family Services on Facebook:

A photo from their archives labeled Children and staff from the Fort Wayne Children's Home pose for a group picture in the winter of 1920 was posted

January 19, 2023 post by Crossroad Child & Family Services on Facebook:

#TBT from the #CrossroadArchives: In this clipping from the Fort Wayne News Sentinel in March 1945, Richard Sunderman, the new head of the Fort Wayne Childrens Home and his wife (known as the matron of the home), were officially installed. The text of the article is as follows:

"Pictured above at left are Mr. and Mrs. Richard B. Sunderman, newly-chosen superintendent and matron of the Fort Wayne Children's Home of the Evangelical and Reformed Church, who were installed Sunday evening at St. John's Evangelical and Reformed Church.

"Others, starting from third from left, are Dr. John W. Myers, St. John's Church; Dr. Karl Koepke, Salem Church; the Rev. John W. Heistand, Wadsworth, O[hio], and the Rev. B. E. Reemsnyder, Grace Church; Dr. Koepke gave the charge to Mr. and Mrs. Sunderman. A reception followed the installation.

"Mr. and Mrs. Sunderman came to Fort Wayne from Wadsworth, O[hio]. Mr Sunderman is a graduate of the University of Michigan and for 20 years taught at Wadsworth High School and more recently was municipal director of recreation there.

"Mrs. Sunderman has been active in church women's work for the last 15 years. For several years she served as the president of Akron Region Women's Guild, as well as president of the guild in the Wadsworth Trinity Church. She was organist of Trinity Church for six years and is a member of the American Guild of Organists. She was active in the Federated Women's Clubs and served as a member of the of the Medina, O[hio] county YWCA.

"The Sundermans have two children, Elizabeth, 12, and Duane, 17, a senior at North Side High School. Both have been active in music groups and Duane is a member of the North Side High School Band."

1. A Genealogy.com question: Allen County Children's Home in the 1940's and 1950's By Jennifer Phillips December 20, 2003 at 09:17:22 I am looking for information on the Allen County Children's Home that was torn down. I am trying to get original records from the late 1940's and early 1950's. My father and his siblings were residents there until their father came and got them out. My father remembers them taking a photo of him and his siblings. This is the only photo that exists of my father and his brothers and sisters. Shortly after their father got them out of the children's home one of his sisters died. I would love to be able to get that photo for my Dad. I would truly appreciate any help.
2. On the Indiana Genealogical Society Blog a September 27, 2012 post Information Sought On Allen County Children's Home in Fort Wayne Author Dean Jensen is seeking information about the Allen County Children's Home in Fort Wayne, Indiana. In particular, he wants to gain a sense of what the children's daily lives were like (schooling, play, jobs), as well as the layout of the grounds and what it looked like inside and out. Information from anyone who has knowledge of what the institution was like - including janitors, kitchen helpers and groundskeepers - would be appreciated, particularly from the years 1929-1932.

3. A photo of the home was discussed March 23, 2017 on the original Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne, Indiana page on Facebook.
   

4. Pity the Poor Orphan: Children's Homes in America July 29, 2017 event by the The Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
5. See Allen County Children's Home, Allen County Orphan Home, Allen County Poor Farm, Crossroad Child & Family Services, Fort Wayne Developmental Center, Reformed Orphans Home, and St. Vincent Villa Catholic Orphanage.