The Orphan Train Movement was a supervised welfare program that transported orphaned and homeless children from crowded Eastern cities of the United States to foster homes located largely in rural areas of the Midwest. The orphan trains operated between 1853 and 1929, relocating about 250,000 orphaned, abandoned, or homeless children. (Wikipedia)
This story begins over 110 years ago. In 1882 a group of women began a small orphanage with five children. In 1892 the Children's Aid Society of St. Joseph County was formed. As the turn of the century appraoched, orphan children from the East coast were moved via train to homes out West. St. Joseph County was a stop along the route for the Orphan Train. As the need grew for homes for these orphan children more room was needed. A twelve acre plot was purchased. At one time over 200 children lived on this plot of land. At this cache site you are standing on is the original 12 acre plot of land.
If you look in front of you there is a stone in the building that states 'Children's Aid Soceity' with the dates of 1892 to 1992.
This cache was placed at my place of employment with permission from our campus and facilities director.