Forestdale Inc. (Formerly The Brooklyn Home for Children) (New York City, New York)

USA / New York / Saddle Rock / New York City, New York
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www.forestdaleinc.org/
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History

The Brooklyn Industrial School Association was established in April, 1854, and incorporated pursuant to Chapter 588, Laws of 1857, enacted April 15, 1857 to be known thereafter as the Brooklyn Industrial School Association and Home for Destitute Children. On February 18, 1921, by order of the Supreme Court, Kings County, New York, the name was changed to become known thereafter as Brooklyn Home for Children.

The Industrial School Association of Brooklyn, Eastern District was established March, 1854 and incorporated March, 1860 .

Brooklyn Home for Children and the Industrial School Association of Brooklyn, Eastern District were consolidated by an order of the Supreme Court, New York, Kings County, dated the 25th day of November, 1927, said consolidated corporation to be known thereafter as Brooklyn Home for Children.

In 1939, the Home received an offer to sell its buildings, located in Brooklyn, though the actual sale did not take place until February 1940. The location, the age and style of the buildings occupied by the Home, coupled with the new developments in child welfare, the sale was seen as the opportunity through which the Home's whole program of child care could be brought to bear. The Board decided on a two-fold program: (1) A small cottage plan and (2) a foster home placement service. Land for the buildings was purchased in Forest Hills, Long Island.

In August, 1941, The Brooklyn Home for Children occupied the newly erected cottages at 67-35 112th Street, Forest Hills, Long Island. The Home is located on spacious grounds, overlooking Liberty Lake on the old World's Fair site in the neighborhood of homes, churches and schools. The children ranging from 6 to 18 years of age, are divided into four groups, junior boys and girls, and senior boys and girls. Each group of eighteen occupies a cottage which is supervised by house parents, and is in reality, a complete unit, having its own kitchen, living room, playroom, dining room and bedrooms.

The people in Forest Hills made the Home's children a real part of the community. The children attended the local public schools and mingled with the children in the neighborhood. Some joined the local troops of Boy and Girl Scouts. The First Presbyterian Church of Forest Hills expanded its Sunday School so that the Home's children could join with them.

In the early days the Home provided some means of education for the poor and destitute children. Later, this type of philanthropy was broadened to include shelter, wider and more practical educational facilities, and nursery day schools to combat the appalling conditions prevalent among the poor and destitute. Today, emphasis is on the casework program, -a careful study of the reasons for placement, -upon planning for the individual's need, -upon practical steps for returning children as soon as possible to their normal milieu.

(Information extracted from The Centennial report Published by The Brooklyn Home for Children in November 1954)
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   40°43'45"N   73°50'30"W

Comments

  • I worked at the Brooklyn Home for Children as a homefinder when the name is being changed soon after to Forestdale. I roamed around, found old photos and art work related to former child residents, and arranged for these items to be hung in the room where families met and meetings were held. The spirits and voices of former residents spoke to me deeply. I am glad to find these comments from a former resident of BHC. I was happy to add this chapter to my own life. As far as I was concerned, the children I served were my children.I spent many hours with my feet on the earth there. Best wishes.
  • My mother, aunt and uncle were in the Brooklyn Home for children in the 1920's. They summered at Locustdale in Hauppauge, LI. Anyone know someone who was there at the same time?
  • My two uncles were there in 1920....not sure how long they were there.
  • I was in "The Home" from 1947 to 1956. I have been looking for others that were in there during this period.
  • Please do not make requests of this organization (they won't see them!) or leave personal contact information in the comments. Thank you!
  • my Grandmother Rosina Ragazzo was there! she remembers a woman who worked there - Betsy Bown or Brown
  • I believe my grandmother may have been there around 1925. Does anyone know if any records still exist?
  • I was in the Brooklyn Home when i was 8 years old, 1936 to 1940. My two sisters Grace and Edna was also with me .Than I was placed in a foster home, along with my sister Edna. The home was on South Thrid Street, not on Sterling Place, the home was sold to a Jewish Group.The picture shown is the same one I remember. We when to summer camp in Hauppauge, L. I, from July to September.first. I don't think the camp had a name or maybe it was dropped at one time. In 1941 all of the children were sent to live in the a Children home in Queens, untill the new home in Forest Hills was built.
  • I lived in BHC for 3yrs in the late 1960's, I was adopted sometime around 1971 I loved that place, movie trips, bowling, playing hide and seek on the grounds. I will never forget, ray unger, mr figgy, mrs monroe, ms gavin....
  • Hey Mitchell, You remember Mike Morgan and Donald Scott? I was there in the late 70's Mr Figgy wa before my time but I remember Mrs Monroe, Mr Daniels Mrs Gordon, Mr Cordez and of course Mr Unger who sadly passed away a year or so ago. Love to chat with you at some point. Do you remember spending summers at Camp Talcott, McAlister or Teen Valley? love to chat with you at some point. Peace Gee
  • The organization still exists under the name Forestdale Inc. We are still a foster care agency, focusing on case management and foster care placements. Here is our website: www.forestdaleinc.org
  • My mother was there around that time as well, and I am seeking information. Have you found any records from that time? - Lauren
  • Jeanne Kliarsky: I lived in the home from 1962-63 and roomed with Laura Young, now deceased; Marlene Binder was in the home and I knew her at summer camp, having been in a different home before that. Miss Milne was the director at the time and was extremely kind and helpful to both Laura and me. When I was older she even came to visit me in university and once I met up with her in England. A great lady who looked after her mother at the home well into her very old age.
  • Maureen- I lived at the Home in 1954,55,56. I lived in Junior Girls and our housemothers were Miss Edwards, Miss Ketels and Miss Sayer. Miss Sayer was a lovely woman. We sang around the piano with her. She also taught me how to sew. I spent many hours roller skating around the oval and playing jacks on the stair landing. We took dancing lessons in the basement of the Administration building The infirmary was upstairs.In the summer we all spent a month in camp. I attended Edgewater Crèche in NJ and Camp Elko Lake in NY. There was an amusement park on Queens Blvd. called Fairyland. One day a year the kids from the Home had a party there. On Sunday we were allowed to see a tv show- Lassie. We all loved the cottage dog , Tippy. Does anyone else share these memories? I remember Marlene Binder, her brother Otto, Sonia and Awilda. , Leslie, Sally Hodges, Walda Wanger.
  • I remember Miss Milne. She was dedicated to the children and a fine woman. Marlene Binder gave me skirt of hers when I was 8. I remember her generosity still- 60 years later. I hope life was kind to her and her brother, Otto.
  • I was in the home when I was 7/8 for a short time 1947/48 as were my two brothers
  • My grandpa was just rattling stories and he mentioned this place. I would love to learn more about what it was, and how he became a resident. If you can provide any info please do!
  • My grandmother, Emily Reese (born 1892 in Brooklyn) was a ward at this Home from circa 1895 until she was placed on an orphan train bound for the Midwest under the auspices of the NY Children's Aid Society in 1906. The Home was then known as the Home for Destitute Children. I wrote a book about my grandmother's life and her stay at this orphanage. It is titled Emily's Story: The Brave Journey of an Orphan Train Rider. In 2014 teamed up with Iowa Public Television to produce a documentary based on the book. The film is titled West by Orphan Train. The film has won two national awards (Leadership in History and Clarion), and has won an Upper Midwest Regional Emmy Award. The book and film also include memories of on of my grandmother's fellow wards of the Home for Destitute Children by the name of Mamie Gunderson.
  • My sister & I were the first "new girls" at the Forest Hills location, directly across from Forest Hills High. So from 1941 through 1947 I stayed first in the Junior Girls' cottage & then at age 12 went into the Senior Girls' cottage. There were many good times, often helped along by the house mothers, Mabel Ketels & Anna Edwards. Charlotte Thim gave us ballet lessons; for a short time I took piano lessons with Miss Quinn, a wonderful, caring, kind woman who had taught herself by ear. Miss Ketels played piano & we loved singing along with her. Both she & Miss Edwards guided us in mounting seasonal plays & musicals. Miss Edwards cooked, & she created many costumes. Margaret Milne was in the Administration Building so we didn't see her often. I think she was liked only in a lukewarm fashion. Mrs. Catherine DiNapoli didn't live on the premises, but came in to cook in Senior Girls' cottage. Also, we enjoyed the company of her husband Anthony & their little daughter, Catherine, Jr. Junior Girls had a dog, Frisky, obtained as a puppy, loved by all. There's much to tell, maybe another time.
  • I remember you Mitchell Page!! Mr. Unger died though three years ago
  • Well that means I know you too! Carl and Kathy Ward in the building!!!
  • 4/23/18 , It's three years later so I doubt you will see this Maureen, if you do my sisters Marlene and Erika are doing well their in California and I'm in Palmer Alaska, look me up. It would be great to talk with you. Otto
  • Wow! I was there from October, 1954 until August, 1962. . . .I do remember Miss Ketals and Miss Edwards and Mrs. Thayer! Miss Ketals and Miss Edwards bought a home in New Jersey. . .a doll like cottage and were going to retire there, but Miss Edwards died first. . . . Miss Milne was okay. When I was sent to a different camp than the rest of the kids (I don't know why), in the summer, this camp had horses (Jubliee Ranch), and Miss Milne gave me her riding boots! Lots of memories there! This is Marlene Binder
  • Hey, Jeanne. . . 3 years later and my brother found this site for me and I saw your message. I always remember you saying how you wanted to live in England! Dreams do come true sometimes. And Jubilee Ranch. . . what a camp. I see you left the home shortly after I. We had a mini reunion at the home back in 2001. . . about 17 of us got together. The home was a good place for us. Memories! Sad to hear about Laura, though.
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This article was last modified 17 years ago