The Homes (Life at the Homes‪)‬ Researched and hosted by Andrew Newell and Karen Thalacker. Sound edited by Robert Newell.

Welcome to December of 1929! Iowans were fascinated by a newspaper's weekly installments of a fictional story about a young woman named Jean Marie. The questions asked and the responses of readers give insight into the controversial topics of the day.  At the Homes, Baby Frieda finds a family and the elderly residents take care of the medical needs of one of their own.  Learn more about the health care of the children - tonsil operations, whooping cough, measles, mumps, scarlet fever - just to name a few and also hear information about their vaccination process. Despite all the distractions of every day life, Christmas was in the air and Rev. Klein was asking for donations, large and small. He appreciated even the smallest donations because, as he wrote,  "As always, the poor are the best friends of the poor because they know how bitter poverty is." The stories of Christmas are wonderful and, at the end of year, we reflect on the New Year's resolutions from January.

Welcome to November of 1929!  November begins with a birthday celebration for Mrs. Klein and a little girl from Muscatine. Financial woes continue and the threat of foreclosure hangs over every aspect of life on Burlington Road.  But there are happy times, too, as Thanksgiving is celebrated. We also learn about weddings at the Homes. Do you know what a charavari is? Join us to find out. 

Barbara Fritschel joins us for Guest in the Homes. She is the daughter of the Klein's oldest  daughter Sammy and  she and her brother Curt visited their grandparents often when the Kleins lived on the 2nd floor of the Home for the Aged.  Barb and one of the orphan girls became friends and Barb was allowed to spend the night in the girls' dormitory. On one occasion, she also got in a bit of trouble. Listen to find out what happened.  

Rev. William Thalacker joins us for Guest in the Homes.  He is the son of the Klein's daughter Erna and  was named after his grandfather William Klein. He shares his recollections of his grandparents and his visits to the Homes. He provides insight into what Rev. Klein may have experienced as a German Lutheran pastor.  Rev. Thalacker also shares recollections of his time on the Board of the Homes during the 1960s. 

Ruth Nelson joins us for Guest in the Homes. She is the daughter of the Klein's daughter Erna and  she shares her recollections of her visits to the Homes and also of her grandparents and mother.  She recalls the stories of the Klein's time in North Dakota and also what happened when her grandfather brought home his first (and only) automobile.

Podcast guest Coby Budridge talks about her family's journey to the Homes. Her father and aunt were residents of the orphanage as children and learn how Coby uncovered their story and her family's history.