Boys Town: A Legacy of Care for Children, Families, and the Community
Written by: Bailey Hemphill | Compiled by: Boys Town
Compassionate Beginnings n 1913, a young Irish immigrant by the name of Father Edward Flanagan came to Omaha to serve as a priest at St. Patrick’s parish. Discouraged by the number of homeless men he witnessed living on the Omaha streets, Father Flanagan opened a series of “Working Men’s Hotels” where men could live and get help finding a job. Although he served 40,000 in the process, Father Flanagan realized that he was not changing their underlying problems. After conducting a study of 2,000 men, he decided his work should begin with homeless boys.
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At the turn of the century in Omaha, groups of homeless and abandoned boys lived along the Missouri River bank and in the warehouses of the Old Market area, and soon enough began to visit Flanagan’s homeless men’s shelters for shelter and warm meals. In late 1917, Father Flanagan gathered a group of like-minded Omahans and proposed the creation of a home for these boys. After borrowing $90, Father Flanagan opened a revolutionary home where all children were welcome regardless of their race or religion and could live as a family with no fences or bars on the windows. Given love, guidance, and an education, the boys could then become productive citizens. Many people laughed at Father Flanagan, saying that the home would fail and close within a year; but by the spring, 100 boys were living in the home. A few years later, • readonlinenow.com December 2011 • • • •
Father Flanagan purchased Overlook Farm on the outskirts of the city and moved his home there, where it grew to include a school, dormitories, and administration buildings. In 1936, the Village of Boys Town became an official village in Nebraska. Over the years, Boys Town doubled in population, gained solid financial footing, and expanded educational, vocational, athletic, and arts opportunities for its residents. Eventually, the innovative Family Home Program replaced the dormitories with family-style homes, and girls soon began coming to Boys Town for help. News of Father Flanagan’s work spread worldwide. After World War II, President Truman asked Flanagan to take his message to the world. He traveled the globe, visiting war orphans, and advising government leaders on how to care for displaced children. Although Father Flanagan died in 1948, his work at Boys Town—which he called “God’s Work”—continues. “Father Flanagan’s simple dream to make the world a better place for children thrives because people still believe that every child deserves to be valued and loved, and live a healthy, positive life,” says Tom Lynch, Director of Boys Town Hall of History.
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