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Association of Ex-Pupils

From Ohio History Central
Revision as of 17:11, 27 April 2013 by Unknown user (talk)


In 1869, the Grand Army of the Republic, a veterans' organization of Union soldiers who fought in the American Civil War, established the Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home in Xenia, Ohio. This institution was the predecessor of the Ohio Veterans' Children's Home. In 1870, the State of Ohio assumed control of the home. The Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home was originally located in a rented building in Xenia, Ohio. In 1869, Xenia residents provided the GAR with 150 acres of land to build a permanent facility.

Originally, the Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home provided Ohio children who lost their father in the American Civil War with a place to live. Eventually, the State of Ohio opened this institution to orphans of all military conflicts and the children of all veterans, including ones who had not died on the battlefield. In some cases, the children had not lost their parents. Due to financial difficulties, a veteran and/or his spouse might leave their children at the Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home in the care of the State of Ohio.

In 1881, the Association of Ex-Pupils was formed. This organization consists of former pupils of the Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home or of the Ohio Veterans' Children's Home. Since 1881, the Association of Ex-Pupils has held a three-day reunion. The reunion takes place on the grounds of the home, although the Ohio Veterans' Children's Home was closed by the State of Ohio in 1997. The Association of Ex-Pupils also operates a museum on the grounds of the former Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home.

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