Father Flanagan believed, “There are no bad boys. There is only bad environment, bad training, bad example, bad thinking." And so, on this day in 1917, Father Flanagan, an Irish Priest in Omaha, Nebraska, opened the doors to a run-down Victorian mansion that would become known as "Boys Town." Six boys walked in that day, but within six months there was no more space for the children that had walked in or been sent by the courts or citizens to the home.
Father Flanagan appealed to the people of Omaha, and they moved to their new location, a German-American home which had become the most despised building in town after the war. Enrollment passed 100 boys, and the programs included a grammar school, high school, and vocational training. They once more moved in 1921 to it's present location, Overlook Farm 10 miles outside of Omaha.
Today, Boys Town touches 1.6 million lives a year.
3 comments:
HOw wonderful! I'd heard of it, but did not know the background. I love stories like this, Kristen--thanks!
I love them too! Little ideas that God blows up into fantastic ministries. Amazing!
Have a fantastic day!
Great story, Kristen. Didn't Bing Crosby do a movie about this years ago?
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