1b. Boys Town
Omaha, Nebraska
History:
Boys Town was created by Father Edward Flanagan in 1917 as a place for homeless boys who were abused, neglected or abandoned. Father Flanagan, after ordination, was assigned to parishes in O'Neill and Omaha in Nebraska.
Boys Town was made internationally famous with the 1938 move "Boys Town" starring Spencer Tracy as Father Flanagan.
During OWTC Map Time Period:
During the time period of the Old West Country Trial promotions, Monsignor Nicholas H. Wagner was the administrator of Boys Town. A Nebraska native, Mon. Wagner helped to double the population of Boys Town and create the Boys Town Research Hospital.
Lawrence P. Adams is an author and former resident of Boys Town during the 1960's. He has published a book and website of his experiences and graduation from Boys Town in 1968. As Lawrence mentions in his book, " Graduation at Boys Town is different from any other high school graduation in the country. You are not only graduating high school; you are also loosing "your home." Boys Town had for over seven years provided me "a home." It had provided me nurturing, a spiritual compass, an education."(1)
Today:
Father Steven Boes is now the current executive director of Boys Town and continues the traditions of Father Flanagan and Mon. Wagner. Father Boes learned to work with children of all faiths, especially the Native American Children he worked with early in his service.
Much has changed in the area surrounding the old Overlook Farm that became Boys Town. In the mid-60's, Boys Town was somewhat isolated in the farm fields on the outskirts of Omaha. Today, the city of Omaha has expanded significantly westward and Boys Town is now a surrounded by office buildings, neighborhoods and shopping areas and Dodge Street is now much more than a 2 lane highway. Boys Town is still an oasis of 900 acres (400 of which is agricultural) in which children with troubled backgrounds can find a nurturing and helpful family environment.
Boys Town has many places on it's campus for those wishing to visit, with the Visitors Center, Hall of History, Father Flanagan's House and the Dowd Memorial Chapel being the most popular.
Page Specific Links:
Boys Town Homepage
Lawrence P. Adams Website
Citations:
1-Adams, Lawrence. "Boys Town High School." LOST SON? A Child's Journey of Hope, Search, Discovery and Healing. 6 Jan 2008 .
Stumble It!