The Homes (Life at the Homes)
Episodes
28 episodes
Season 2: January of 1930
We're back for Season 2 and we're excited to share what life was like at the Homes in 1930. At midnight on January 1st, Muscatine rang in the new year with church bells and a parade. On Burlington Road, the Homes were caring for 60 children and...
Season 2: February of 1930
Welcome to February of 1930! Wedding bells are ringing as the Klein's oldest son Herb gets married. The orphans celebrate Valentine's Day and receive special treats from a teacher and her class in Kansas and a friend of the Homes who made his V...
Guest in the Homes: Ron Klein
In a special episode of Guest in the Homes, we interview the Klein's grandson Ron Klein. Ron is a Professor Emeritus at Columbus State University in Georgia. His father was Rev. and Mrs. Klein's oldest son Herb. Ron shares his recollections of ...
Season 2: March of 1930
Welcome to March of 1930! March came in like a lion for the citizens of Muscatine and there was certainly a lot happening including news of the death of Mira Hershey. Ms. Hershey, daughter of lumber baron Benjamin Hershey, had generously ...
Guest in the Homes: Rev. Larry Stumme
Join us for Guest in the Homes as we interview Rev. Larry Stumme, son of former Homes' superintendent Rev. Lawrence Stumme. Larry was 5 years old when his father accepted the call to the Homes and he shares his recollections and what made the H...
Season 2: April of 1930
Welcome to April of 1930! While the first day of the month is full of light-hearted pranks, the mood turns more serious as President Hoover's first term is evaluated and the 1930 census kicks off. The world is changing -- whether it's demograph...
Season 2: May of 1930
Welcome to May of 1930! As Iowa leads the way in introducing night baseball, the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Bill is argued in Washington, DC. On Burlington Road, money is tight but their love of music is always a welcome distraction. Throughout the ye...
Season 2: June of 1930
Welcome to June of 1930! Iowa is celebrating its national champion but June at the Homes means only one thing ... the annual Orphans Day celebration. The weather limits attendance in the morning but the afternoon was a success. Andy shows his r...
Season 2: July of 1930
Welcome to July of 1930! It's summertime at the Homes and that means a 4th of July celebration and lots of visitors. You'll learn about a book that was used to plan outdoor activities and about the children's participation in a promotion from t...
Episode 1 - Welcome to The Homes
Welcome to the Homes! In Episode 1, you meet Rev. William Klein, his wife Emma, and their 5 children. In 1921, the Kleins moved from the plains of North Dakota to the bustling river town of Muscatine, Iowa, to take over the leadership of ...
Listen to the trailer for The Homes!
Join us as we journey through life at the Homes during the year 1929.
Episode 2 - January of 1929
Welcome to January of 1929! Rev. and Mrs. Klein and their family have been at the Homes for 7 years. Their youngest daughter Em was just 9 months old when they moved to Muscatine in 1921 and her recollections provide important insight into ever...
Episode 3 February of 1929
Welcome to February of 1929! Similar to today, February brings talk of the groundhog and people wondering whether he will see his shadow. Unlike today, the Homes' newsletter shares personal information about the children and the old folks. ...
Episode 4 - March of 1929
Welcome to March of 1929! The people of Iowa are excited for the inauguration of a new U.S. President. Herbert Hoover was born just up the road in West Branch. Financial troubles continue in March and calls for bigger donations continue. There ...
Episode 5 - April of 1929
Welcome to April of 1929! Muscatine is celebrating April Fool's Day and one of the old folks at the Homes pulls a prank that makes the front page of the newspaper. Who is he and why do we want to know more about him? The April newsletter contai...
Episode 6 - May of 1929
Welcome to May of 1929! The month starts with news of tariffs and also the reemergence of the 17 year cicadas. The newspaper in May contained an article about one of the elderly residents of the Homes. He had been the Sheriff of Muscatine Count...
Episode 7 - June of 1929
Welcome to June of 1929! June bring Orphan's Fest - the largest event of the year at the Homes. Visitors come from far and wide for worship and fellowship and to see the Homes. They need good weather and good publicity to make the event a succe...
Episode 8 - July of 1929
Welcome to July of 1929! In July, President Hoover tasked a committee of experts to study the health and protection of children. He was an orphan himself and the New York Times speculated that "it is not too early to predict that whatever else ...
Episode 9 - August of 1929
Welcome to August of 1929! So much in the world has changed since the children, the elderly, the workers, and the Kleins were living down on Burlington Road as shown by the August newspapers being filled with aviation news and comments by Thoma...
Episode 10 - September of 1929
Welcome to September of 1929! Newspapers around the world are analyzing President Hoover's first 6 months in office and the stock market takes an ominous tumble. On Burlington Road, everyone at the Homes is making final preparations as they bui...
Episode 11 - October of 1929
Welcome to October of 1929! As the month begins, aviation advances continue to be made around the the world but, at the Homes, they are welcoming visitors and preparing for a long winter. Money woes continue and in asking for money to pay the d...
Guest in the Homes - Rev. Paul Ostrem
Podcast guest Rev. Paul Ostrem is the former pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Muscatine. Zion's history and the history the Homes have been intertwined since the very beginning. Rev. Ostrem talks about his research involving Pastor John Haefne...
Guest in the Homes - Coby Budridge
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.