A Brief History of Buffalo, NY

Orphanages in Buffalo

Like many new cities during urbanization and industrialization, the city encountered many hardships.  The Civil War, Cholera Epidemics, and the first World War left many families destitute and unable to care for their children.  The answer to the ever daunting question - "What do we do with the dependent children?" was of course to build institutions to care for these children. 

Although Buffalo no longer has operating orphanages; many of the local family and children's services agencies were originated from orphanages.  Agencies such as Baker-Victory Services, Hopevale, Inc., Gateway-Longview Families United are just a few examples of agencies that continue to provide services for troubled and dependent children.

With the ever increasing governing regulations and fininacial assistance offered to dependent children and their families, orphanages ceased as the typical mode to provide shelter and care.  Some orphanages closed, others carried on their missions through foundations, and others changed with the times; providing specialized and individual care. 

Since the word "orphanage" doesn't only refer to institutions to house parentless and dependent children, I am not going to focus only on institutions that once had the word orphanage in its name.  I will also be providing information on foundling homes, unwed mothers, infant homes, and juvenile correctional facilities.