This is an FYI for any who are researching in Rockland County NY, the area just north of the Tappan Zee Bridge, that borders Northern New Jersey. The Rockland County Messenger (1847-1898) published in Haverstraw, NY has been digitized and is available through the New City Library's homepage: http://www.newcitylibrary.org/ Rockland County is well known for its psychiatric hospitals, orphanages, and various other institutions. Consider the aspect of NYC society post US Civil War, 1870 - 1930+: teaming with immigrants, the ill, orphaned, abandoned, retarded were in such numbers in NYC, that often religious and charitable organizations extended their tentacles into Rockland County. For urban youngsters as well as the ill, the common treatment was to remove them to the fresh air, sunshine, and "clean living" of "the country" There are many Irish surnames in census records of these facilities. Some are still operational, others may not be, but records may yet be obtainable. "Rockland Children’s Homes and Other Institutions which may provide information of Genealogical Interest" The Alms House - Viola - Pomona Department of Social Services - Pomona St. Agatha’s Home for Children - Nanuet Sisters of Charity Convent - (St Agatha’s Home property) - Nanuet NY Foundling Hospital - NYC St. Dominic’s Home - Blauvelt Motherhouse and Novitiate of the Third Order of St. Dominic - Orangetown Asylum of Sisters of St. Dominic - Orangetown St Agnes Convent and Orphanage - Orangetown (Sparkill) Motherhouse and Novitiate Dominican Convent of Our Lady of the Rosary - St. Joseph’s Orphan Asylum - Piermont House of the Good Shepard - Haverstraw, Stony Point Home for the Friendless (American Female Guardian Society) - NYC Woodycrest - Happy Valley - NYC, Bronx, Pomona Crystal Run Village, Inc. - Pomona Five Points House of Industry, Happy Valley - NYC - Pomona The Orphan Trains - NYC The NY Children’s Aid Society, NYC Marydell (Novitiate of the Sisters of Our Lady of Christian Doctrine) - Upper Nyack Christian Herald Camp - Nyack Lakeside School - Spring Valley The Edwin Gould Academy - Chestnut Ridge Letchworth Village - (NYS School for Mental Defectives) - Thiells, Haverstraw Twp New York State Orthopedic Hospital for Children [defunct] Rockland Psychiatric Center (RPC) - Orangeburg Rockland Children’s Psychiatric Center (RCPC) - Orangeburg Jawonio, Inc - New City Camp Venture Salvation Army Eventide Home (Door of Hope) - Orangetown [defunct] The Salvation Army - West Nyack Jewish Convalescent Home - Orangetown [defunct] For Jewish orphans the best site is: http://www.kesh.com/hnoh/welcome.html The German Masonic Home - Tappan St. Vincent De Paul Home for Convalescent Women - Suffern Reed Home for Convalescents - Clarkstown [defunct] The Tolstoy Foundation - Valley Cottage Convent of the Holy Child Jesus - Suffern [defunct] Eymard Seminary - Suffern Sisters of Charity Convent - Haverstraw [defunct] Sisters of Charity Convent - Nyack [defunct] Camp Bluefields - Blauvelt Camp Shanks World War II Museum - Orangeburg Haverstraw Mountain Institute - Haverstraw Rockland County Female Institute - Orangetown Dominican College - Blauvelt DETAILS at: http://rocklandgenealogy.org/childrenshomes.htm ************** Play online games for FREE at Games.com! All of your favorites, no registration required and great graphics – check it out! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1211202682x1200689022/aol?redir= http://www.games.com?ncid=emlcntusgame00000001)