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In the mid 1800's, a million desperate Irish abandoned their famine-stricken homeland for the promise of a better life in America. By the middle of the next century, an estimated 30,000 orphaned children roamed New York City, surviving by joining violent gangs, resorting to petty crime, begging, or selling newspapers for a nickel a piece, and they slept in alleyways, cellars, and sewers. And so the age of orphan asylums began.
On Thursday, December 4, 7:30 to 9 p.m. local author Michael Keene will present a talk on his book, "Abandoned — The Untold Story of Orphan Asylums" at the December meeting of the Irondequoit Historical Society. The meeting will be held at St. John's Lutheran Church (800 East Ridge Road, Irondequoit). This event is free to Society members; guests may attend for $1. For more information, call 336-7269 or visit ggw.org/~ihsociety.