Father Flanagan and his Father Flanagan and his Town for BoysTown for Boys

The Beginnings of Boys Town The Beginnings of Boys Town

Up until 1915, an Irish Catholic Up until 1915, an Irish Catholic Priest, Father Edward J. Flanagan Priest, Father Edward J. Flanagan was running a free boarding was running a free boarding house for out of work menhouse for out of work men

In 1917, Father Flanagan was In 1917, Father Flanagan was riding a streetcar and ran into a riding a streetcar and ran into a friend of his, Leo Hoffman a well friend of his, Leo Hoffman a well known funeral director. known funeral director.

They began talking about what to They began talking about what to do w/ the 5 boys that Father do w/ the 5 boys that Father Flanangan has taken in, they had Flanangan has taken in, they had no homeno home

The MansionThe Mansion Cate Dennehy, a real Cate Dennehy, a real

estate agent overheard estate agent overheard their conversation, she told their conversation, she told Fr. Flanagan that her Fr. Flanagan that her company had a house not company had a house not yet on the marketyet on the market

She asked to show it to Fr. She asked to show it to Fr. Flanagan and it was Flanagan and it was perfect for what he neededperfect for what he needed

It was located at 25th and It was located at 25th and Douglas streetsDouglas streets

Getting the ResourcesGetting the Resources Fr. Flanagan borrowed $90.00 Fr. Flanagan borrowed $90.00

for rent from his pal Henry for rent from his pal Henry Monsky, a Jewish lawyer and Monsky, a Jewish lawyer and moved the boys and himself moved the boys and himself in.in.

Just after Thanksgiving of Just after Thanksgiving of 1917, w/ the help of a Jewish 1917, w/ the help of a Jewish lawyer, a Funeral Director, lawyer, a Funeral Director, and a Real Estate Agent, the and a Real Estate Agent, the new home began what today new home began what today is a world renowned is a world renowned organizationorganization

By Spring the following year, By Spring the following year, (4 months later) the number (4 months later) the number of boys reached 100, Again, of boys reached 100, Again, Fr Flanagan was out of roomFr Flanagan was out of room

Monsky

Fr Flanagan Moves AgainFr Flanagan Moves Again Anti-German feelings Anti-German feelings

spread across America spread across America during WWIduring WWI

Fr Flanagan was able to Fr Flanagan was able to acquire the newly acquire the newly abandoned German abandoned German Society House (south 13Society House (south 13thth street)street)

This building would be too This building would be too small by 1921small by 1921

Donations kept pouring Donations kept pouring in…in…

Fr Flanagan began to look Fr Flanagan began to look west for the new homewest for the new home

Overlook FarmOverlook Farm In 1921, Fr Flanagan by In 1921, Fr Flanagan by

donations and fund raising donations and fund raising bought a small farm 10 bought a small farm 10 miles west of downtown miles west of downtown OmahaOmaha

On October 22On October 22ndnd, 1921 Fr , 1921 Fr Flanagan moved out to Flanagan moved out to Overlook FarmOverlook Farm

The location was perfect The location was perfect due to its’ distance from the due to its’ distance from the city, no distractions.city, no distractions.

Before permanent Before permanent structures were built kids structures were built kids lived in the chicken coop lived in the chicken coop and barnand barn

Life at Overlook FarmLife at Overlook Farm Fr Flanagan felt that hard Fr Flanagan felt that hard

work would give these kids work would give these kids something to be proud of: something to be proud of: ownership ownership

Determined to make farming Determined to make farming payoff, Fr Flanagan bought payoff, Fr Flanagan bought dairy cows and began selling dairy cows and began selling over 200 lbs of butter and over 200 lbs of butter and cheese each per month.cheese each per month.

By the 1950’s Boys town was By the 1950’s Boys town was a leader in FFA events. They a leader in FFA events. They were so good that they held were so good that they held their own competitions at their own competitions at Overlook FarmOverlook Farm

Life at Overlook FarmLife at Overlook Farm By 1923, “Old Main”, the By 1923, “Old Main”, the

Admin bldg was completed Admin bldg was completed and the boys moved in from and the boys moved in from chicken coop and barnchicken coop and barn

Fr. Flanagan began the Fr. Flanagan began the $300K fundraiser to pay it $300K fundraiser to pay it off. It was paid off w/in a off. It was paid off w/in a year by big donors.year by big donors.

The boys had many money The boys had many money making operations. The making operations. The most successful was most successful was making Soap and making Soap and Disinfectants under that Disinfectants under that name of name of Sanitary Products Sanitary Products Co.Co.

Boys Town was Up and RunningBoys Town was Up and Running

The Sanitary Products Co. The Sanitary Products Co. was that big money maker was that big money maker bringing in $14K in 1919 bringing in $14K in 1919 and $18K in 1920and $18K in 1920

Towards the Great Towards the Great Depression, business Depression, business dropped off and the boys dropped off and the boys began to make sleds & began to make sleds & broomsbrooms

In 1926, Boys Town created In 1926, Boys Town created a variety show that traveled a variety show that traveled across the country and a across the country and a weekly radio show offering weekly radio show offering advice to letters from advice to letters from childrenchildren

Boys Town hits the Road & Air Boys Town hits the Road & Air WavesWaves

The variety show traveled all The variety show traveled all over the country led by a 9yr over the country led by a 9yr old Black young man named old Black young man named Oscar FlakesOscar Flakes

The troop did face racism The troop did face racism especially in the South where especially in the South where they were not allowed to stay they were not allowed to stay in certain hotels due to in certain hotels due to minorities being in the groupminorities being in the group

On the radio, “Johnny On the radio, “Johnny Gloomkiller” reached out to Gloomkiller” reached out to children who wrote Fr. children who wrote Fr. Flanagan on a weekly basis. Flanagan on a weekly basis.

Johnny was determined to Johnny was determined to reach out to as many kids as reach out to as many kids as he couldhe could

Boys Town Road ShowBoys Town Road Show

Celebrities Grace BoysTownCelebrities Grace BoysTown Everyone from Hollywood Everyone from Hollywood

actors to Sports stars came actors to Sports stars came to Boys Town.to Boys Town.

Babe Ruth played Baseball Babe Ruth played Baseball with the kidswith the kids

Boystown Goes HollywoodBoystown Goes Hollywood In 1937 Hollywood gets In 1937 Hollywood gets

wind of the story and wind of the story and makes a motion picture: makes a motion picture: BoystownBoystown

Starring Spencer Tracy, the Starring Spencer Tracy, the “Tom Hanks” of the times “Tom Hanks” of the times to play Fr. Flanaganto play Fr. Flanagan

Spencer wins the Academy Spencer wins the Academy Award for his portrail of Award for his portrail of FlanaganFlanagan

Tracey donates his Oscar Tracey donates his Oscar to the Home and is on to the Home and is on display in the Hall of display in the Hall of HistoryHistory

The War YearsThe War Years Many graduates went on Many graduates went on

and joined the militaryand joined the military A few of the first deaths in A few of the first deaths in

WWII are Boys town gradsWWII are Boys town grads Donald Monroe, Will Debs Donald Monroe, Will Debs

and George Thompson die and George Thompson die on the USS Arizonaon the USS Arizona

40 grads are killed in WWII40 grads are killed in WWII

After the WarAfter the War Fr. Flanagan is asked by Fr. Flanagan is asked by

President Truman to est. a President Truman to est. a Boys town type org. in Boys town type org. in Europe and in AsiaEurope and in Asia

He agrees and while in He agrees and while in Berlin on May 15Berlin on May 15thth 1948 1948 going over the set up, he going over the set up, he suffers a heart attack and suffers a heart attack and diesdies

He is brought back to He is brought back to Omaha to be buried in the Omaha to be buried in the Cathedral at Boys townCathedral at Boys town

Fr. Flanagan in Asia

The Death of Fr. FlanaganThe Death of Fr. Flanagan

Father Flanagan’s Tomb at Boys Town

Changes to Boys TownChanges to Boys Town In 1975, dormitories are In 1975, dormitories are

replaced by group homes replaced by group homes In 1979, Women are In 1979, Women are

allowed to attend Boys allowed to attend Boys town changing the name town changing the name to “Boys and Girls Town”to “Boys and Girls Town”

In 1991, the first Woman In 1991, the first Woman Mayor is electedMayor is elected

Today, Boys town has the Today, Boys town has the largest endowment of all largest endowment of all Catholic Org. bigger than Catholic Org. bigger than all the Catholic universities all the Catholic universities and schools combined!and schools combined!