Boys Town (organization)
|
Father Flanagan's Boys' Home
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
| Location: | Boys Town, Nebraska |
|---|---|
| Coordinates: | 41°15′52″N 96°7′58″W / 41.26444°N 96.13278°WCoordinates: 41°15′52″N 96°7′58″W / 41.26444°N 96.13278°W |
| Built: | 1917 |
| Architect: | Daly, Leo A., Construction |
| Architectural style: | Tudor Revival, Other |
| Governing body: | Private |
| NRHP Reference#: | 85002439 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP: | February 4, 1985[1] |
| Designated NHL: | February 4, 1985[2] |
Boys Town, formerly Girls and Boys Town and Father Flanagan's Boys' Home, is a non-profit organization dedicated to caring for its children and families, with national headquarters in the village of Boys Town, Nebraska. The property was listed as a National Historic Landmark on February 4, 1985.
The original Boys Town was founded as a boys' orphanage in December 1917 by Edward J. Flanagan, a Roman Catholic priest working in Omaha. The "City of Little Men" pioneered[3] development of new juvenile care methods in 20th century America, emphasizing social preparation as a model for public boys' homes worldwide.
Today, Boys Town is a national leader in the care and treatment of children and families through its research-proven treatment for behavioral, emotional and physical problems. Boys Town also has taken a leadership role in advocating for change in the current child care system, which often offers fragmented and ineffective treatment.
Contents |
[edit] National locations
Boys Town has grown and now provides care to children and families across the country. It is located in 12 areas across the country: California, Nevada, Texas, Nebraska, Iowa, Louisiana, North Florida, Central Florida, South Florida, Washington, D.C., New York and New England.
[edit] Facilities
Beginning in 2004, preservation projects were started to improve interior wood trim, install a new climate control system, and restore the front porch brick railing, the rear interior of the house, the wood flooring, and the front rooms.
[edit] Hall of History
The Hall of History is a museum about the history of Father Flanagan’s Boys’ Home and the Boys Town programs. It is located in the former dining hall built in 1939. Exhibits include actor Spencer Tracy's Academy Award statue that he won for his work portraying Father Flanagan in the movie Boys Town.
[edit] Father Flanagan House
The Father Flanagan House is the former residence of Boys Town’s founder, Father Edward Flanagan. Built in 1927, Father Flanagan lived in the home until 1941, when he moved to the rectory of the Boys Town Dowd Memorial Chapel.[4] The historic house museum has been furnished to appear as in 1929, and includes personal items from Father Flanagan.
[edit] Dowd Memorial Chapel
Officially known as the Dowd Memorial Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, the church is styled after a 15th century Gothic church. On the west side is the Father Flanagan Shrine, which includes the vault where he is buried.
[edit] Chambers Protestant Chapel
The Herbert B. Chambers Protestant Chapel of the Nativity of Our Lord is the spiritual home for the Village’s Protestant youth. Chambers Chapel’s Gothic architecture was specifically chosen to complement Dowd Chapel.
[edit] Leon Myers Stamp Center
The Leon Myers Stamp Center is a museum and office that promotes stamp collecting. Exhibits include stamps featuring children and children's fairy tales, stamps designed by children, philatelic and other educational displays. The Center supports Boys Town programs by selling many donated stamps.
[edit] In popular culture
- Notable alumni of Boys Town include Navy Commander Lloyd Bucher, commander of the USS Pueblo, a spy ship captured by North Korea in 1968.
- A 1938 movie called Boys Town features actor Spencer Tracy portraying Flanagan. It also starred Mickey Rooney, Henry Hull and Gene Reynolds.
- In the 1980 movie Caddyshack, Al Czervik (Rodney Dangerfield) tells D'Annunzio, the caddy: "You're a funny kid, you know... Hey, what time we due back in Boys Town?"
- In the 1987 movie Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, Superman takes Lenny Luthor (Lex Luthor's nephew) to Boys Town after he takes Lex back to prison.
- In the Simpsons Halloween Episode Treehouse of Horror VII the evil siamese twin of Bart is called by Dr. Hibbert "Too crazy for Boys Town. Too much of a boy for Crazy Town."
[edit] Notes
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2007-01-23. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html.
- ^ "Father Flanagan's Boys' Home". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1906&ResourceType=District. Retrieved 2008-06-27.
- ^ http://www.nebraskalife.com/BoysTownSportsLegacy.asp
- ^ http://www.boystown.org/discover Boys Town Attractions
[edit] External links
- Boys Town official site
- Case studies of Boys Town, Mackinac Center for Public Policy
- William J Kozersky Stamp Company commercial site with pictures of Boys Town Christmas and Spring Seals by year.
- NEBRASKA: Boys Town Bonanza, TIME, Apr. 10, 1972
- Education: Rebuilding Boys Town, TIME, Aug. 05, 1974
|
||||||||||||||
- 1917 establishments in the United States
- Organizations established in 1917
- Charities based in the United States
- Social welfare charities
- Orphanages in the United States
- National Historic Landmarks in Nebraska
- National Register of Historic Places in Omaha, Nebraska
- History of Omaha, Nebraska by community area
- Buildings and structures in Nebraska
- Museums in Omaha, Nebraska
- Philatelic museums in the United States
- Historic house museums in Nebraska
- History museums in Nebraska
