dhoertt
18 posts
Mar 05, 2013
10:14 AM
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Anyone remember the Orphan's Picnic, held the last Sunday of June every year?...for the benefit benefit of what was then St. Joseph's Orphanage on St. Paul Avenue, bordered on the south by Demphle and on the east by St. Joseph's Avenue. There were rides and gambling games like chuck-a-luck, bingo, bratwursts, and ubiquitous raffles for hams...must have gone on till about 1972? Chairman was Al Berberich who lived in a house on St. Paul and Demphle..."All For The Orphan's"
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cilla46
159 posts
Mar 05, 2013
1:21 PM
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We went to the Orphan's Picnic every year.We lived on Illinois Ave. so it wasn't very far for us to walk.The last time I have a clear memory of being there is 1961 because it was the first date I ever had with my future husband.
The grounds would be full of people playing the games and kids waiting to go on the rides.It was a lot of fun and it did benefit the orphanage.
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Billd1952
48 posts
Mar 05, 2013
5:03 PM
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Went to the picnic every year too. Always a large crowd.
Last Edited by Billd1952 on Mar 05, 2013 5:03 PM
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jfox68
73 posts
Mar 06, 2013
4:15 AM
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My family lived on Gebhart. I remember going to the orphan's picnic. It was always so much fun for us kids.
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rdebross
49 posts
Mar 08, 2013
3:34 PM
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The Orphans' Picnic was indeed a big deal when I was a kid in the 1950's. St. Joseph Orphanage had land along St. Joseph Ave. south of Demphle reserved for the annual event held about the 3rd Sunday of June. Many of the food and game booths had canvas covers supported by an extensive system of permanent metal poles and pipes. Various Catholic parishes and organizations manned the booths games of chance, games of skill and all the fairground food imaginable. Civic organizations participated too. The grounds had an electrical system along the perimeter with lots of utility poles topped by flood lights and loudspeakers. Beer was cheap and the brats roasted on large charcoal grills were "world class." The midway rides were the best available for a temporary carnival. The north side of the grounds had a screened in field house filled with picnic tables for those who bought the chicken dinner. On the west side of the grounds was an elevated "press box." All day long the emcee would be on the PA horn yelling about lost kids and other news. At least every five minutes we were reminded that all of our gambling, drinking, thrill riding and eating was "ALL FOR THE ORPHANS!!!!" All in all a helluva day for kids and the grownups too. Certainly an event that made its mark in Dayton's cultural history.
Last Edited by rdebross on Mar 08, 2013 3:40 PM
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dhoertt
19 posts
Mar 09, 2013
4:08 AM
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rdebross: I have a good photo of this back then if I knew how exactly to post it here....
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Jim82
5 posts
Aug 01, 2013
5:11 AM
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Would love to see any photos of this event. In addition to growing up just a couple of blocks from the orphanage, my uncle was president of the facility for several years (he was likely that person in the tower calling names of lost kids, etc.). Spent many days assembling the booths for the picnic (each parish sponsored/manned a booth)...great times...great memories.
Last Edited by Jim82 on Aug 01, 2013 5:12 AM
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lfecher
1 post
Aug 08, 2013
1:09 AM
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I lived in 1/2 of the duplex on Demphle that Al Berberich owned from my birth until the age of three.
My parents moved in that house after they were married and my father worked part time at the orphanage.
I remember going up there and getting vanilla wafers from the nuns and sledding there in the winter.
The picnics were great fun with lots of games for the kids.
My grandfather was a beer saleman and supplied the picnics there with lots of beer.
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Tadman1
8 posts
Aug 12, 2013
12:28 PM
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To; lfecher, my sister married Chuck Berberich and lived in half that duplex. Was your dad "Shorty" Fecher?
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luv my dayton
353 posts
Aug 12, 2013
8:24 PM
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Never attended the picnic but heard it was a great event. Does this picnic still take place?
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pie8me
137 posts
Aug 14, 2013
2:45 PM
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Spent the first 8 years of my life (1956 to 64) living on Demphle. St Joeseph was a really great front yard for a kid. Apple orchard, grape vives, plenty of room for kites and snowmen. Still remember most of the families that lived there: Dukro, Robertson, Hart, Reinhardt, Mauch, Zimmerman, Wilson, Long, Schmalstig and a few others I've forgotten. Sounds like little Germany, doesn't it? I had about 12 mothers on that street. Never could figure out why I never got away with anything, lol.
The picnic ended some time ago and the Orphanage is no longer an orphanage. Now I think it helps Single Mothers with housing and other services.
Last Edited by pie8me on Aug 14, 2013 2:47 PM
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rtb51
16 posts
Dec 19, 2013
7:19 AM
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They also played CYO football games at the same area of the picnic. Very muddy
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Susan63
10 posts
May 21, 2014
4:16 PM
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My mother use to take me to the St. Jos. Picnic. I have a picture of myself riding a horse or mule or something from there. I think the place closed down sometime ago.
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lfecher
7 posts
Sep 03, 2014
5:06 PM
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Tadman1...Shorty Fecher was my grandfather. Richard was my father.
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