The Marilyn and Dean Johnston family recently sponsored an orphan train statue in the Concordia community and placed it at Sunset Home. It is one of the first statues to honor a family (William James Family) placed out by the Children’s Aid Society, instead of orphans (keeping the family together). The ties to the two families are unique; both Dean and William were builders. The statue also depicts a boy with his arm around a dog; something Dean is seen doing in many of his boyhood photos.
Dean built homes in the Concordia community and served on the board of directors for Sunset Home for twelve years. Marilyn is currently a resident. Sunset Home has been part of the Concordia community for over 100 years and like the orphan trains, it is part of the community’s history. It is truly an honor to have one of the statues placed at Sunset Home.
Read the newsletter article and accompanying list of statues.
