Against all hopes, Bellegard, the Swedish farming oasis, never truly became a town. But in symbiosis with Mariadahl, both “towns” persisted for approximately 30 years before Bellegard dissolved. Their union was the only thing that kept either town…
Mariadahl, named after the Swedish founder's mother, meaning "Valley of Mary" grew on the cornerstone of the Swedish Lutheran church that called parishers to worship every Sunday by the sound of its beautiful bell.
This paper explores the forms of child welfare prevalent in both Kansas and the entirety of the United States during the time before the modern foster care system became the prevailing norm.
