In 1920, Joseph Jannick was a McLean County miner who died of the flu. His 26 year old widow struggled to keep their six children at home but finally agreed to go to the Mooseheart orphanage with her children after struggling for 3 years. At Mooseheart the family could "stay together." The mother could find employment there, usually as a housemother/cook and would have opportunities to see her children on a daily basis. When the Jannicks moved to Mooseheart, the Pantagraph reported that they were the third family to be placed there by the Moose Lodge.
Lafe Hardesty died of colitis in July of 1937 after a long stay in the hospital. His wife and six young children were left with no means of support during the Great Depression. Luckily, though, Mr. Hardesty had kept an account with the Moose Lodge, and a home would be provided for his children.
Mooseheart, an orphanage built by the Order of the Moose in 1913, was located on 1200 acres west of Chicago and provided a home for the children of members of the lodge who died or became unable to work. The children would have a good industrial education thanks to the forethought of their father. The school was frequently lauded as sending many children on to university thanks to the many scholarships provided by lodge members. The grounds were a complete city and was ofter called "the child city." There was a 65 bed hospital, post office, school, stores, churches and separate residences for "families" headed by employed house fathers and mothers. At one time 100 mothers were working at Mooseheart in order to stay with their children. Children from all over the United States and Canada lived at Mooseheart. (Moosehaven in Florida was a retirement home for members)
Mrs. Hardesty stayed at Mooseheart until 1945 when she took work at a factory supplying war material. In 1942 and 1959 she spoke with women of the McLean County Moose Lodge about Mooseheart as part of the Christmas charity drive. She lived in Normal while her children were still at school and one daughter came to live with her after her graduation. Mrs. Janick stayed at the home at least until 1930, when the family was featured in a photograph in the Pantagraph. Her children were then aged 14 to 21. As the children graduated from the high school, their graduations were publicized in the Pantagraph as former residents of the city or town. One of the Hardesty daughters married in Normal, where her mother lived.
Mooseheart is still operating as a home for orphans and children removed from their homes. It is still operated under the same system of family units rather than dormitories.