BURLINGTON (VT)
Burlington Free Press [Burlington VT]
September 4, 2025
By Beth McDermott and AI
Reporter assisted by AI
- Many former residents of the orphanage reported abuse by Catholic leaders.
A memorial honoring residents of the former St. Joseph’s Orphanage, where many children described abuse at the hands of Catholic leaders, will be unveiled in Burlington.
The Voices of St. Joseph’s Orphanage, in collaboration with the city’s Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Department, will host a ribbon-cutting for the memorial from 2 to 4 p.m., Sept. 5, at Kieslich Park on North Avenue, according to an announcement.
The event will feature remarks from former residents and city officials from 2:15 to 3 p.m., followed by the ribbon cutting and refreshments.
The memorial has been years in the making. It includes a black locust archway designed by artist Clay Mohrman and engraved boulders with writings from the Voices of St. Joseph’s Orphanage group.
The orphanage, which operated for 140 years, was home to more than 13,000 children. In the 1990s, many survivors reported abuse by nuns and clerical personnel. That led to the formation of the Voices of St. Joseph’s Orphanage group, which advocated for changes in state law regarding child abuse by institutions.
The memorial was funded by the state, city, Pomerleau Family Foundation and donations from over 50 individuals and small foundations.
Public parking will be available at the Burlington High School lot at North Avenue and Institute Road, less than a mile north of the event. Shuttle service to Kieslich Park will be available, departing from the parking lot at 1:40 and 1:55 p.m. Attendees planning to park at the school are encouraged to arrive by 1:30 p.m. to allow time for walking or taking the shuttle.
Handicap parking will be available on site at 311 North Ave.
This story was created by reporter Beth McDermott, bmcdermott1@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.