The Ideal Maternity Home ~ Case of the Butterbox Babies Conclusion. TRIGGER WARNING!!!

 

We will continue with the story of the "Butterbox Babies". I will explain that title in a minute...

It became increasing clear that Nova Scotia did not have the resources to truly find out what was happening behind the doors of this facility; but news of it had travelled and a reporter from the Montreal Standard decided to do his own investigation. 

He fittingly titled his article, "Traders in Fear: Baby Farm Rackets Still Lure Girls Who are Afraid of Social Agencies."

He (Mavis Gallant) wrote how those on the outside of the home continued to applaud William and Lila Young as honourable citizens for taking in unwed mothers, which was very frowned upon in those days. He also explained how the young, frightened, unwed mothers wouldn't speak out, in fear of reprecussions. These young women were forced into giving up their newborn babies and the health care they were receiving was very subpar. Gallant finally said what everyone was refusing to accuse them of... He referred to the Youngs as International Baby Traffickers.

Of course the Youngs were deeply offended by these words and tried to have him charged with defamation of character, which did go to trial; but nothing went in their favour, when the truth was exposed for the world to see...

During the trial, it was revealed how disgusting William and Lila Young truly were.

It was finally exposed...

Yes, they did sell the babies internationally, advertising in newspapers for potential parents to adopt the illegitimate children, for a fee, of course... They always claimed this to be "God's Work". Some of their fees were outrageous for the time period, but people still paid. BUT what people didn't know was...

If the baby was born sickly, they wouldn't take care of it. They'd be deprived of food, only given water and molasses until they died... they received the same fate as the stillborns, they placed them in butterboxes (wooden grocery boxes) and simply bury them; not reporting any of this to the welfare system nor the government.

Throughout the years of them being in business, there is no clear amount of what atrocities they committed, nor how many babies lost their innocent lives. It is estimated between 400 and 600 babies were murdered by William Peach Young and his retched wife, Lila Gladys Young. 

There was a monument placed at the site of where so many innocents were buried; those who didn't even get a chance to live. The Ideal Maternity Home has burnt to the ground, the only reminder of this horrid time is the foundation of the home.

It is unclear what happened to the Youngs. All I can find is that they continued to rebuild another maternity home, but their reputations were far too tarnished and both passed away in the 1960s. There was a book and movie about this tragically dark era in Canadian history!!

There was never a resolution nor answers for all the survivors; although as morbid as it may have been, there was a survivors' reunion in 1997. As it stands, survivors were all over the globe, and some were able to reunite with their mothers, while others were rejected from them.

What hurts my heart is all these adoptees that will be left with unanswered questions, and obviously the survivor's guilt... How can there not be??? I am an adoptee, and I think it would weigh heavily on my mind about why I was the one who was saved, and not the others.

May all the little souls that were lost find peace. May their mothers find the peace that they so desperately sought. RiP