Locally Made Documentary on Children's Home Hits Big Screen

Saturday marks a homecoming not only for high schoolers, but for the hundreds of children and caregivers whose lives were touched by the from 1895 to 1969.

A Childhood Lost & Found, a documentary made by resident Kraig Moreland and featuring several more Lake Bluff residents, will premiere at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, at Lake Forest High School's Raymond Moore Auditorium.

• See related story: Lake Bluff Resident Brings Historic Children's Home To Life In Movie

The documentary tells the full story of the orphanage, including the historical context and the touching and bittersweet memories of those who called it, and made it, a home.

Moreland has spent the last few days making final touches to the documentary, which he's been working on for more than a year.

Moreland said he “can't even tell you” how it feels to be so close to completing the film — it would be better to ask his wife, who can't sleep from the anticipation.

The film, a gift to the Vliet Museum, is “all Lake Bluff people, right down to the music by Terry Moran,” Moreland said. The actors are all local volunteers. With appearances by so many Lake Bluff people, you'll no doubt see friends, neighbors and maybe even some ancestors.

Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Patch gained a sneak peek at the film earlier this week. You'll be surprised that so many photos and documents exist going all the way back to the orphanage's first year, and the number of heavy-hitting industrialists who had a hand in funding the home.

Although the film provides historical context with as much detail as something you would watch on the History Channel, the heart of the film is the social and cultural focus, including letters, photos and interviews with people who lived it.

“Everyone has vivid recollections of different things,” Moreland said. “But everyone had a story of being dropped off on their first day.”

Another surprising aspect of the film is captured moments of serendipity — but you'll have to see it to discover them for yourself.

Moreland expects the film's running time to be between 90 and 100 minutes. After the show, stick around for a Q&A with Moreland and many of the people who were interviewed for the film.

For ticketing information, visit lakebluffhistory.org or call 1-847-482-1571. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children.