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Butterbox Babies: Baby Sales, Baby Deaths-New Revelations 15 Years Later
Many of the babies born at the Ideal Maternity Home in East Chester, Nova Scotia, were not adopted. Instead they mysteriously disappeared, becoming known as butterbox babies―named after the grocery delivery boxes that they were buried in. Since Bette Cahill first wrote about this shocking truth in 1992, she continued to research the story and corresponded with many of the home’s survivors. In this expanded edition, she shares her ongoing examination, revealing the sometimes happy, often heartbreaking endings of survivors searching for their birth parents.
223 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1992
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
October 28, 2011
As an adoptive parent in Canada, albeit Ontario versus Nova Scotia, I found this book very informative. Given the opportunist abuses that occurred in Nova
Scotia's ironically named " Ideal" Maternity Home, this book reinforces the need for governmental controls related to adoption. The process for adopting a child is indeed an invasive, emotional and lengthy one. However, this book makes it abundantly clear to readers and prospective adoptive parents that the children's interests must always be paramount, justifying the "process". The used copy of this book that I bought in Orillia, Ontario includes handwritten notes in the pages that tell the story of Kate Davidson and Sharon Lehmann in Chapter 20. Sharon's name is underlined 3x, as is the reference to "Timberlea, N.S." and "barn fire". The name "Eldred" is penned in. I don't know if this is meaningful to anyone looking for lost relatives but thought I would share just in case.
Scotia's ironically named " Ideal" Maternity Home, this book reinforces the need for governmental controls related to adoption. The process for adopting a child is indeed an invasive, emotional and lengthy one. However, this book makes it abundantly clear to readers and prospective adoptive parents that the children's interests must always be paramount, justifying the "process". The used copy of this book that I bought in Orillia, Ontario includes handwritten notes in the pages that tell the story of Kate Davidson and Sharon Lehmann in Chapter 20. Sharon's name is underlined 3x, as is the reference to "Timberlea, N.S." and "barn fire". The name "Eldred" is penned in. I don't know if this is meaningful to anyone looking for lost relatives but thought I would share just in case.
November 23, 2016
I think I bought this book in the early 1990s and finally got around to reading it. It was worth the wait. Cahill has done a masterful job of research and recounting this fascinating tale. Highly recommended.
May 8, 2019
Excellent in-depth, detailed research job presenting an important and fascinating history. I learned a lot reading this book, about a place and time, a specific (and particularly bad) example of a "home for unwed mothers," and a particular phenomena (women shamed and bullied into having and giving up their babies, paying fortunes to do so, all to sell babies to other desperate families). Also presents really interesting context on social work in Nova Scotia, and the wild west of adoption (non)regulation up to the 40s or so.
It would have also been really interesting to provide more contextual analysis--why so many women were driven by shame in that era, how it has changed and what hasn't, what the implications are today. I was surprised how rarely abortion is mentioned in the book. Also that the later, echoing phenomenon of the sixties scoop wasn't mentioned at all.
It would have also been really interesting to provide more contextual analysis--why so many women were driven by shame in that era, how it has changed and what hasn't, what the implications are today. I was surprised how rarely abortion is mentioned in the book. Also that the later, echoing phenomenon of the sixties scoop wasn't mentioned at all.
February 8, 2010
I learned so much more about how unwanted pregnancies were handled during this time period in Nova Scotia. This topic is of particular interest to me as I have relatives living in Nova Scotia who were in this situation during the the 30's and 40's.
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July 25, 2011Its hard to believe that this really happened .
September 15, 2015
Very interesting read. I feel like there was a lot of repetition and I wish the story had been told in a more linear way. However, I'm glad I read it.
May 8, 2023
Difficult to read, equally difficult to put down.
October 23, 2011
This is a tough one. I put off reading this until I noticed wanted it and decided to read it so I could send it to her. I've read some great books at perfect times to send to friends. It always seems to work out.
I'll start with something seemingly unimportant - the title. Why do authors, especially true crime authors, feel the need to disrespect the victims, usually babies, with these horrid titles? If my son or daughter had been the victim of these monsters I wouldn't want him or her called a "butterbox baby" due to a detail from the crime. This has bothered me with more than a few t.c.'s, most recently Diane Fanning's book on Caylee Anthony which blares out the most horrible title imaginable, Mommy's Little Girl. If that's not enough to make you sick I don't know what is.
Beyond that though, the story is really written a lot better than I thought. For some unknown reason I expected a sort of journalistic approach to the facts and details and it didn't read like that at all. There are some photos included so we get to see the two monsters who thought this scheme up and set out to make it work for two decades.
It's really hard to read how useless the authorities in Nova Scotia were at this time. They were thwarted in every single way whenever they tried to help. That's not to say they always tried to help - some were more concerned with their political careers (the Young's had a lot of in-town support from citizens because of the money they put into the stores) and some just looked the other way.
It's hard to understand how anyone who worked there was able to do so without killing themselves. Then I try to remember this was a very different time. And then again I remember that it wasn't so different in some ways. Some of the people who did work there ran out and never came back after seeing certain things. So why didn't the others? Why were some able to deal with these babies being starved and neglected? How can someone take a box with a baby in it and bury it in a hole in a field? How does one go about that exactly?
One of Lila and William Young's daughters made some statements near the end of the book that really upset me. I should probably note my feelings on family in general real fast. I love my family. I will back my family in whatever they do and always be there for them regardless. If they act like family. I have, at this moment in time, two cousins and one aunt that I don't so much as claim as blood to me. They're disgusting, useless human beings. The blood running through our veins means nothing when the person doesn't act like family. IMO. I'm not the sort of person that will dismiss a persons actions because "they're family". You only get that respect if you continue to earn it.
So I have a hard time with Joy, a daughter of theirs, says how upset it made her to have her mother's grave shown on the news on t.v. (This was in relation to the entire story - the news story on the home.) Joy said this was "disturbing her rest". That's some ballsy shit right there. How about the hundreds upon hundreds of tiny little babies who have gotten no "rest" because of her mother? Do they count? Nope. They're not family.
She mentions worrying about how long her own children will have to deal with this. I can understand that fully. It would be a serious concern of mine as well. But she never mentions the mothers who had their babies stolen or killed. The babies who grew to be adults and couldn't even find the most simple medical information because of her mother's lack of record keeping which was in effort to hide her actions from the authorities. It's all me, me, me, us, us, us. Screw all of you who had things happen to them no human being should ever have to deal with. IMO Joy is one a quarter of a step up from her parents. One little sliver and she's just as disgusting in my mind. It breaks my heart that women is raising/has raised children. Imagine that being your mother. That being your grandmother. That being your grandfather. I shudder to think about it.
I'll start with something seemingly unimportant - the title. Why do authors, especially true crime authors, feel the need to disrespect the victims, usually babies, with these horrid titles? If my son or daughter had been the victim of these monsters I wouldn't want him or her called a "butterbox baby" due to a detail from the crime. This has bothered me with more than a few t.c.'s, most recently Diane Fanning's book on Caylee Anthony which blares out the most horrible title imaginable, Mommy's Little Girl. If that's not enough to make you sick I don't know what is.
Beyond that though, the story is really written a lot better than I thought. For some unknown reason I expected a sort of journalistic approach to the facts and details and it didn't read like that at all. There are some photos included so we get to see the two monsters who thought this scheme up and set out to make it work for two decades.
It's really hard to read how useless the authorities in Nova Scotia were at this time. They were thwarted in every single way whenever they tried to help. That's not to say they always tried to help - some were more concerned with their political careers (the Young's had a lot of in-town support from citizens because of the money they put into the stores) and some just looked the other way.
It's hard to understand how anyone who worked there was able to do so without killing themselves. Then I try to remember this was a very different time. And then again I remember that it wasn't so different in some ways. Some of the people who did work there ran out and never came back after seeing certain things. So why didn't the others? Why were some able to deal with these babies being starved and neglected? How can someone take a box with a baby in it and bury it in a hole in a field? How does one go about that exactly?
One of Lila and William Young's daughters made some statements near the end of the book that really upset me. I should probably note my feelings on family in general real fast. I love my family. I will back my family in whatever they do and always be there for them regardless. If they act like family. I have, at this moment in time, two cousins and one aunt that I don't so much as claim as blood to me. They're disgusting, useless human beings. The blood running through our veins means nothing when the person doesn't act like family. IMO. I'm not the sort of person that will dismiss a persons actions because "they're family". You only get that respect if you continue to earn it.
So I have a hard time with Joy, a daughter of theirs, says how upset it made her to have her mother's grave shown on the news on t.v. (This was in relation to the entire story - the news story on the home.) Joy said this was "disturbing her rest". That's some ballsy shit right there. How about the hundreds upon hundreds of tiny little babies who have gotten no "rest" because of her mother? Do they count? Nope. They're not family.
She mentions worrying about how long her own children will have to deal with this. I can understand that fully. It would be a serious concern of mine as well. But she never mentions the mothers who had their babies stolen or killed. The babies who grew to be adults and couldn't even find the most simple medical information because of her mother's lack of record keeping which was in effort to hide her actions from the authorities. It's all me, me, me, us, us, us. Screw all of you who had things happen to them no human being should ever have to deal with. IMO Joy is one a quarter of a step up from her parents. One little sliver and she's just as disgusting in my mind. It breaks my heart that women is raising/has raised children. Imagine that being your mother. That being your grandmother. That being your grandfather. I shudder to think about it.
October 28, 2018
Butterbox Babies is a story about the Ideal Maternity Home in Nova Scotia, Canada and its owners Lila and William Young from around 1925 to 1945. Initially this home was a place pregnant unwed mothers and sometimes married women whose husband was away, could go to to have their babies in total secrecy. As the cost for going to this place was high many women had to work off their debt. Many babies died and were buried in unmarked mass graves in butterboxes or other small wooden crates. Many babies were adopted out illegally.
This story is about the Young's greed and the justice that prevailed. There were also stories of adopted children who searched for their roots with some having happy reunions with parents they never knew and others in great disappointment. Its an interesting story of baby farming for profit.
This story is about the Young's greed and the justice that prevailed. There were also stories of adopted children who searched for their roots with some having happy reunions with parents they never knew and others in great disappointment. Its an interesting story of baby farming for profit.
January 17, 2012
A tragic tale, very, very sad. It is outrageous how people can be so focused on monetary gain as to disregard mother-baby bonding and sell babies for profit. Next to this, the fraud charges that Lila and William Young faced pale in comparison. The fact that so many babies remained lost without a paper trail and that so many people (the few still alive) are still looking for answers is truly heartbreaking.
I realize it must be hard to write a book like this, keeping only to the facts (and rumors) and refraining from embellishing, but I found that the writing was dry. I'm not faulting the author necessarily, but there you have it.
I realize it must be hard to write a book like this, keeping only to the facts (and rumors) and refraining from embellishing, but I found that the writing was dry. I'm not faulting the author necessarily, but there you have it.
July 8, 2013
For historical record, the book Seems to be written objectively and accurately, quoting reams of newspaper sources and witnesses.
As for mechanics, the chapters didn't always flow together, but it didn't take long to piece thIngs together. The subject was fascinating, however...especially since it was so close to home geographically and emotionally. My own father and uncle were adopted in that province at this period of time, so it was very interesting to understand the social climate of the day regarding unwed mothers. There were very few "happy endings" to the scores of lives touched by the claws of a wolf in sheep's clothing.
As for mechanics, the chapters didn't always flow together, but it didn't take long to piece thIngs together. The subject was fascinating, however...especially since it was so close to home geographically and emotionally. My own father and uncle were adopted in that province at this period of time, so it was very interesting to understand the social climate of the day regarding unwed mothers. There were very few "happy endings" to the scores of lives touched by the claws of a wolf in sheep's clothing.
April 28, 2012
An important look at one of the most prolific scandals in Nova Scotia history. The writing here is just fine for the most part, though a tad news-story like at times (the author was a CBC reporter after all). Certain sections -- the court and legal discussions specifically -- were a bit tedious and difficult to get through. All in all, though, I enjoyed this look at the history of the Ideal Nursing Home; especially the personal accounts.
Required reading for history buffs in the area in particular.
Required reading for history buffs in the area in particular.
June 16, 2012
Solid journalism that personalizes the stories without falling into the hackeyned traps so much descriptive narrative and true crime do. It starts at the beginning, and presents its facts -- no cold open intrigue, cheap cliffhanger end-of-chapter fades to black, or people standing on docks carrying on interior monologues we can have no evidence of. The book is a little longer than it needs to be, and contains a few more characters than one can keep track of. But it is a fascinating story of the slippery slope of hope and charity.
February 2, 2012
Very interesting and scandalous true story of a maternity home for unwed mothers in the 1940s, where allegations of abuse abound. Healthy babies were sold, the mothers being scared into signing their rights away, unhealthy or 'unfit' babies were starved to death (fed a diet of molasses and water) or outright murdered, and buried in butterboxes in unmarked graves, or buried at sea. Fairly well written, though sometimes a little confusing.
September 7, 2009
This book reviews the evidence surrounding the baby deaths in Chester NS at the Ideal Maternity home during the depression era. It was quite interesting to know that such a dark secret existed and the truth about what actually happened to those babies and mothers. It was not a happy read but was interesting.
September 10, 2010
This is a true story of babies born at a home for unwed mothers around 1940's. It was so sad to read of the treatment of the babies and some mothers. Babies starving on a diet of molasses and water and being buried in butter boxes without any markers. Being adopted by into a loving home and some in abusive homes. A difficult story to read.
May 22, 2012
This documentary was written by a CBC reporter who was asked to investigate this story by her employer. Although we will never no the whole story, she did uncover details of babies of unwed mothers being sold for adoption. It is a tragic comment on the state of laws, social services and public support for unwed women and their children in the 30s and 40s.
September 24, 2011
A very chilling account of history taken place in Nova Scotia, the deaths of so many undeserving infants is frightening. I am appalled that Lila and William Young got away with all that they did. Quite an injustice.
February 18, 2014
This is an excellent book! A close relative of mine gave birth to a child at that maternity home. I can only imagine what went on in that place!. She never talked about that part of her life. We didn't even know about it until recently . . .
September 11, 2016
An amazing account of history. Sad but true with the best of intentions.
September 13, 2012
this book is so weird in its own way. but yet it makes u want to keep reading it over and over again. 5 stars i give it...
November 13, 2016
i loved the book, didn't think that happen in this country .
September 7, 2017
I started reading this when I was a teenager and didn't get the chance to finish it. I couldn't remember the name but the story has always stuck with me.
February 17, 2018
The true story of a Canadian home for unwed mothers that also dealt with baby stealing, baby selling, and baby murdering.
February 27, 2020
This was a fascinating story, but the book was long on reporting of court cases surrounding it and short on actual stories of what happened at the home.
February 28, 2021
Well..I read this book..and then I watched the movie.
I have far too many opinions about 'the human race' and their self importance, self entitlement and judgmental attitude of others. When I read, hear or see how people treat others without respect and honor..I wear my button that simply states 'I hate people".
I don't really hate people..I intensely dislike what some people are like.
Just be nice, kind, respectful and think..think before making a call on others..everyone has their own story..that is how we all 'come to be' where we are now.
Also..don't hide behind others..visible or invisible!!
I have far too many opinions about 'the human race' and their self importance, self entitlement and judgmental attitude of others. When I read, hear or see how people treat others without respect and honor..I wear my button that simply states 'I hate people".
I don't really hate people..I intensely dislike what some people are like.
Just be nice, kind, respectful and think..think before making a call on others..everyone has their own story..that is how we all 'come to be' where we are now.
Also..don't hide behind others..visible or invisible!!
May 1, 2019
I was referred to read this book as it was along the same lines as the Georgia Tann story. The butterbox babies is about a husband and wife who ran an unwed maternity home in Nova Scotia. The mothers were given free care and some of the babies were adopted out for thousands of dollars. Some were put into the butter boxes and buried. The book contains some of the true stories of some of the surviving children.
June 22, 2025
My only complaint is there were so many names mentioned it was hard to keep track, but that only makes it sadder - that so many people were affected by the Ideal Maternity Home.
In the intro it's mentioned that someone the author was going to interview had been threatened harm if she spoke out... that's scary too, that this many years later it's still so relevant.
In the intro it's mentioned that someone the author was going to interview had been threatened harm if she spoke out... that's scary too, that this many years later it's still so relevant.
December 24, 2022
This was intense. I was definitely misty-eyed by the time I reached the end. The information at the end of the book revealed that there were approximately 400 babies buried in butterboxes over the years that the Women's home was run in the 30's and 40's. Such a tragic piece of history.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews