In the Dark of the Night

It's late at night, the young man slowly maneuvers the car around the corner onto the side street. He parks beside a three-story brick building. Even with the streetlight, it's dark. He wishes it could be darker. His wife looks at him anxiously then looks out at the 115 Hamilton, Butte, Montana, office of Gertrude Pitkanen window at the building. In her lap, her hands fumble with a blanket, a baby blanket.

They have wanted a baby for so long. And now, finally, they are going to get one. They know there is something wrong about how they are going to get it. But it can't be that bad, can it? Really? After all, they are going to give the baby so much love it won't matter how they got it.

A door in the side of the building opens a crack. A woman wearing spectacles peers out. She opens the door and walks quickly to the car. She is carrying a baby wrapped in a small white sheet. The woman in the car rolls down the window and reaches for the baby.

The woman carrying the baby pauses, "Do you have the money?"

"Yes."

The baby whimpers and squirms as it is being passed through the window. As the man reaches across the car and hands the woman outside an envelope containing $500, his wife quickly unwraps the face of the infant.

"My goodness," the wife says, "it's still wet."

"Your friend said you wanted a young one. This one's about as young as they get. You'll want to get rid of the afterbirth right away. Here's the birth certificate. It's got your names on it as birth parents. Remember, this didn't happen." (excerpted from an article in Rural Montana Magazine, May, 1993: Vol. 40, No. 9)

And, like all the adoptive parents who visited 115 Hamilton, they kept the secret for more than 40 [now 60] years. (excerpted from an article in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, August 14, 1994)

These are real deep-dark secrets, secrets that Gertie's Babies have been slowly unearthing in the hope of finding answers–and the truth. The babies at the top of this page are now adults, but they have one very significant common denominator. They came into this world under the cover of darkness, under the manipulations of a greedy, conniving chiropractor and illegal abortionist, Gertrude Pitkanen. And they are not alone. Maybe, just maybe, you can help Gertie's Babies find the truth.

Please note: Gertie's Babies harbor no ill will against Gertrude Pitkanen nor their real parents. Gertrude Pitkanen is deceased. Many of the adoptive parents are deceased. The need for secrecy is past and it's time for the pieces of the puzzle to come together. Please share any pertinent information that you may have with Gertie's Babies. They will appreciate it deeply.