History came alive over the weekend during Rouse Heritage Day.
Emily Whitaker, Rouse marketing coordinator, said the adult living center is celebrating 150 years of caring for the community. It all started as a poor farm envisioned by its original benefactor, Henry Rouse.
After that, it evolved into a nursing home, Whitaker said, and now has a personal care home, adult center and children's center. Amy Trask, activities director and volunteer coordinator, said Heritage Day started long ago to celebrate the history of Rouse.
Article Photos
Times Observer photo by Colin Kyler
In uniform
Doug Taylor keeps Civil War memories alive.
"We made extra effort this year," Trask said. "It's 150 years and it deserves a celebration."
Part of the event is to let people know about the quality of service and care at the Rouse. Also, Trask said they like to give back with a free event.
For both residents and their families, Trask said it's a great event. People enjoyed it even though it was chilly.
The Victory Belles, a vocal trio from the National WWII Museum, brought back memories with their performance. Many fathers, husbands and wives lived through that time period, Trask said, and so it was special for families.
"One woman said her mother was crying throughout the show," Trask said. "It was a memory cry."
At the Rouse, Trask said there are 40 to 50 veterans. A lot of them served during the war.
Civilians also participated in the war effort. Unlike more recent wars, Trask said there was greater involvement on the homefront.
Doug Taylor was among the Civil War re-enactors at the event. They fired a cannon and presented life at that time from both the civilian and military side.
"I had ancestors on both sides of the war," Taylor said. "Hearing those stories piqued my interest."
Taylor heard many of the stories from his grandmother. She had lived with her grandfather who was a Civil War veteran.
The Civil War was the most pivotal piece of history, Taylor said, and the United States would not be the country it is today without it. Instead, we could be split into two different countries.
Many history books skew that part of history. They skip over much of it, Taylor said, and a lot of it doesn't get taught.
"Some people don't understand the struggle," Taylor said.
In this area, Taylor said a lot of regiments were formed. Like Rouse, the war is also marking 150 years of history.