A forgotten Civil War veteran who died without a proper burial is finally getting recognition, thanks to two New York eighth-graders.
Kendall Peruzzini and Mary McCormick spoke with Fox News Digital on Wednesday about their efforts to honor Daniel Walterhouse, a Union Army veteran who died in 1910. Both teens attend Albion Middle School in western New York.
Walterhouse, born in Orleans County, New York, in 1823, died in the Orleans County Almshouse at the age of about 87. He was a native of Orleans County and enlisted in 1861 in the 4th Michigan Infantry.
Tim Archer, a retired service learning teacher at Albion Middle School, told Fox News Digital that the former Confederate soldier spent about 10 years of his life in the workhouse. He was injured during the war and spent time in a Confederate prisoner of war camp.
Archaeologists discover one of the world’s oldest Christian churches
Mary McCormick (L), Kendall Peruzzini (M) and Tim Archer (R) sat down with Fox News Digital to discuss Daniel Walterhouse. (Maggie Stewart/Albion Central School District)
“(The workhouse) was a place for people who had no one to take care of them,” the teacher explained. “People with mental and physical disabilities, unwanted babies up to the elderly, immigrants with no family in the area, visually impaired.”
According to Archer, the Orleans County Alms House operated from the 1830s to 1960. In 1910, Walterhouse was buried in an unmarked grave in a ghetto cemetery for those who could not afford a headstone.
Archer had been familiar with the cemetery for many years, but was contacted by a historian from Michigan who inquired about Civil War veterans buried in the cemetery. The retired educator presented the research opportunity to McCormick’s mother, a school secretary.
In Archer’s opinion, there were no better researchers to take advantage of the summer opportunity than Peruzzini and McCormick.
Unique ancient bathhouse discovered in the Sicilian hills
Peruzzini and McCormick both discovered details about Daniel Walterhouse’s life during their research. (Maggie Stewart/Albion Central School District)
“I had these two girls as students a few years before I retired, so I knew they were good students and great girls,” Archer explained. “I knew they would be great researchers and that they would be willing to participate in the summer as well.”
After conducting a large amount of research on forgotten veterans over the summer, the girls successfully petitioned the Orleans County Council to approve Walterhouse’s request for a headstone. They are currently awaiting a response from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to approve their application for the headstone, which likely will be the case.
Both girls said they enjoy learning history and found this project fascinating. Even though many of the poorhouse’s records were destroyed in the fire, they were able to gather some details about Walterhouse’s life.
“He was a war veteran and he was wounded,” McCormick explained. “I think it’s really important for him to be recognized because he was stabbed and captured.”
“I really like history.” She continued. “We studied the Civil War in class, and I explained to the students about this project we were working on, and it was all very interesting.”
Click here to subscribe to our lifestyle newsletter.
“I think it’s very interesting to learn about the past and the present,” Peruzzini added.
The two 14-year-olds consider it a great honor to help commemorate the service of Walterhouse, whom they still admire 160 years later.
“I think it is an honor for both me and Mary, because we have to show respect and gratitude to him for everything he has done,” Ferruccini said.
For more lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle..
“I’d like to recognize more people. I think there’s an opportunity for more veterans to be recognized,” McCormick explained. “And I think that through this whole experience, we can learn to appreciate things for what they are… Because we learned about the almshouses and how much they didn’t have and how hard it really was for all these people. So. “It would be amazing for Daniel to be recognized.”
Archer told Fox News Digital that Walterhouse served her country “in a unique way” and that the project was an important learning experience for the girls.
“The slums have an added uniqueness in that they are forgotten people of their time. Civil War veterans who served their country in a unique way for two years but were also forgotten in their own time. For a lifetime,” Archer said. “So this is the addition that the girls brought, and if we could put a headstone in, the community would really recognize this.”
Two students told Fox News Digital they were honored to help recognize Daniel Walterhouse. (Maggie Stewart/Albion Central School District)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“When kids can do their own research and get out of the classroom… it can excite students beyond just reading a textbook,” the educator said. “Plus, going to the town clerk or county historian or giving a presentation in front of the county council helps you get to know community leaders.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Department of Veterans Affairs for comment.
