A forgotten Civil War veteran who died without a proper burial is finally being recognized, thanks to two New York eighth-graders.
Kendall Peruzzini and Mary McCormick spoke on FOX News Digital Wednesday about efforts to honor Daniel Walterhouse, a Union veteran who died in 1910. The two teens attend Albion Middle School in Western New York.
Walterhouse was born in 1823 in Orleans County, New York, and died at the Orleans Parish Almshouse at the age of approximately 87 years. He was a native of Orleans County and enlisted in 1861 in the 4th Michigan Infantry.
Tim Archer, a former service learning teacher at Albion Middle School, told Fox News Digital that the former Union soldier spent about 10 years of his life in the workhouse. He was wounded during the war and spent time in a Confederate prisoner of war camp.
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Mary McCormick (left), Kendall Peruzzini (right), and Tim Archer (right) spoke about Daniel Walterhouse in an interview with Fox News Digital. (Maggie Stewart/Albion Central School District)
”[The almshouse] “This was a place where people came who didn't have anyone to take care of them,” the teacher explained. [people] People with mental and physical disabilities, unwanted babies to the elderly, immigrants with no family in the area, and the visually impaired. ”
The Orleans Parish Aid Station operated from the 1830s until 1960, Archer said. In 1910, Walterhouse was buried in an unmarked grave in an almshouse cemetery for people who could not afford a headstone.
Archer, who had known the cemetery well for years, was contacted by a Michigan historian who asked about the Civil War veterans buried there. The retired educator presented the research opportunity to McCormick's mother, a school secretary.
In Archer's mind, there were no researchers better suited to take advantage of the summer vacation opportunity than Peruzzini and McCormick.
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Peruzzini and McCormick discovered details about Daniel Walterhouse's life during their investigation. (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 were great researchers, and I knew they would be happy to participate, even if it was over the summer.”
After conducting extensive research over the summer about forgotten veterans, the girls successfully petitioned the Orleans Parish Council to approve their application for a headstone in Walter House. They are currently awaiting a response from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to approve their application for a headstone, which is likely to happen.
Both girls said they love learning about history and found this project interesting. Although many of the workhouse records were destroyed in the fire, they were able to gather some details about Walterhouse's life.
“He's a veteran and he's been wounded,” McCormick explained. “He was stabbed and caught, so I think it’s really important that he gets recognized.”
“I really like history,” she continued. “We learned about the Civil War in class, and we explained to the class this project we were doing, and it was all very interesting.”
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“I think it's very interesting to know about the past and the present,” Peruzzini added.
The two 14-year-olds are honored to be able to help commemorate Walterhouse's legacy, which they still admire 160 years later.
“For me and Mary, I think this is an honor because he should be respected and appreciated for everything he did,” Peruzzini said.
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“I would like to recognize more people…I think there is an opportunity for more veterans to be recognized,” McCormick explained. “And I really think that from this whole experience we can learn to be grateful for everything that we have…because we learn about the houses of alms and how much they don't have. Because we learned how hard it was and how difficult it really was for all these people.''So it's really great 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 workhouses added a certain specificity, they were people who were forgotten in their time, much less who served their country in such a unique way for two years and were forgotten even in their own time. Even more so for Civil War veterans and others,” Archer said. “And this is kind of an addition to this that the girls created, and if we can put a headstone in place, the community will really recognize this.”
Two students told Fox News Digital that they were honored to help recognize Daniel Walterhouse. (Maggie Stewart/Albion Central School District)
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“When kids are able to do their own research and get outside of the classroom, it can be even more exciting than just reading a textbook,” the educator said. “It also helps you get to know community leaders by going to town officials, county historians, and giving presentations in front of the county council.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for comment.
