The Sunset Years at Orting
A visit to the state's veteran home reveals a self-sustaining community of Civil War heroes, romantics, and chicken farmers.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Located one mile south of Orting, the Washington State Soldiers’ Home serves as a sanctuary for 348 veterans. While the youngest inhabitant is 75, many are in their 80s or 90s, and two are nearing their century mark. The grounds are meticulously kept by residents themselves, including Mr. Renwick Brown, who manages the flower gardens, and William Bicknell, who tends to a flourishing flock of 900 chickens. Under the leadership of Commander J. W. North and his wife, the home operates with a sense of communal purpose, producing its own vegetables, pork, and dairy. Far from being a place of quiet idleness, the home features a tailor, shoe shop, and woodworking facilities where veterans like J. C. Williams and W. F. Murray pursue their trades. The residents are not mere dependents; they are a vibrant community where, in the nearby 'colony,' aging veterans find companionship and often marriage, proving that romance does not fade with the sunset of one's years.
“Everything about the pig, even to its squeal, is used here, for when the menu contains pork only, those who do not like it, squeal.”
The Orting Soldiers' Home remains an active site of care today, though its focus has shifted to meet the needs of modern veterans. The story highlights a recurring tension in public care: the struggle between maintaining institutional efficiency and preserving the dignity and agency of those within.
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