Lively Ladies
During the Civil War, the women of Salem found themselves in much the same position of other women throughout the South. Most people believed the War would only last a few months, but as months turned into years, women were forced to embrace their new position as heads of households, farmers, nurses, and educators. The women of Salem enjoyed much independence in the town prior to the War, but the added duties they undertook during the conflict further advanced their autonomy within the community.
Though the War never raged near Salem as it did near many other towns, the struggles of the Confederacy waged their own kind of war locally. Some women supported their men by ensuring they would return to a stable home, but this was often difficult due to the rising prices of goods, shortages of necessities, and rationing of items that were once abundant. These challenges made it difficult to maintain a sense of normalcy while the men were away.
Other women chose to join the war effort in support the local men. With little to no prior medical training, many became nurses at wayside hospitals near the major battlefields closest to Salem. When the troops were healed enough to continue on, the wayside hospitals, which often were founded in old homes, closed and the traveling nurses from Salem put away their bandages to continue their lives back home.
Unique to Salem since its founding was the emphasis on education for women. Salem’s Girls School acted as a safe haven for many girls from war-torn areas throughout the South. The town's decision to keep the school open throughout the War appealed to many young women and their families, who were reassured by the relative safety. Some of Salem’s returning nurses acted as teachers here, while others worked to establish a school system in the still-growing town of Winston. With unwavering strength, brilliance, and will to carry on, the women of the area ensured that their towns would not succumb to the War or its aftermath.
In this section you will her Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 Op. 23 and Swan Lake.