JAMES WOOD
Staff Writer
After two years of hard setbacks in 2020 to 2021, Raus along with much of the county has bounced back from countless hardship ranging from the COVID-19 pandemic to the various tornados that have devastated infrastructure within the region.
The community of Raus in the southeastern portion of Bedford County could be most defined by its resilience and close-knit people ever since the settling of the region.
The Raus Community Improvement Club has been a centerpiece of much of the activity in the community along the Thompson Creek Valley, hosting potlucks, ice cream suppers, and more.
Carol Roberts, Director of the County Archives and resident of Raus, shared some statistics about the community along with its rich history that it shares in common with the rest of the county.
“Raus’ population has changed dramatically over the years,” Roberts said, “in the crossroads, there are around 200 people.”
According to Roberts, children in the community went to school either on foot or riding ponies as recent as the 1930’s, and then saw the rapid progression of technology impact the population of the county through the 1950’s and the rest of the 20th Century.
In the last decade, many new families from across the country have also made Raus their home, living alongside families that have lived in the area for generations.
Over 7 century farms (farms that have been owned by the same family for over a century) are located in Raus as well.
“We have a little bit of everything,” Roberts said on the influx of families moving in, “there have been numerous families from California, Florida, and even as close as Tullahoma.”
While still being a relatively small community, the people of the area have remained dedicated to maintaining the legacy of Raus at the Raus Community Improvement Club (RCIC).
The building that is now the RCIC was used for decades as a schoolhouse after its construction in 1889 to 1890, educating children from grades 1 to 8. At its peak at the turn of the century, 100 children went to school there.
When the school finally closed in the 1950’s, it continued to be used as a civic center of the community.
In 2020, however, the COVID-19 pandemic halted community activity across the county. After the initial slump, the RCIC slowly regained its attendance but was also hit by another massive setback.
During Dec. of 2021, tornados that went through the area blew straight through the center of Raus, hitting the front of the Improvement Club. Much of the door and front wall was torn off the building, leaving extensive damage shortly after several other renovation projects had been started.
However, after the community got together to help in fixing the historic building, the front of the building was weather-proofed by March of the following year.
“I love living in Raus because it’s always my home,” Roberts commented, “I’ve had the opportunity to travel but nothing has been as beautiful as Thompson Creek Valley.”
Roberts and sister both are the seventh generation of their family to live in the community.
With the resilience of the people throughout setback after setback, a small community like Raus showcases the finest in the culture of Middle Tennessee.