Charles Rouse ’06 has applied skills from both the liberal arts and the building arts to improving Canton’s Main Street.  While still a student, he acquired a run-down house on the village’s most heavily traveled thoroughfare and began renovating it.  With the help of many people, including one professional local craftsman “who was dedicated to quality” and his principal helpers Brooke James ’06, artistic painter David Torres ’09 and framing and electrical apprentice Nate Torres ’11, he turned an eyesore into an attractive bed-and-breakfast.

“After I finished, I had to decide what to do with it,” says the former Laurentian Singers president.  He thought about renting it, but feared having everyone’s handiwork mistreated.  When he remembered that his parents had had a hard time finding an adequate place to stay when they’d come to visit him, the B&B idea arose. 

Although he learned craftsmanship and artistry, as well as his commitment to high quality (and how to cook pancakes), from his family, particularly his grandfather, a Turkish furniture artisan and landscape painter whose works adorn the house, the economics major and English minor says there are definite “transferable skills” from his liberal arts education as well.  “From economics I learned how to make a business plan and weigh the costs and benefits of hiring help,” he explains.  “Reading literature taught me how to see others’ perspectives and broadened mine.  Psychology gave me the background to deal with customers.”

The 24 East Main Street B&B (www.24EastMain.com) opened in September 2008, and Rouse reports that even with advertising limited to word of mouth and references, bookings are strong.  As for the future, he’s acquired the house next door and plans to start work on it as soon as he can, though as with his first venture he’s unsure what its function will be.  For now, he has his vision. “Main Street is the gateway to the community,” he avows; “it’s important that it look nice.”