As residents of Fairhope Health and Rehab walk down a long hall toward the huge windows facing Morphy Avenue, they find another window — one that looks out over Fairhope during a previous era.  

The window is actually a 5-by-8-foot mural painted to remind residents of Fairhope during the 1950s. It features the pier and the slide that used to exist on Mobile Bay, several cars from the time period, a skating rink and even the famous “Kilroy was here” graffiti from World War II.

“I drew up the plan after meeting and observing some of the residents there on the wing,” said 79-year-old Daisy Gilbert, who painted the mural. “Those men and women spent their better years in this time period. I tried to depict the highlights of the time on their wall.”

Gilbert said the mural was not meant to be an exact replica of Fairhope’s view of the bay during the 50s, but instead was supposed to be a nostalgic representation of the time.

And it’s exactly what Tammy Philyaw, director of nursing, envisioned when she first spoke to Gilbert about painting the mural, which is the beginning of a new 50s-inspired dining and activity area.

The area will eventually look like a 50s diner, complete with Coke signs, black-and-white tiled flooring, bar stools and booths. The staff also hopes someone will donate a jukebox that residents can enjoy.

“We picked the 50s because it’s a fun time,” Philyaw said. “When we play 50s music now, you’ll see (residents) bee-bopping in their wheelchairs.”

Philyaw said she hopes the new activity area will improve residents’ quality of life, boost staff morale and increase interaction among the residents and staff.

And the mural has let everyone know that the diner is on the way, she said.

“The mural being done helped everyone get on the mindset of yeah, we’re really going to do this; we’re not just going to talk about it,” Philyaw said.

Gilbert was not paid for her work on the mural, and Philyaw said she was amazed at the hours the 79-year-old woman spent on the project. The location of the painting is near windows, and the room stays hot in the summer. However, Gilbert was determined to finish, spending two to three hours three days a week on the mural.

Gilbert has been painting since 1974, but the mural at Fairhope Health and Rehab is her first and only mural — it was a challenge, she said.

“It was quite an accomplishment for me at my age,” Gilbert said. “I’ll be 80 next month (Feb. 21). I’m so blessed. I can’t believe I did it, but as they tell me, it’s a God thing, and I know it’s appreciated.”

During the time she spent painting the mural, Gilbert said she got to know the residents and developed a different opinion of long-term care facilities than she had previously held.

“I had never even visited a home like this before,” she said. “And I had an eye-opener, because I had certain feelings about the horrors of it, but it’s not true. That feeling went away.”

Resident William Haraway, 72, said he enjoyed getting to know Gilbert as she painted the mural. The two played several rounds of Skip-Bo together, and he enjoyed the company.

“She’s so friendly and nice,” Haraway said. “I appreciate what she’s done for the residents.”

He was especially appreciative of the addition of the old cars to the mural.

“It makes me think way back,” he said. “I think the old cars she put on there, she done a real good job with them. She put a lot of hard work in it. I think she did it just because she loves to do things like that.”

Gilbert said she also learned the importance of visiting people who live in long-term care facilities.

“These people need to be visited,” she said. “Whether you know them or not, stop by if you have five minutes just to say hello or bring them some cookies or some candy.”

The staff at Fairhope Health and Rehab still needs to raise about $1,000 to finish the diner activity area, Philyaw said. They are selling cookbooks filled with recipes and quotes from residents and staff members for $12.50, and any monetary or memorabilia donations are welcome, she said. Contact Philyaw at 251-928-2153 for more information.