Institution

In 1822, when the town was once known as Salem, African and African-American Moravians (most members were enslaved) gathered to form their own local congregation and construct a chapel for worship. A log church was erected just south of a cemetery referred to as "Stranger's Graveyard". Said cemetery was established in 1773 and in 1816 became a designated slave cemetery.Single white Moravian sisters educated the congregation from 1827 to 1831, when a state law was passed prohibiting the teaching of literacy to slaves.In 1861, a larger brick church was built east of the same cemetery. May 21, 1865, a Union Cavalry chaplain from the 10th regiment of Ohio, went to the church's pulpit to read General Orders 32, which announced their freedom and war's end.The church building was expanded to fill a growing congregation as well as a school in 1890. Until 1914 the church and members were referred to as "The Negro Congregation", when Bishop Edward Rondthaler gave the church the name of St. Philips.In the spring of 1952 the last regular service was held at the Brick Church location. The St. Philips congregation was moved to the community house in the Happy Hill Garden Complex. Services were held there until April 5, 1959, when a new chapel located on the Corner of Mock and Vargrave Streets, was consecrated. The congregation remained in the Vargrave Street location until it learned that the plans for US Highway 52 would send the highway through the church property. Instead of building a new church the Southern Province located an existing one, the former Bon Air Christian Church on Bon Air Avenue.On May 4, 1967, the 144th anniversary Sunday of the congregation, the current church on Bon Air Avenue was formally dedicated.1999 saw the reconstruction of the 1822-23 log church on the original site. The entire St. Philips complex and gardens form a part of the Old Salem district.

late 1800s bird eye's view of Old Salem. Church on right

1860s wintertime shot of Old Salem. Log church on far right

1935 Sunday School class with instructors. 

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Old Salem Historic District: St. Philips. 

St. Philip's Moravian Church (formerly known as The African or Negro Moravian Church or “Log Church”) was organized in 1822 by both free and enslaved Black members of the Salem Moravian community. It is not only one of the oldest Black congregations in the country but is also the only Black Moravian congregation in the United States.

St. Philip's Moravian Church

Explore historic Old Salem and learn about the Moravian church who originally settled here.

Originally a marker for the Mickey Brothers' tinsmith shop, this giant tin coffee pot was erected in 1848. When the brothers' property was sold to L.B. Brickenstein in 1924, the new owners offered the coffee pot to the local Wachovia Historical Society, to be displayed in the local Moravian Boys' School. However, there simply was not space for it in the school, and instead the Society moved it to the corner of South Main Street and Brookstone Avenue, where it was recognizable as an unofficial border between Salem and Winston. For many years, the coffee pot served as an "out of bounds" marker for students attending Salem College, as they were not allowed past the Salem limits. Rumors of Civil War soldiers hiding inside the pot abound in local history, though there is no proof of such events. Due to the construction of Interstate 40, the Salem Coffee Pot was moved to its current location in 1960.

Erected in 1858, the Mickey Coffee Pot Marker originally stood outside brothers Julius and Samuel Mickey's tinsmith shop. Prior to mass industrialization, markers like this one often stood outside of shops to symbolize what was sold/produced there. The pot holds 740 gallons, is 7 feet and 3 inches tall, and measures 64 inches in diameter at its widest point. It was moved to its current location by the Wachovia Historical Society in 1960. 

The Salem Coffee Pot

"Old Salem" was originally founded by the Moravian settlers in 1766. Salem, known at the time as Wachovia, was designed to be the religious, cultural, and industrial hub of four other surrounding Moravian settlements spanning over 98,000 acres. All land was owned by the church to be leased for construction to church members. Forsyth County was created in 1849, but the Moravians declined establishing Salem as the county seat. They instead sold land (what is currently known as Winston) in order for that property to house the courthouse. Salem became a legal municipality in 1857, as the church began to allow members to purchase their land. Salem and Winston merged to create Winston-Salem in 1913.

The Home Moravian Church was founded by the German-speaking Reformationist Protestant sect "the Moravians" in November 1771. The group immigrated first to Georgia from Saxony, having been encouraged to share their religion around the world. The group moved from Georgie to Pennsylvania in 1740. A few years later several members of the group made the journey to North Carolina on foot. The church building itself was completed in 1800. 

Home Moravian Church

The Moravians, a German-speaking sect of Protestants who in 1753 first settled the area now known as Winston-Salem, believed strongly in equal education for both boys and girls. As result, the Moravians established a girls’ school in Salem in April 1772. The school was run by the unmarried women of the Moravian community, referred to as the Single Sisters. These women lived and worked together and were self-sufficient. In 1802, the town of Salem decided to open the girls’ school to non-Moravian students from outside the community. The Boarding School for Female Education immediately attracted students from outside the region because it was the only such school open to girls in this area of the south.The school thrived in the early 19th century and remained open despite the Civil War. Salem expanded its curriculum after the war with course offerings in post-secondary education, business courses, and a vibrant school of music. In 1890, the school, now known as Salem Female Academy, began awarding college diplomas.The school officially changed its name in 1907 becoming Salem Academy and College, and it celebrated the 250th anniversary of its founding in 2022.The Single Sisters House, built in 1786, is an important landmark in the history of women's education. Over the years, it housed both teachers and students of Salem Academy and College. It is currently used for the Admission Office of Salem College, classrooms, and a museum. The museum, which is free and open to the public, focuses on the history of Salem Academy and College. Today, Salem Academy is a boarding and day school for high school girls. Salem College admits women to its traditional undergraduate program, and accepts both women and men into its graduate programs. Additionally, The Fleer Center serves both men and women over 23 who wish to continue their education.

Founded by the local Moravian community in Salem, N.C. in 1772, Salem Academy and College was originally a primary school for girls taught by single Moravian women of the community. The Single Sisters’ House was completed in 1786 and currently houses the Single Sisters’ Museum on the campus of Salem Academy and College, the oldest school for girls and women in the United States.

The Single Sisters' House Museum at Salem Academy and College

Construction began on The Single Brothers' House even before the town of Salem (now part of Winston-Salem) had been officially settled by the Moravian congregation. "Old Salem" was originally founded by the Moravian settlers in 1766. Salem, known at the time as Wachovia, was designed to be the religious, cultural, and industrial hub of four other surrounding Moravian settlements spanning over 98,000 acres. All land was owned by the church to be leased for construction to church members. The single men of the group, ages 14 and up, unless they were sent to school in Pennsylvania, lived in the Single Brothers' House and learned a trade. Nine craft shops for potters, tailors, woodworkers, shoemakers, joiners, gunners, spinners, and tinsmiths could be found on the bottom floor of the house; on the second floor, experienced craftsmen slept; the apprentices slept on the third floor. The house also contained a dining hall, sleeping quarters, a prayer room, and a meeting room. For a time the Brothers' had a fairly thriving economic situation. However, internal problems caused the closure of the Single Brothers' Home in 1823.The building housed The Boys' School for a short while, and eventually became apartments for the community. In 1842, the southern portion of the House housed the Moravian widows. Widows and unmarried women of the community continued to live in the building until 1961. Old Salem Inc. began restoring the building in 1961 and completed them in 1964. Today, the building is part of the Old Salem Museums and houses their administrative offices. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.

Completed in 1769, the Single Brothers' House was the first institutional building in Old Salem. The Single Brothers, a group of unmarried men from the local Moravian church, lived and worked within the house. Further construction expanded the building in 1886; the completed building held a dining hall, sleeping quarters, a prayer room, and a meeting room, along with several workspaces. Today, the Single Brothers' House is open to the public as a museum and also houses The Old Salem Museums and Gardens Administration Offices. 

Single Brothers' House

The Salem Tavern is one of the oldest tavern in the city of Winston-Salem. Tavern was constructed in 1784. The building is two and a half stories high and has a gabled roof. Salem Tavern became the first brick building to be constructed in the town. The main doorway opens into a large hallway with a staircase. Inside the tavern are many rooms, and guest chambers are located upstairs along with sleeping areas in a small upstairs attic. The tavern was owned by the local Moravian Church who operated it along with a few locals. The most famous visitor of the tavern was George Washington who stayed there in 1791. During this time he was touring the local battlefields and stayed at the tavern for two evenings. The tavern soon became known as a local town spot and commercial center. People often came to Winston-Salem to trade and this was a great place for them to rest along their journey. In addition to being a place of hospitality, the tavern served an important political ground. At the tavern people payed taxes and made deals with the local political officers of the time. The tavern also served as an election polling place. The tavern was sold in the year 1850 and would continue to change owners through the years. It finally stopped operating as a hotel in 1890. In the 1950s the building was granted to the Wachovia Historical Society. It is currently leased to Old Salem Inc. who continually keep it updated and preserved and operate the building as a public museum. This tavern serves as a reminder of the extraordinary architecture of the south during the 19th century. It was added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1966.

Currently operated as part of the Old Salem Museums, Salem Tavern was integral to life in Old Salem. The tavern provided a place of comfort and joy for locals of the time and was a shelter for travelers including George Washington. Through the years it has been turned into a museum, which is part of the Old Salem Museums Tour. It is currently listed on the National Register of Historical Places.

Salem Tavern

Southern art was dismissed through much of the first half of the 20th century. However, thanks to the efforts of Frank Horton and his mother, Theodosia—both of whom were antique dealers and collectors—Southern art did become a respected art form. Their dream of a museum showcasing Southern art came to fruition in 1965, when the museum opened. Frank and Theodosia loaned their collections to the museum and also established an endowment to help fund it. The museum houses several collections of Southern art, including "From Congregation Town to Cradle of Industry: A Century of North Carolina Moravian Landscapes, 1790-1890" which celebrates the art of the Moravian settlers responsible for so much of Old Salem's history.

The Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts is the premier institution of southern American art, recognized as such nationally and internationally. The museum's collection is comprised of architecture (actual rooms from old houses installed in the museum), ceramics, furniture, paintings, paper, silver, and textiles. The museum also conducts field research, publishes books, journals and papers, and offers many educational programs. It also features a research center that contains 20,000 objects made the south. 

Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts 

The Moravian Church dates back to 1457, first developing in the area that is now the Czech Republic. However, the Protestant denomination suffered religious persecution for centuries until they eventually immigrated to North America. Initially settling in Savannah, Georgia, the group then transitioned to Pennsylvania, where they founded several communities in cities that remain today. Eventually they moved to North Carolina in the search for additional property to farm. The settlement in Salem was founded, with intentions to grow Salem into the central town, while farmland spread out around it. At the time, in order to lease land in the area, one had to be an obliging member of the Church. Any transgression of the religious policies could result in dismissal from the land. In 1849, neighboring Forsyth County was founded. Uninterested in joining the county, Salem sold property to the north, which would become Winston, to maintain control over the land and governing seats. In 1857 the church allowed residents to purchase their land, and hence forth became a legal municipality. In 1913, Salem joined with Winston, and became the only city in the country with a legally recognized joint name. In the 1950s, Old Salem Inc., a non profit, procured the land to develop preservation and restoration tactics. In 1966 it was declared a National Historic Landmark.Today visitors can tour the restored and reconstructed buildings. Living history interpreters and demonstrators allow visitors to witness the lifestyle of the villagers in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.The museum allows visitors to explore numerous professions such as gunsmiths, cobblers, tinsmiths, bakers, Blacksmiths, and carpenters, all of which are represented by on-site experts practicing their trade through demonstration while interacting with guests. Due to comprehensive record keeping, there is a significant information available on the lifestyle of the Moravians, allowing for a realistic understanding of their practices, traditions, and tactics. The tour also includes the old Boys' School and The Doctor's House. The school dates to 1794 and catered to boys from ages 6-14. The Doctor's House, formerly known as the Vierling House, was built in 1802 by Dr. Vierling, who was a renaissance man of the medical profession, practicing simultaneously as a "physician, surgeon, dentist, pharmacist, and veterinarian." In the future the museum hopes to open interpretive exhibits in both buildings, one exploring nineteenth-century education, and the other celebrating scientific advancement and exploring comparative medical practices between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.Additionally, there is a significant emphasis within the living history museum to demonstrate the lives of the enslaved Africans held by the Moravians. While the immigrated Moravians did hold slaves, they were among the minority of groups who educated the enslaved individuals. Many of the enslaved were literate and trained in a profession. This demonstration is included within the village recreations.

The Old Salem historic district features a restored historical village turned living history museum. The historic district illustrates life in the eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Moravian community of immigrants and settlers who founded the town and farmed in the surrounding areas. The village, along with staff and volunteers who reenact village life for the public, showcase the North Carolina settlement. The village is composed of the remaining churches, communal buildings, shops and houses, 70 percent of which are original buildings. The town welcomes visitors to come and tour the village and experience demonstrations, interact with exhibits, and observe recreations of the Moravian people and lifestyle. 

Old Salem Walking Tour (Winston-Salem, NC)

St. Philip's Moravian Church

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