Travel NC With Kids: Moravian culture

Showing posts with label Moravian culture. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Old Salem Tour of Vierling House – Vintage Medical Supplies and Apothecary Shop

Old Salem Tour of Vierling House and Apothecary Shop © Katrena

The Vierling House, one of several homes on the Old Salem tour, offers visitors a glimpse of medical practice in the early 19th century. This was one of my personal favorites on the tour. I am a registered nurse, and I found it very interesting to step back in time to see what medical supplies and treatments were available in the 1800s.

Dr. Vierling's House at Old Salem © Katrena

Dr. Samuel Benjamin Vierling lived in an upscale house compared to many of the homes in Old Salem at that time. The furniture was very well preserved, and my kids were excited to recognize items like the vintage spinning wheel. The size of the rooms seemed similar to those of the tavern. I am sure it must have taken quite a bit of work to heat rooms with such high ceilings back then.

Learn About Moravian Culture in the Early 1800s © Katrena

The dining room included place settings with silverware that captured my girls' attention. We had the opportunity to learn how families in the early 1800s used cutlery differently than we do today, hence the difference in the sizes of utensils when compared to those of more modern times.

Kitchen and Cooking Fireplace in Old Salem © Katrena

Many of the homes on the tour feature a fireplace, and the kitchen in this home seemed quite large when compared to other homes for individual families. We visited when the tree just behind the house was loaded with figs. I can imagine the cook of the house making a lot of dishes from freshly picked fruits and vegetables found right out the back door.

Old Medical Supplies - Vintage Bedpan © Katrena

This residential home was rather unusual because it featured two levels. The upstairs contained a museum packed full of medical supplies. Many of the supplies resembled those still used today, such as the old metal bedpan. It was quite interesting to hear my daughter's guesses as to the use of that strange apparatus since they had never seen a bedpan before.

Old Obstetrical Supplies at Old Salem © Katrena

After taking a look at the older obstetrical supplies and adaptive devices such as early hearing aids of the early 1800s, I gained a new appreciation for advances in health care that we enjoy and often take for granted today.

Old Doctor Bag And Medical Supplies © Katrena

Doctors would often carry their "office" with them for house calls. I can imagine that Dr. Vierling's black bag would have quite a story to tell of house visits for everything from injuries to illnesses to delivering babies.

Old Medical Journal from 1800s © Katrena

It was difficult for my children and me to imagine home visits by a physician or walking a few blocks to the doctor's home in search of medical treatment. Doctors of the time must have spent countless hours studying the human body and researching treatment options without the benefit of medical journals and forums via the Internet. I can imagine that this doctor was quite organized and attentive to detail since the items in the museum were so well preserved.

Doctor's Office and Sick Chair in Old Salem © Katrena

Some treatments described in the museum and apothecary shop seemed rather timeless. The sick chair looked like many a person sat there in the hope that Dr. Vierling would be able to diagnose and treat whatever ailed the person, just as many people today may spend quite a bit of time waiting to be seen by a healthcare provider.

Medicinal Herbs used in Old Salem and Moravian Culture © Katrena

The apothecary shop included an impressive display of herbs and supplies that pre-dated modern pharmacies. Scientists have studied the effectiveness of many home remedies and have discovered that some of those older treatments were right on the mark. Modern medicines often contain ingredients similar to those used hundreds of years ago.

Old Scale for Weighing Medicine from 1800s © Katrena

It was interesting to have a chance to look at the scales for weighing various ingredients and seeing the mortars and pestles in the shop. I have used a mortar and pestle myself and found them to be very effective in grinding pills into powder form. I actually found the old mortal and pestle to be a bit superior to the newer, modern versions in many ways.

Old Salem Tour in Winston-Salem NC © Katrena

Many physicians today are challenged to help patients who come in with various problems that seem to defy diagnosis and/or treatments. Medical doctors of the early 1800s were highly respected by many in the community, and much of their success may have stemmed from the physician's genuine concern for his neighbors, friends, and family members who sought his help.

Vintage Surgical Instruments from 1800s © Katrena

I am fortunate to know a retired physician who used to make house calls. He still walks every day with his dog and often has a treat for the various dogs and cats along his walking route. I can imagine Dr. Vierling having that same sort of caring attitude toward his community!

Vintage Medical and Surgical Supplies © Katrena

Additional articles about our Old Salem Tour:

Vintage Pharmaceutical Instruments from Old Salem © Katrena

Find additional family-friendly reviews, tips, and pictures at Katrena's Travel NC With Kids and Love 2 Travel With Kids site maps.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Old Salem Tour of Single Brothers' House in Winston-Salem NC

Pipe Organ at Old Salem © Katrena

The Single Brothers' House was another memorable stop on our tour of Old Salem, located near Business 40 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This was one of the larger buildings on the tour. Unmarried Moravian men in Salem would live here together. They would learn a trade and were often mentored, perhaps for several years. I can imagine that these men were quite adept in their chosen trade.

Single Brothers' House Tour in Old Salem © Katrena

The Moravians often created functional items that could save time and tended to focus on quality, as evidenced by the amazing number of buildings and many household items that have survived through quite a number of generations. The Moravians of the area also seemed quite innovative and seemed to have a thriving community years ago, as evidenced by many detailed records of various community members.

Old Painting on Old Salem Tour © Katrena

Visitors are invited to sit in rows of wooden seats similar to what one might find in an older church while speakers talk about how unmarried men would live and learn together in this home while unmarried women in the community would live in a separate building. This room also housed a variety of old paintings.

Learn Moravian Culture at Old Salem © Katrena

The guide showed various ribbons that women would wear to tie their bonnets. These were color-coded to indicate whether they were single, married, widowed, etc. The ladies who work in the various buildings on the tour wear period costumes, so my kids were watching to see if they could remember what the colors meant. I suppose the men in the community years ago watched those colors rather closely as well!

Learn About Music History in Old Salem © Katrena

One of my favorite parts of this the tour was having the opportunity to see the old pipe organ. I play the piano for my church, so it was particularly interesting to me to see this piece of musical history and some old hymnals and Bible. The keys on this pipe organ are black and white, but the colors are on the opposite keys that one usually sees on organs and pianos today. Old Salem houses the largest surviving Tannenburg pipe organ.

Fun Family Activities in Forsyth County © Katrena

One of my daughters was thrilled to have the opportunity to come up and tread the bellows. In other words, she was pumping a large stick up and down so that the organ would make music. The organ can now be played without treading the bellows or with the help of a young volunteer. Years ago, boys would tread the bellows upstairs in the attic. I can just imagine the congregation beginning to sing and wondering if the fellows upstairs were paying attention during the service!

Old Tools in Old Salem © Katrena

Visitors can look at several rooms containing quite a few supplies that represent several common tools and trades. The guides were happy to answer my daughters' questions as they looked at these pieces of equipment and supplies.

Cobbler or Shoemaker at Old Salem © Katrena

We also had the chance to meet a cobbler, someone who makes shoes. He talked about how he would measure a person's feet and showed us different examples of materials he used for making the shoes. Some of the guides wear shoes made on site, and he said that he gets orders for custom shoes on a regular basis. He also assured us that his shoes were actually quite comfortable and would last for many years.

Custom Made Shoes at Old Salem © Katrena

It was interesting to see the nice variety of colors, styles, and sizes he had in the shop. In those days, older children would hand down shoes to younger children who would hand them down to the next ones in line when they outgrew them. My youngest child did not think that was a very good idea!

Learn Cultural History in North Carolina at Old Salem © Katrena

The Single Brothers' House houses a lot of history and gives visitors a chance to learn quite a bit about the Moravian culture and how this group worked together to provide for the community and earn a living.

Additional articles about our Old Salem Tour:

Find more articles about family-friendly destinations in North Carolina on Katrena's Travel NC With Kids site map.

Monday, July 2, 2012

Old Salem Tour of 1784 Tavern – See George Washington's Letter and More!

Guided Tour of Tavern at Old Salem © Katrena

The Salem Tavern at Old Salem, located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, provided some interesting tidbits of history on our walking tour of this historic Moravian town in Forsyth County. We visited the tavern after seeing the Timothy Vogler Gunsmith Shop.

Learn Moravian Culture at Old Salem Tavern © Katrena

The Salem Tavern was built to be on the edge of town because the Moravian community preferred not to have too many influences from "outsiders." They held certain religious beliefs that travelers might not practice, yet the income from the tavern helped the economy of the town.

Parlor Room in Salem Tavern © Katrena

Before heading upstairs, tour guides will gladly show guests the large front rooms. Several games are laid out on tables. We thought it was interesting that games like checkers were allowed as long as the game involved skill and not simply luck.

Salem Tavern Tour of Guest Rooms © Katrena

The largest bedroom available for travelers did not have a price tag and was reserved for more affluent travelers. The tavern owner and traveler would come to an agreement on the price for this spacious and private room.

Bedroom of Tavern Owner at Old Salem © Katrena

The owner and his family lived in the tavern, but women and children would not mingle with tavern patrons. Some think that perhaps George Washington may have stayed in the owner's bedroom on his famous visit to Old Salem.

Water Buckets in Case of Fire © Katrena

Large bags with handles hang in the downstairs hallway. These were filled with water in case of fire in the hopes of extinguishing the flames. Larger buildings like this would have more bags than the smaller homes nearby. An uncontrolled fire could easily devastate an entire town. I have several friends who are firefighters...I bet they are glad we have more modern ways to extinguish flames now!

Bedroom in Salem Tavern © Katrena

Upstairs Bedroom in Tavern at Old Salem © Katrena

Regular rooms in the tavern are located upstairs. Several beds were in each room upstairs, and travelers might share beds if necessary. Prices for these rooms were much less than the large private room downstairs.

Trying Out a Bed at the Tavern in Old Salem © Katrena

My daughters were quite excited to have the chance to try lying down on a bed that was made to resemble those of the time after we got upstairs. They all decided it was quite comfortable!

George Washington's Letter After Visiting Old Salem © Katrena

This tavern must have had an excellent reputation because the first President of the United States, George Washington, stayed here. His letter commending the community and their hospitality is upstairs in the tavern. The Moravians were quite progressive for the time. They believed in formal education for girls and boys and mentored the youth so that they could support themselves and their families once they became adults.

Kitchen in Salem Tavern © Katrena

The kitchen is located at the back of the tavern, and the guide there mentioned that she has been working at Old Salem for eleven years. She kept a fire going in the fireplace and showed how the women would have taken some hot coals out and placed them on the floor in order to cook some of the food.

Silverware and Dishes at Old Salem © Katrena

The oven in the tavern kitchen resembled the one in the Winkler Bakery. They use wood to heat it and must carefully time baking of the bread. Herbs were hanging from the ceiling and plenty of older silverware and dishes seemed to beckon guests to stay a while.

The dining area in the tavern was decorated quite nicely. My 4-year-old was ready to have a meal!

Our next stop on the walking tour was the Blum House. Find more family-friendly travel destinations, including additional Old Salem tour stops, at my Travel NC With Kids site map.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Old Salem NC Holiday Open House Offers Great Christmas Sneak Peek!

Old Salem, located in the heart of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, provides a step back in time as visitors can get a glimpse of Moravian culture of the 18th and 19th centuries. The Old Salem Holiday Open House is held annually on the second Saturday in November.

Those who are in the Christmas mood before Thanksgiving may enjoy the annual Old Salem Holiday Open House. Many people enjoy this annual event as a festive way to begin the Christmas season as visitors can speak to artisans, hear Christmas stories and live music, try making Christmas crafts, sample goodies, and more.

Old Salem also offers a wide variety of Christmas activities, such as:

Christmas candlelight tours
Symphony music, featuring Christmas music from the 19th century to present day
Puppet shows with a Christmas theme
Candle tea, held the first two weekends of December and hosted by Home Moravian Church
Soulful Christmas, which features Christmas carols with a Motown style

Guests of Old Salem may wish to purchase tickets to gain entrance to the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts and for a self-guided walking tour of Historic Old Salem, in which visitors gain entrance into several buildings to learn more about Moravian culture while speaking with costumed historians.

Guests of the Old Salem tour will see and interact with historical interpreters as they learn through this unique walking historical museum. Another choice for seeing Old Salem is with via a horse-drawn carriage. Riders have the opportunity to learn about the rich culture of the area during this unique guided tour.

The general public may also enjoy walking among the various historical landmarks of Old Salem. Shops offer a nice variety of items such as Moravian stars, handmade soap, and bakery items. The Winkler Bakery, located at 521 South Main Street contains a huge oven that is approximately 200 years old.

The oven is still heated with wood, and can hold up to 98 loaves of bread. Visitors can smell the wonderful aroma of fresh baked bread and other goodies and perhaps get a free sample while enjoying a glimpse of a working oven from many years gone by.

Another must-see item on any tour of Old Salem is God's Acre, the Moravian cemetery. Visitors may stroll along this neatly trimmed and tranquil piece of land while admiring the beauty of nature. This peaceful place seems many miles away from the hustle and bustle of Winston-Salem.

In mid-November, those who stroll a short way into the Old Salem cemetery will be met with an awesome sight: a majestic Gingko tree that resembles a huge pot of gold when Fall colors are at their peak. The sight of this old tree is beyond what a mere camera can capture.

Salem College is located in the Old Salem district, and Home Moravian Church schedules regular times in which the sanctuary is open to the general public. Several of the buildings at Old Salem are on the National Historic Landmark list, and the meticulous records of the Moravian people of the area have helped to preserve much of the history in Old Salem.

Those in wheelchairs or with strollers may need to avoid several of the sidewalks in the area as they are brick sidewalks and may have areas that are not level. Artists may frequent the walkways as Old Salem offers quite a few picturesque scenes, such as the famous waterpump on the square.

Visitors who are traveling back to Business 40 may notice a huge tin coffee pot a couple of blocks before crossing over the freeway. The coffee pot is said to have the capacity of 740 gallons and is now located in a traffic island that links Main Street, Brookstown Avenue, and Old Salem Road. This interesting landmark was made by Moravian brothers who owned a tin shop and is said to symbolize the joining of Winston and Salem, two towns that later merged to become Winston-Salem, NC.

Visitors with children may also wish to visit the Children's Museum of Winston-Salem, which is conveniently located between Old Salem and Business 40. Those who are traveling west on Business 40 may be able to catch a glimpse of the 31-foot Moravian star atop Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center's North Tower on the left just a few miles from Old Salem.

Visit the Old Salem web site for a calendar of events, directions, history, and more.