Travel NC With Kids: Old Salem

Showing posts with label Old Salem. 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, May 28, 2013

Old Salem Tour of Blum House – See Vintage Printer and Photography Studio

Blum House Tour at Old Salem © Katrena

The Blum House, one of several buildings on tour at Old Salem, once served as a home and shop of a Salem printer. A detailed display entitled Recording Salem: Printers and Photographers is housed in the building.

Old Printing Press on Old Salem Tour © Katrena

It is hard for younger generations to imagine the amount of time and effort people had to put forth in order to print a newspaper or even a newsletter many years ago. I remember typing school papers on an electric typewriter. Those typewriters did not have an "edit undo" or cut and paste option. If you left out a word, misspelled something, or forgot to leave enough room at the bottom for citations, you had to re-type the entire page if you wanted a decent grade. Heaven forbid if you wanted to change the order of your thoughts back then!

Learn About History of Press in Winston-Salem NC © Katrena

Much of the equipment in the Blum House at Old Salem dates back to the 1800s. The alphabet blocks look almost like toys, but these were used in the printing process. People back then would have been amazed at how small and convenient printers have become today. That old printing press takes up a large percentage of the room and to me it sort of resembled a large weaving loom. Those who worked in the printing industry back then had to be quite meticulous and organized.

Vintage Photography Studio in Old Salem © Katrena

Another room offers a look at how an old photo studio might have looked. The chair for the subject had a rather uncomfortable looking head rest. Photography has also seen some amazing changes over the years as the cameras have become so much smaller and faster. The lighting needed to be just right, and subjects had to remain quite still for a photo to turn out well in those days. My girls and I all agreed that we are thankful that people have kept working to create the quick digital point and click cameras of today.

History of Photography Lesson at Old Salem © Katrena

I recall seeing family members using a camera that was similar to some of the older ones on display (perhaps a Brownie camera?), the ones that look like a box where you look in the top to see the image. I also remember mailing film to be developed and having to wait what seemed like forever before the prints would come back! Photos lacked the instant feedback that we enjoy today...woe to the photographer who accidentally cut off a head, had a finger in front of the lens, or forgot to remove the lens cover back then!

Vintage Photos at Old Salem © Katrena

Seeing the old photographs and news articles gives visitors an opportunity to see hair styles and dress of the period as well as an idea of what events were newsworthy back then. Those who lived in Old Salem were pretty progressive for their time, and many of them kept detailed records that have been preserved over the years. Due to their diligence and careful handling of many of their possessions, we now have a piece of history that future generations can discover and enjoy.

See Old Cameras on Tour of Old Salem © Katrena

The Blum House was one of many places we visited on the Old Salem tour. Readers may also wish to read about other places we visited at Old Salem, such as the:

Learn about NC History in Old Salem © Katrena

Find more family friendly travel articles at Katrena's blogs: Travel NC With Kids and Love 2 Travel With Kids.

Monday, June 18, 2012

Old Salem Tour of African American Church and Graveyards

Reconstructed African Moravian Log Church © Katrena

The African American church and graveyards were the first stop on our walking tour of Old Salem. A knowledgeable tour guide greeted us on the front porch of a reconstructed African Moravian log church and invited us to come inside.

African American Woman at Old Salem © Katrena

African American Musician from Old Salem © Katrena

Upon entering, we noticed statues, paintings, and silhouettes positioned throughout the room. These were depictions of various African Americans who were buried in the adjacent graveyard. Each one had a story that was told in a recording. Visitors could pick up a receiver that looked like a phone and push a button to hear each person detail his or her life. A short paragraph also described each person.

Lives Memorialized at Old Salem © Katrena

The people featured were quite interesting, from a newborn infant to a man who had lived to be over 100 years old. Each story was unique and pieced together by records found at Old Salem. I found it interesting and a bit unusual that each person's tombstone was encased near the statue or painting. Tombstones aren't typically removed, yet we discovered later why these stones would be found in the building rather than marking each grave outside.

Artwork in African Moravian Log Cabin © Katrena

If you look up, you'll see interesting artwork near the ceiling, and these images also appear in the accompanying short video about African Americans at Old Salem. The video had captions for visitors to read, and my 8-year-old enjoyed reading each one, but a few of them were a little too long for her to read before the next page would appear, but the video was quite informative and provided a wealth of information about life for African Americans who lived in this Moravian community.

African American History at Old Salem © Katrena

At one point in Old Salem history, African Americans were rented from the church rather than bought and sold to individual families. Perhaps renting a person seemed proper at the time. A recent formal letter of apology by the church was also shown on the video.

After exiting the back door, our guide lead us toward North Carolina's oldest standing African American church. St. Philips African Moravian Church was originally built in 1861, with an expansion added in 1890.

Tombstone in Stanger's Graveyard at Old Salem © Katrena

The yard in front of the church was the graveyard for many of the African Americans who had lived and died in Old Salem between 1816 and 1859 and also served as the community's graveyard for strangers, who were folks who lived nearby or were traveling in the area who did not profess to be Moravians.

Archaeological Digs Reveal Resting Places at Old Salem © Katrena

Tombstone Marking African American Grave at Old Salem © Katrena

Although at least 131 people are know to be buried in this yard, only one African American tombstone lies in its original place. The other grave markers simply identify the people buried as either a child or an adult. Our guide explained that earlier efforts to "beautify" the yard included pulling up the tombstones and placing them under the church.

Tribute to African Americans at Old Salem © Katrena

Later, this was determined to be disrespectful to the souls buried in the yard and archaeologists have been trying to piece together the history at least to the point of identifying each grave's location. A large stone rests directly in front of the church that contains all of the names and epitaphs and any known information about the 131 persons known to be buried at this location. This also solved the mystery of the tombstones now located inside the log church.

St. Philips African Moravian Church is still in use as the congregation that typically meets at another location will hold services on fifth Sundays. The original light fixtures still hang from the ceiling. The sanctuary houses some beautiful ornate antique chairs and an antique piano at the front. Pews have a dividing line down the center – rules of those days dictated that women would sit on the right while men would sit on the left.

My girls were excited to have the opportunity to climb the stairs to a sort of loft area. The pew upstairs facing the front of the church may have seated the choir or congregation members who played instruments. The center of the room upstairs contains chairs set up to resemble a Sunday school room, and records of attendance and a large collage containing pictures of descendents gives faces to some of the folks who have deep roots in Old Salem.

An old cookstove is on display downstairs, complete with a beautiful old teapot. The stove looks to be in excellent condition. My 4-year-old would have loved to have played with that stove! Across the hall from this room lies more history. This front part of the church was added above existing graves in the stranger's graveyard, and one section of the floor has been replaced with glass so that visitors can glimpse some of the graves below.

I found it sobering to see the simplicity and sorrowful history found in the African American section of Old Salem. This graveyard served as a sharp contrast to God's acre at the other end of our Old Salem tour. This section also may remind us of the resiliency of African Americans and their capacity to love and forgive, I'm glad to see that many of their ancestors now have a "voice" to share with others.

Find more of Katrena's articles at Travel NC With Kids.

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.