Many of Winston-Salem’s great historical secrets remain, hiding in plain sight, while others require a search through the deep woods. Some are protected under historic preservation, while others are remnants of what used to be.
We set out to explore our city’s historic and secretive side, and the following article uncovers six historical treasures discovered during our journey. Which of these historical remnants have you spotted in Winston-Salem?
- The Lake at Washington Park: There once was a lake for residents to enjoy boating and ice skating. Though it’s now drained, signs of its existence remain, like the granite staircase that once served as an entryway down to the water. Enter the park from Gloria Avenue, and you’ll find a sloping hill to your left with granite stairs that once led down to the lake level.
- The Last Shell-Shaped Gas Station: This bright yellow relic is the final survivor of the shell-shaped filling stations of the 1930s. A local distributor of Shell (now Quality Oil) built seven stations in Winston-Salem and one in the nearby town of Kernersville.
- Original Road in Downtown: Hidden in plain sight, Fogle Street offers a glimpse at how most downtown roads appeared 100 years ago, clad with small granite pavers in a curvilinear pattern. While it looks like a cobblestone road, it’s actually Belgian blocks. Find it across the street from Krankie’s Coffee.
- The Outdoor Pool at Reynolda: The estate’s former outdoor swimming pool is along a walking path in the woods. It’s unclear why it’s left unrestored, but it could be because it’s where Smith Reynolds mysteriously died from a gunshot wound to his head after his friend’s 21st birthday party.
- Crystal Lake on Reynolda Road: A recreation center and “swimming resort” at the home of Harry T. Davis on Reynolda Road existed from 1925-1975. The pool was 250 feet long and 65 feet wide, with a concrete bottom and sides. A boating lake was situated above the pool area to rent canoes to paddle around an island with a large pavilion, which also had bridge access, seen in the photo. Today, the Corners Apartments are in the old Crystal Lake location, and you can still find the boating lake, island, gazebo, and bridge. Other remnants, like some stone walls along the paths, also remain.
- Adam Spach’s Rock House: The ruins of a stone house built in 1774 by Adam Spach, founder of the Friedberg Moravian Church, exist deep in the woods near the church in Davidson County. Spach, who came to the area in 1754, supposedly built the house as a fortified defense against attacks from local Native Americans, setting it on top of a spring to provide a regular water source. If you live in Winston, you’ve likely met some proud descendants of Adam Spach. The Adam Spach Rock House project is an initiative to turn the historical site into a park with walking trails, picnic areas, and historical markers.
