ARCHAEOLOGY

Archaeological surveys along the Yadkin River, supported through grants from the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office, plus excavations at Old Salem, Bethania, and Historic Bethabara Park, have revealed the depth and richness of prehistory and history in Forsyth County. The Historic Preservation Office works very closely with the city, county, and Wake Forest University. Over 1,000 prehistoric and historic archaeological sites are recorded in the Historic Preservation Office's statewide inventory--one of the largest county totals in the entire state.

ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY

Extensive grant-funded architectural surveys have been completed in Kernersville, Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, and African-American neighborhoods in Winston-Salem. A comprehensive survey of the Old Salem environs began in 1998. These are cooperative local-state projects accomplished with grants and staff assistance from the Historic Preservation Office.

GRANTS

A total of $187,135 in federal grants and $234,000 in state grants has been awarded to projects in Forsyth County since 1978. Notable projects include archaeological investigations at Bethabara, Bethania, Old Richmond Courthouse, Old Salem, St. Philip's Moravian Church, and the Yadkin River, the architectural survey of African American resources in Winston-Salem, relocation of the Kernersville Depot, and roof repairs to Kerner's Folly.

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

Fifty-six individual historic properties and eight districts are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Famed structures like Graylyn, Reynolds High School, Salem Tavern, and the Single Brothers House in Old Salem are complemented by lesser-known properties such as the John Henry Kapp Farm near Bethania, Rural Hall Depot, the Shell Service Station, and St. Philip's Moravian Church. Archaeological properties such as Historic Bethabara and the Richmond Courthouse Site near Donnaha Station are included as well. The Bethania Historic District is the largest National Register district in the county. The Salem Tavern, Single Brothers House, and the Old Salem Historic District in which they are located, are also National Historic Landmarks, as is the Bethabara Historic District.

LOCAL PRESERVATION COMMISSIONS

The Historic Preservation Office provides consultation assistance for the Forsyth County Joint Historic Properties Commission and has commented on reports for the local designation of three districts and ninety-two landmarks. Winston-Salem, Clemmons, and Kernersville are Certified Local Governments. Grant funds have been awarded through the Historic Preservation Office for a historic preservation plan for the historic Moravian community of Bethania (1992) and design guidelines for the Forsyth County Joint Historic Properties Commission (1999).

PRESERVATION TAX CREDITS

Thirteen income-producing tax credit projects have been completed in Forsyth County at a total construction investment of $17,515,300, including the Brickenstein-Leinbach House and Brookstown Mill, both in Winston-Salem; five additional projects are currently undergoing renovation. Three residential renovations have been completed to utilize the new state tax credit for non-income-producing structures, and twelve residences are being renovated under the program. The Historic Preservation Office reviews and provides restoration technical services for all tax credit projects.

PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PUBLICATIONS

The Historic Preservation Office assisted Forsyth County and the city of Winston-Salem in publishing the findings of the architectural survey in From Frontier to Factory: An Architectural History of Forsyth County in 1981. In 1999, the Historic Preservation Office and the Forsyth County Joint Historic Properties Commission co-sponsored the second statewide conference of the N.C. African American Network on Historic Preservation, held at Salem College in Winston-Salem. In 2001, the first UNC-Greensboro Historic Preservation Field School will be held in Old Salem.

RESTORATION

The Historic Preservation Office has provided technical restoration assistance on many occasions to Forsyth County historic properties including Reynolda House, the William Blair House, the Zeverly House, the Winston-Salem Southbound Railroad Freight Depot, and Kerner's Folly.