Single Brothers' House

The Single Brothers' House was built to house the Single Brethren (the unmarried men) of the Moravian Congregation of Old Salem, North Carolina. It is part of Old Salem Museums & Gardens and open as an Old Salem tour building to visitors. It is located at 600 South Main Street, at Academy Street, on the southwest corner.[3]

Single Brothers' House
Single Brothers' House, September 2019
Single Brothers' House is located in North Carolina
Single Brothers' House
Single Brothers' House is located in the United States
Single Brothers' House
LocationS. Main and Academy Sts., Old Salem, North Carolina
Coordinates36°5′13.6″N 80°14′32.6″W
Built1769
ArchitectFriedrich von Marschall
Part ofOld Salem Historic District (ID66000591)
NRHP reference No.70000454
Significant dates
Added to NRHPApril 15, 1970[1]
Designated NHLApril 15, 1970[2]
Designated NHLDCPNovember 13, 1966

History

The first portion was designed by Friedrich von Marschall,[4] a leader of the Moravian settlements. The first section was constructed, by master mason Melchior Rasp, of traditional Germanic half-timber framing, exposed brick noggin, a clay tile roof, and had a pent eave. It was completed in 1769, with carpentry work done by Christian Triebel. A later brick addition was added in 1786 by Rasp's successor, Johann Gottlob Krause[5] to the south end. The building housed craftsmen and their apprentices, as well as provide individual trade shops. The building had kitchen and dining room, administrative offices, and a Saal (worship/meeting area). Additional buildings were constructed on the large property that provided additional space for the activities such as the (reconstructed) 1771 workshop building behind. There was also a brewery, slaughterhouse, distillery, and tannery on the parcel, as well as extensive gardens that have been partially restored.

The Single Brothers' House was closed in 1823, with the oldest part used as apartments and the brick addition as a Boys' School. The school occupied the building for six years, after which the building was primarily residential and eventually became known as the "Widow's House", since there were mainly single women and widows of the congregation living in it. The Single Sisters later took control of the property and eventually it was leased as part of the museum and restored in 1964.

The building belongs to the Salem Congregation,[6] a group of Moravian churches that evolved from the original Congregational Council for Salem. The building is currently part of the tour for Old Salem Museums & Gardens. During the Advent season, it is site of the Candle Tea, a fundraiser held by the Women's Fellowship of Home Moravian Church for local non-profit agencies.[7]

It was listed as an individual National Historic Landmark in 1970, and is contributing resource of the Old Salem National Historic Landmark District designated in 1966 and updated in 2016.[2][3][8]

The clapboard fascia of the building's right half was removed in the second half of the 20th century, revealing the brick of that of the left half.

  • Single Brothers' House, HABS Photo, 1940
    Single Brothers' House, HABS Photo, 1940

See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Single Brothers' House.

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. "Single Brothers' House". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved February 26, 2008.
  3. Polly M. Rettig and Charles W. Snell (June 6, 1975). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Single Brothers House" (pdf). National Park Service. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help) and Accompanying two photos, exterior, from 1969 and 1975 (32 KB)
  4. "Marshall, Frederic William (1721-1802)".
  5. "Krause, Johann Gottlob (1760-1802)".
  6. "Home". salemcongregation.org.
  7. "Home Moravian Church Candle Tea". Home Moravian Church. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  8. https://files.nc.gov/ncdcr/nr/FY8775.pdf

Further reading
  1. Old Salem: An Adventure in Historic Preservation, rev. ed. Frances Griffin. Old Salem Inc.: Winston-Salem, NC, 1985.
  2. Old Salem: Official Guidebook. Hunter James & Frances Griffin. Old Salem, Inc.: Winston-Salem, NC 1977–1994.
  3. Old Salem: The Official Guidebook. Penelope Niven & Cornelia Wright. Old Salem Inc.: Winston-Salem, NC, 2000.
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