Single Brothers' House facts for kids
|
Single Brothers' House
|
|
|
U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Contributing Property |
|
Single Brothers' House, September 2019
|
|
 Location in North Carolina
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | S. Main and Academy Sts., Old Salem, North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Built | 1769 |
| Architect | Friedrich von Marschall |
| Part of | Old Salem Historic District (ID66000591) |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000454 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | April 15, 1970 |
| Designated NHL | April 15, 1970 |
| Designated NHLDCP | November 13, 1966 |
The Single Brothers' House is a historic building in Old Salem, North Carolina. It was built a long time ago for the unmarried men of the Moravian community. Today, it's part of the Old Salem Museums & Gardens, and you can visit it to learn about life in the past. It's located at 600 South Main Street, right at Academy Street.
History of the House
The first part of the Single Brothers' House was designed by Friedrich von Marschall. He was an important leader in the Moravian settlements. This first section was built in 1769 by a skilled builder named Melchior Rasp. It was made with a special German style called "half-timber framing." This means you could see the wooden beams and the brick filling between them. The roof was made of clay tiles, and it had a small, overhanging roof section called a "pent eave." Christian Triebel did the carpentry work.
Life in the House
Later, in 1786, a brick section was added to the house by Johann Gottlob Krause. This building was home to many craftsmen and their young apprentices who were learning trades. It also had workshops where they worked. Inside, there was a kitchen, a dining room, offices, and a large room called a "Saal." This Saal was used for worship and meetings.
The property around the house was very busy. There were other buildings like a workshop, a brewery, a place to prepare meat, a distillery (for making drinks), and a tannery (for making leather). There were also large gardens that have been partly restored today.
Changes Over Time
The Single Brothers' House stopped being a home for single men in 1823. The oldest part of the building was turned into apartments. The newer brick addition became a Boys' School for six years. After that, the building was mostly used as homes. It even became known as the "Widow's House" because many single women and widows from the community lived there.
Later, the Single Sisters (unmarried women of the Moravian community) took care of the property. In 1964, it became part of the museum and was carefully restored to look like it did in the past.
The House Today
The building is owned by the Salem Congregation, which is a group of Moravian churches. Today, it's a popular spot on the tour of Old Salem Museums & Gardens. During the Christmas season, a special event called the "Candle Tea" is held here. It's a fundraiser organized by the women of Home Moravian Church to help local charities.
The Single Brothers' House was recognized as an important historic place in 1970. It's also part of the larger Old Salem National Historic Landmark District, which was created in 1966.
Gallery
-
Single Brothers' House, HABS Photo, 1940
.jpg)
See also
