The Coffee Pot (Winston-Salem, North Carolina) facts for kids
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The Mickey Coffee Pot is a very large coffee pot made of tin. It is a famous landmark in the city of Winston-Salem, which is in Forsyth County, North Carolina. This giant pot was built in 1858 by two brothers, Julius and Samuel Mickey. They were tinsmiths, meaning they worked with tin. They made the pot to advertise their tin shop on South Main Street. Today, many people see the Mickey Coffee Pot as a sign of being welcoming and friendly. It is also an unofficial symbol of Winston-Salem.
History of the Coffee Pot
The Mickey Coffee Pot has been around for a long time. It has moved several times over the years.
Early Days and First Moves
When the coffee pot was first put up, it stood right next to the street. Because of this, wagons and cars would sometimes hit it. In 1920, a car hit the pot and damaged it. City officials thought the pot was dangerous and wanted to stop it from being put back up. They also saw it as an illegal advertisement.
However, many people in Winston-Salem wanted the coffee pot to stay. They protested and showed their support. Because of this, the coffee pot was fixed and put back up. This time, it was placed on a tall post, farther away from the street. This made it safer for everyone.
Moving for New Roads
The coffee pot had to move again in 1959. This happened when a big highway, then called Interstate 40 (now US 421 or "Salem Parkway"), was built right where the tin shop used to be.
It moved one more time in the 1960s. This was when Old Salem Road was created, and the roads in the area were changed. The City of Winston-Salem now owns the structure of the Coffee Pot. You can find it at the north end of Old Salem. It sits on a small island in the middle of the road, where Old Salem Road and Main Street meet.
