In the Beginning, continued


(drug store) and always sat in the old part, in the back where the benches were, to have a Coke, visit, and talk about our hopes and plans for restoring Old Salem.”


60th T Anniversary Community Day, June 12


housands of people headed on over to the hop on Saturday June 12. The fun fifties dance was held on Salem Square when


the staff of Old Salem Museums & Gardens invited one and all to come celebrate its 60th anniversary with a free Community Day. Penny loafers, poodle skirts, and bobby socks were the attire


of choice at this ’50s-themed day, generously sponsored by NewBridge Bank and Reynolds American. An Elvis tribute artist and the “cruise in” of ’50s cars on display were favorites. No anniversary celebration would be complete without


a cake. The Winkler Bakery Manager, John “Johnny B. Goode” Wald, turned up the heat to bake the world’s largest Moravian sugar cake. Hungry teeny boppers cheered for John and his record-breaking achievement, and then promptly ate the entire sugar cake! Throughout the day, there was ’50s music, food, games—


including a hula hoop contest—and prizes for “hound” dogs of all ages to enjoy. Community Day ended at dusk with the showing of a classic ’50s film, Rebel Without a Cause. Thank you to all that helped celebrate Old Salem’s 60th anniversary!


The “we” group was made up of friends and


family members. Copey continued, “It was just after the war. Everything was starting up again. It was a glorious time, everybody helping everybody else. We were so busy, but there was great loyalty, pride, and a feeling of belonging. Old Salem belonged to everybody, not just the Moravians. And everybody felt essential (to the restoration efforts).” As the restoration of Salem became a reality,


Copey and her husband not only stayed actively involved but also began encouraging interest in their children and their children’s friends to sup- port their community at large and Old Salem in particular. In 1970 their son Reg, and his wife


10


Jane, moved the Denke House from its original location on Factory Row into the district on Salt Street. They restored and lived in it for a number of years. In the course of the project, Reg delved into the family who built the Denke House. In reading Denke’s diary he came across a para- graph that said, in effect, “Today I buried my best friend, Marcus Hanes.” Reg was thrilled to find that one of his ancestors had been the best friend of the builder of his new house. Reg and Jane were following a trend of


second-generation restorers begun earlier by Tom and Bill Gray who had completed the Christman House in 1969, also on Salt Street. Tom later restored the Traugott Lineback House at 807 South Main and bought the reconstructed Traugott Bagge House at 10 West Street. A close friend, Borden Hanes, Jr. also had three residences in Old Salem. He first lived in the


Fourth House, then bought the Traugott Bagge House, then he and Tom “swapped” houses (or actually bought and sold each other’s house). Another friend of the younger Haneses and of the Gray brothers, Betty Willis, restored the Van Vleck House in the mid-seventies. The young ladies of the Winston-Salem Junior League restored the Timothy Vogler House in 1960. It was the Van Vleck House that became


Copey’s second, albeit temporary, residence in Salem, and the first time she lived at the col- lege. This time she and her husband lived in the district for six months while they were re-doing their house across town. From original trustee to chairman of the


board, Copey has done more than anyone can remember to build, support, and enhance Old Salem. And now this gracious lady is instilling in her grandchildren the enormous pride she shares with many others in this Moravian village. After all, she says, “The Moravians set the tone for the cultural center our city has become. Everything started at Salem. And I have always admired and been inspired by their lovely, beautiful faith.” m


Old Salem Museums & Gardens


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