Beginning In The Ol d S a l em T


wo of Old Salem’s original trustees, who were in fact on the temporary


board and on the first official board, recently shared some of their memo- ries of Old Salem’s beginning. Frank Willingham and Copey


Hanes were on the trustee list that reads like a “Who’s Who” in Winston-Salem. There was a bishop, a college president, an architect, a doctor, a law- yer, various Salem residents, a newspaper publisher, several Moravians, and a number of businessmen and ladies who got things done. Willingham, who died


Frank Willingham


on March 26, just four days before the 60th anniver- sary of the founding of Old Salem, told his family that he was particularly pleased with his work on the original board. The notice of his death reported, “Winston-Salem has lost one of its quiet heroes.” The grandson of Colonel Francis H. Fries and nephew of Dr. Adelaide Fries, his ties to Salem were old and deep. “He spent his life giving to his


family, his church and his com- munity.” A lifelong member


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of Home Moravian Church, Willingham brought a wealth of experience to Old Salem’s board. He also served as chairman of the board for Home Moravian Church and chairman of the Salem Congregation board. He was also chairman of the Salem Academy and College trustees executive committee. In addi- tion, he was a trustee of the Moravian College and Theological Seminary, the Moravian Music Foundation, and the Moravian Home during its founding. These are just a few on a long list of his extensive community involvement. Old Salem lost one of its most steadfast and dearest supporters with Willingham’s death. In Old Salem’s formative years, not unlike


Copey Hanes 2010


today, money and the raising of it was crucial. Those initial trustees not only dug deep into their own pockets, but also prevailed on their friends, families, and acquaintances to do like- wise. Minutes of early board meetings always listed contributions and acquisitions. Two unique entries in the 1951–52 annual meeting minutes were: “Mrs. Bowman Gray has offered to sell six boxer puppies, the proceeds of which will go to Old Salem,” and “Mr. Charles Babcock has given the proceeds from the sale of the Mary Reynolds Babcock book First Aid for Flowers. The publication of First Aid for Flowers was


Old Salem Museums & Gardens


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