WS Chronicle

SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

A local historic marker commemorating the Winston Mutual Life Insurance Building and company will be unveiled at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 30, at the Winston Mutual Insurance building, 1225 E. Fifth Street.

The Winston Mutual Life Insurance Company was established in 1906 by African-American business and civic leaders to provide health and accident insurance for Winston-Salem’s African-American tobacco workers.

The company grew to become one of three major businesses owned by African-Americans in the state during the early 1900s.

The modernist building was erected at its present location in 1969. Today a new owner leases the interior as office space.

Speakers at the unveil-ing will include Mayor Pro Tempore and Council Member Vivian H. Burke; Council Member Derwin L. Montgomery; Kristen McManus of the Historic Resources Commission; Marie Hill Roseboro, granddaughter of George W. Hill; and former Winston Mutual Life Insurance Company employee George Fulton.

Marker text:

On August 6, 1906, the Winston Industrial Assoc. was established by African-American leaders to provide insurance for African-American tobacco workers. The association merged with Mountain City Mutual Life Ins. Co. in 1915 to become Winston Mutual Life Ins. Co., and by 1969 was the second largest African-American-owned insurance company in the state. Ralph W. Crump designed this modernist building in 1969. The building was a center for discussions of social issues and political campaigns. In 1985, Winston Mutual merged with Golden State Mutual Life Ins. Co., who owned the building until 2012.