WS Chronicle

Staff Report

Winston-Salem Chronicle

— Employees of Reynolds American gathered Tuesday at the Reynolds Operations Center to formally conclude the organization’s 150th anniversary, marking a milestone that traces back to the incorporation of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company on Feb. 11, 1875.

The commemorative year began exactly one year earlier, on Feb. 11, 2025, when company leaders received a mayoral proclamation and unveiled a historical marker at the site of the “Little Red Factory” in Winston-Salem, where founder R.J. Reynolds first established his manufacturing operations.

To close the anniversary observance, employees selected a curated collection of items for a 150th Anniversary Time Capsule. The capsule was buried Tuesday on the grounds of the Tobaccoville campus and is intended to be opened in 2050.

“The items in this time capsule represent our connection to our founder, R.J. Reynolds, and our commitment to deliver on the values that built this organization,” said Kara Calderon, senior director of sustainability and community engagement for Reynolds. “When employees open this in 2050, we hope it inspires them to continue to deliver with purpose and integrity. Beginning and ending this 150th milestone on February 11 reflects a full-circle moment in the organization’s story and its commitment to driving innovation and transformation.”

Brian Chambers, senior vice president of manufacturing, joined employees from across the organization for the ceremony.

A company rooted in place

For 150 years, Reynolds’ operations have been closely tied to Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. The company’s presence helped shape the city’s economic foundation and remains part of its industrial base today, with manufacturing and operations facilities in the region.

The anniversary year highlighted that history while emphasizing the company’s current focus areas, including sustainability and community engagement, as reflected in Calderon’s leadership role and remarks during Tuesday’s ceremony.

Company officials said employees themselves helped select the items placed in the time capsule, aiming to capture both the organization’s heritage and the present moment.

Community engagement and civic recognition

Reynolds’ 150th year opened with formal recognition from city leadership through a mayoral proclamation, underscoring the company’s long-standing footprint in Winston-Salem. The unveiling of the historical marker at the Little Red Factory site connected today’s workforce with the company’s earliest chapter.

Reynolds maintains a dedicated sustainability and community engagement function within its leadership structure, reflecting an ongoing role in civic and community initiatives. While Tuesday’s event centered on employees and corporate history, leaders framed the milestone as part of a broader commitment to the community where the company was founded and continues to operate.

Looking ahead

With the burial of the time capsule, Reynolds closes a year of reflection on its origins while signaling its future direction.

The capsule, set to be reopened in 2050, is designed to serve as a bridge between generations of employees — and as a marker of how the organization sees itself at this moment in Winston-Salem’s evolving story.

For residents, the milestone underscores the enduring presence of a company whose name remains woven into the city’s history, workforce and identity.