WS Chronicle

The Chronicle and the Forsyth County Historic Resources Commission education committee joined together to sponsor an essay contest during the month of April for 6th-8th graders in Forsyth County Schools. The contest was to bring attention to and celebrate National Historic Preservation Month in May.

There were four prompts suggested for students to research and write about, but they also were free to choose another topic:

*What is the story behind an historic marker in your neighborhood and why is this recognition important?

*Interview a senior citizen in your neighborhood about what they did during the summer when they were your age. How are what you do the same or different?

*If you were a tour guide, what would you show people in your neighborhood that makes it unique?

*Describe something – like a home, building, park, etc. – in your neighborhood that you hope will be there 50 years from now. Why do you think that is important?

We received 14 submissions and were impressed with the students’ essays and the variety of subjects they chose to write about. There were four judges and choosing the top essays was a challenge! The judges chose a first, second and third-place essay and three honorable mentions. All the students should be recognized for their curiosity in researching their essay topic and their skills in writing composition.

We are pleased to publish the top three award winners. The honorable mentions are: Levi Colt Plummer, “Fratelli’s Steakhouse Bull”; Jasmayne G. Malone, “Horizons Park”; and Amelia Hercules, “Reynolda Museum and Historic House.”

FIRST PLACE – $25 PRIZE

Winston- Salem’s Silver Hill

By Gabriel Chalfa

A historic marker that I have found captivating for some time now is the enigmatic Silver Hill. The hill is labeled by a historical marker and lies within the township of Old Town. Many stories have come from the illustrious site, and historians and journalists have worked tirelessly to uncover the true story of Silver Hill. But even as its secrets are uncovered, the community still lies in mystique. 

Silver Hill was initially populated by a tight-knit community of African Americans who constructed a church by the hill in 1892. The townspeople consisted of tobacco farmers and domestic servants who had vacated their previous homes to seek out better lives in Old Town. In 1906, a piece of land connected to that of the church was purchased and utilized as a cemetery, with 558 people having been buried there from 1901 to 1956. 

The legend that gave Silver Hill its name is that of a mysterious figure that lived there in the late 19th century. In the 1800s in Southern America, there was far less medical understanding than there is today. People didn’t understand ailments like we do today, and so they sought out any measure possible to cure their illnesses. In the case of Silver Hill, the community relied on the help of a mysterious witch doctor to mend their diseases. The doctor didn’t request payment in the form of money, but instead in large silver coins, which gave Silver Hill its name. The doctor saw people with illnesses that weren’t understood, like leprosy or scurvy, and gave them strange “potions” to cure them. 

The town has lived in mystique ever since. In conclusion, Silver Hill is a strange and captivating site that reminds us of Winston-Salem’s colorful past.

Gabriel R. Chalfa is 14 years old and an 8th grader at Hanes Magnet Middle School. His parents are Stephen and Rheannon Chalfa. 

SECOND PLACE – $15 PRIZE

Mrs. Lillie Little

By Zaye Miller

Mrs. Lilie describes herself by saying “I was a post-depression, post-war baby.” It was my honor to sit with her and hear the stories of her life. Mrs. Lilie was born on January 13, 1939. She was born in Wilkes County to parents Mr. William Dimmette and Mrs. Emmy Brown. 

Mrs. Lilie and her husband, Bill, live beside my family. I had met her a few times, but today was different. It was a time of reminiscing, reliving joy, sadness, shame, poverty, and most importantly, love. She was a storyteller today, with a history of information that only she was able to express through words and emotions. 

Mrs. Lilie came from a poor farming family; her mother was a homemaker/farmer, and her dad worked at Ronda Chair Factory. They raised tobacco, they raised a garden full of vegetables that they canned, and she also mentioned to me they put up meat for the year. She explained how they bartered corn at the local mill for flour, cornmeal and grits so that no money was exchanged, including the fact that her mother made all of their clothes from cotton feed bags, due to economic poverty. She also told me that there was never a day that they went hungry or without clothes all due to her mother’s ability to sustain the family. When she looked at me and said “Zaye, I never saw my mother sleep. I am sure she did, but I do not know when.” It was at this point that I could see the pride she had in her mother and why Mrs. Lilie is the woman she is today. 

Her father abandoned her mother and siblings when she was 10 years old, making it extremely difficult for her mother to provide for the family. That is when her mother made the difficult decision to move the family to what was then Winston and Salem, which at that time were two different towns. Winston-Salem merged the towns in 1913, making it Winston-Salem. Mrs. Lilie is the only child born into the marriage. Her mother went to work at Baptist Hospital in the cafeteria, which at the time only housed 100 beds inside. She was left at home to care for a neighbor’s child for extra money; cleaning and cooking fell to her at the young age of 11 years old.

Mrs. Lilie and I spoke about her education. She said, “There was not a kindergarten back then, only grades 1-12.” When Mrs. Lilie was my age she attended Reynolds School here in Winston-Salem. She told me that she was bullied because of her clothes, which made it difficult to make friends. 

Mrs. Lilie was 14 years old when she got her first job, working at Hawthorne Soda Shop making fifty cents an hour. She worked part-time at Woolworths in downtown Winston making $22.20 per week to pay for her education while attending school full-time, which is how she could afford the educational training to become a hairdresser. Mrs. Lilie worked at Willows Salon at 18 years old; she had worked in the industry for 30 years. Mrs. Lilie eventually owned Hair Shapers in Winston-Salem and ran the business for 12 years before she decided to sell it. 

I asked her who was the president at the time she was born. Her response was “Franklin D. Roosevelt.”  She explained to me what it felt like when WWII ended and how she could hear the bells ringing for miles. The celebrations in the streets were something she had never experienced before. It was the emotion on her face that told me it was a time of peace and relief. 

We spoke of vaccinations. She was only required to have the smallpox vaccination which she got at school. She said that she will never forget the small sugar cube she ate to prevent polio. She explained that it is nothing like all of the vaccines that are required today.

When sitting here finishing up the interview, I asked Mrs. Lilie: If you could choose between being born in 1939 or the year I was born, which is 2009, which would you choose? I was surprised that she responded so quickly. She said, “The latter because those were the easiest.” I knew immediately why those years as a child were hard, sad, and lonely for her. 

Mrs. Lilie taught me so much in the three hours we spent together. I saw one emotion after the other, depending on the story she was telling. It was my honor and privilege to have had the opportunity to sit with her and spend time hearing history unfold in front of me. 

Zaye Miller, is 15 years old, an 8th grade student at Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Virtual Academy. His parents are Aaron Lazusky and Lauren Miller.

THIRD PLACE – $10 PRIZE

The Greek Festival

By Otto Hellinger

Every spring, hundreds flock to Keating Drive in anticipation of the annual Winston-Salem Greek Festival. Attendees enjoy food, music and dancing. Some bring home art and jewelry as souvenirs. But as well as providing a fun excursion, the event upholds and shares its roots in Greek culture.

The Greek Festival has roots in the ‘70s as a small pastry booth on the downtown “Street Scene” raising money to construct the Greek Orthodox Church, with sweets prepared by talented home cooks. As interest increased, the booth expanded to a multi-day event. 

After several years, the church’s now-complete event hall became the new home of the annual celebration. To satisfy requests, the menu expanded beyond desserts and dancing was incorporated for entertainment. Fueled by passion and popular demand, the Greek Festival grew into the cultural phenomenon it is today.

To maintain the scope of the festival, volunteers begin preparations months beforehand. They make enough pastries to fill multiple commercial chillers. Some dishes are best prepared in advance; meat is slowly marinated with herbs. Others, like baklava, are freshly made days before. Imported Greek filo is a vital ingredient, specially ordered from New York! The renowned Mediterranean Diet is healthy and delicious, and festival-goers love it.

As the festival grew, profits surpassed the amount needed to build the church, so proceeds are now shared with local nonprofits, and the focus of the event has shifted to Greek culture. Volunteers are especially culturally immersed – most speak or are learning Greek. Dancers practice all year for competitions; performances offer a preview of authentic regional routines and costumes. Through the festival, the volunteers share and immortalize their passion.

Culture, community, and good causes make the Greek Festival a highlight of Winston-Salem and a pillar of cultural preservation. As many agree, it’s a great tradition to have around.

Otto Hellinger is a 14-year-old  8th grader at the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Virtual Academy. His mother is Gabrielle Serang-Hellinger.