The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-06-03
For he Democratic Adroente.
The MOravian Settlement, Salem, N. Q

Anu WOhoNluu OOttiououtg phlciul Ne VI
The first Morayian settlers came to North
Carolina in 1852, Bishop Spangenberg,
accompanied by five others, all on horseback,
left Bethlehem, Pa, the 25th of August
They reached Edenton the 10th Of Sep
iember, and were Joined by Mr. Churton,
the Surveyor-General and agent of Lord
Granville. They spent many weeks wan
dering through the trackless wilds of Car
olinn, suffering many hardships. Finally,
the last of December, they reached the
Yadkin River and accepted the offer of
some white settlers to spend a few days
under their humble but hospitable roof." !"
Here they found large tract of rolling
woodland, well watered, and adapted to
their purpose. In 1853 John, Earl of
Granville, the proprietor, conveyed, by
nineteen deeds, the title Of this tract Of
land containing 9s,9s5 acres, to the sec
retary of the United Brethren, or Mora
vians. "The whole tract was called Wach-
opid, or Wachan-the Ane (meadow.
land along the Wdch (the principal creek }
bearing some resemblance, on account of
its water-courses and meadow-lands, to n
valley of the same name in Austria. BY
dividing and sub-dividing the large county
Of Rowan, this tract has been successfully
in Rowan, 1770 in Sury, 1889 in Stokes,
and since l848 in Forsythe counties" In
| 1885 the corner stone Of the first meeting
house was laid October 25th and the
name given Barthaban. And at different
periods other meeting houses were built in
different localities. Ithadl long been decid-
ed that the central church should be called
Salem. In 1766, 10th of February, eight
persons moved into the first house built in
Salem. "This log house is still standing,
though considerably enlarged, and used
as pOtter-shop. In June, 1866, the cor
ner-stone was laid for the first family
house, which was finished 10 August" !"
This is still standing. Indeed Salem looks
as if it had alrcdys been Salem, and the
houses had always stood Every thing
however is kept in repair and looks neat
and home-like. On the Goth of February,
1867, "the square" of Salem was laid out
by Mr. Rueter. This is still a beautiful
place, and may be called the centre of the
town. 1t is shaded by beautiful elms.
On the east side are the Academy build
ings and sisters house. The "old build
Ing" was erected in 1904, being the oldest
boarding school in the Southern States.
The 10th Of July was set apart as the day
Of its conservation "The bOarders, vii
lage girls, aud the ministers of the differ
ent congregations having assembled at one
O'Clock in the prayer.hall of the congrega-
tion house, a procession was formed by the
scholars, headed by the clergy, and follow
ed by the teachers. When leaving the
house, choir of trombones performed q
solemn tune, and, entering the new house,
another choir of trombones received them
in similar manner. The whole company
assembled in the sleeping hall (being the
largest room in the house. in two. large
semi.circles, the pupils all being dressed in
white, and the choir, accompanied by a
pianoforte and other instruments, sang
Peace be to this habitation,
Peace to every soul therein
Peace which flows from Christs salvation,
Peace, the seal of cancelled sin
Peace that speaks its heavenly giver,
Peace to earthly minds unknown;
Peace divine. that lasts forever,
Here erects its glorious throne.
To which all assembled there responded
This habitation,
And all who dwell therein,
Fill with salvation;
o, may in each be seen
True grace
And lovely childlikeness.
After fervent dedicatory prayer IA love-
feast was held" The corner stone for
the new Academy building was laid 9th
of August, 1854. The dimensions Of the
main building are 100 feet front by 52
feet deep, wing at the north end is 20
feet in length and "a feet deep, and
another at the south n by A feet. The
main building and the north wing are
four stories on the front, FIVE stories at the
back including basement. "The front
is ornamented by large Do'ic portico, so
feet in length and 13 feet in width. 1t
has four Doric columns, with two pilasters
resting against the house. The height of
the whole, including bases, colum MS, and
entablaturos, is between 80 and 40 feet
The whole is built strictly in accordance
with the classical DoIc order of architec-
ture. The columns are of brick, succeed
with hydraulic cement in imitation of
brown sandstone, as is also the rest of the
portico, excepting the bases and steps,
which are of hewn granite"
Phe first and second stories Of the main
house are divided into eighteen dwelling
and school rooms, with smaller rooms at
tached to each. These side rooms are
fitted up with small closets, wardrobes, &c.
Passages II feet wide extend the whole
length Of the house in every story, and
wide staircases run up on both ends of
the house from the basement to the fourth
story. The entrance hall on the first floor
is about 20 feet square. On the south
end. the passage connects by closed and
covered way with the old buildings
| Tho whola third floor forp,a npa d.r,,,;