The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1893-05-18

Historical Sketch Of the Oldest EdlCa-
tlOlal Institution in the South.
FROM The Pen OF MISS A. [. FRIES.

The Writer an Aluma of the Institu>
tion-The Corner Stone ofthe Acad-
envy Laid on October 9, 1903, Not
Quite 80 Years After the Erection
of the First House in Salem.
''TEe Academy for May publishes
the first of a series CT historical
sketches on the Salem Female Acade-
my, written by Miss Adelaide Fries,
of Salem, who is an alumna OF the
oldest educational institution in the
South THE SENTINEL reproduces
the first, which reads as follows:
The Unitas Fratrum,-for this is
the original and official narle of the
church that has been commonly called
''Moravian" since the time of its re-
newal, A. D. 1922, by men from the
province of MOrayia, THE Unitas Fra
trum ever laid special stress upon its
schools: so, in 1900. only forty-three
years after its organization, we lind
school in each of its four hundred par
ishes, in addition to several higher
institutions of learning, which were
attended by many young people not
belonging to the Unity and by not
few mobiles: and by 1000 the schools of
mia. In 1920 when the Roman Cath
olics had gained complete control in
Moravia and Bohemia, the schools
were forcibly closed or given into the
hands of the Jesuits, but John Amos
Comenius, himself the child of
wealthy Brethren and educated in the
Unity's schools, went as al exile from
his native land, and in western Eu-
rope acquired fame as an educator
that has come down the centuries I'M
til the recent three hundredth ami
versary of his birth received a world
wide celebration. With the renewal
Of the Church the Unitas Fratrum
once more took its place among the
educational agents of Europe and,
later, of America as well.
Many of the MOravian boarding
schools now in existence were estab-
lished for the sake of the missionaries,
who leaving their native land to labor
in distant countries could place their
children in these Church homes, feel
ing assured that their dear ones would
receive every attention and be cared
for physically, mentally and spiritu-
ally. But the Academy was not one
of these.
About 1900 there stood on the east
side of the Salem Square, between the
newly completed church and a vacant
lot, twG-story stone building covered
with light yellow StuccO, marked off
in blocks, looking very fresh and
bright among the trees. This was
known as the "Gemein Haus," (Con- !
name certainly, considering the yarie- |
ty of purposes for which it was used.
The the second floor was large Hall, |
once the church of the congregation, |
but, since the completion of the new |
church building, in use as chapel. |
Against the western wall stood the |
reading table, and opposite it was
placed the organ, the floor being |
raised a step or two an either side and |
behind it. Doors to the left and right |
of the pulpit gave access to the men |
and women who took their seats re- |
spectivelY in the north and south |
halves of the hall. The first floor was |
divided into three sections by two |
passages running east and west, and |
at the time of which we write the |
southern set of rooms was occupied by |
the girls day school, while the minis
ter lived in the Others.
Many times visitors in the place OBJ |
served the unusual educational advan |
tages enjoyed by the Salem girls, and |
expressed the wish that their daugh- |
tiers might share their privileges, and |
after much earnest thought, the lead |
ing men decided that new field of |
Christian usefulness was being opened |
to them. Therefore, on the 31st of |
called as the first Principal of Salem |
Female Academy the Rev. Samuel @. |
Kramsch, native of Silesia, but at /
that time pastor of Hope, N. G. His |
wife was well acquainted with the
workings of the best boarding schools
of the day, and he was0also well fitted |
for educational work.
On the 9Th of October, 1903, not
quite thiity-eight years after the
the cornerstone of the Academy
building was laid on the lot just south |
of the Gemein Haus. 1t was placed
at the northwest corner of the build
ing, and into its copper case was put,
in addition to other papers, list of
all the girls of the congregation under
twelve years of age. They were AZ in
number. and twelve of these in due
course of time became teachers in the
Institution. Among those present at |
the impressive ceremonies were a gen.
tleman from Georgia and his eldest
daughter, who, two years later, en-
uered the Academy as the first pupil |
from that State.
On May 16, 1904, before the house
was completed, four girls arrived on
horseback to enter as the first board
them in the Gemein Haus. A little |
later four more came, to whom were
added two Nc ravian girls from Salem, |
so the actual work of the school be-
gan with ten scholars,-EliZabeth |
Strudwick, Ann and Elizabeth Kirk |
land, from Hillsborough; Anna and |
Felicia Norfieet, from Halifax; Anna |
Stein, from Fayetteville: Rebecca
Carter, from CaSwell county; Anna |
Pauline Shober and Mary Steiner,
from Salem: the first teachers being
Sophia Dorethea Reichel, Mary Sa-
lone MeinuDg and Johanna Elizabeth |
PraeZel. The last of these was quite |
a remarkable musician. At a very
cary age she showed her great love for
music and soon learned to play on the
piano, harp and organ. When only
twelve years old she was given some
where she was being educated, and to
insure order an olderteacher wasalways
present when she gave her lessons.
Busy days then followed, for as printed
music was not so easily obtained thea
as it is now she had tocopy all her schol-
ars needed, as well as great deal for
the church choir. For some years she
also played the organ for the week
day services which were held every
evening in the Gemein Haus chapel.
No tunes were given out at these SER
vices: the minister began singing the
hymn and the organist fell in with
the playing as quickly as she could, SO
it was necessary for her to play all the
tunes then used, without notes.
C. r. q Y. ". Depot Burned.
Walnut Cow N c. Nav IA