Preservation Month Down Home
At Stauber Farm in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, owners Charles and Lamar Taft raise heritage species of livestock and farm organically. The self-sustaining farm provides a unique model of progressive preservation, and is a strong example of the National Trust for Historic Preservation's mission to bring the past and present together through sustainability.
As National Preservation Month draws to a close, the enthusiasm that it has sparked will last well beyond the end of May. In Forsyth County, North Carolina, the entire month has been packed with lectures and activities focused on the rich heritage and preservation initiatives in the community, including a visit to Stauber Farm.
On May 18, over 70 people traded in the lecture hall to go out to the farm, a local historic landmark. The Tafts graciously invited visitors to come and experience their fully restored farmhouse and grounds. Stauber Farm is one of the best surviving examples of 19th century farmsteads, The 1852 Greek Revival farmhouse that served as the Stauber's family dwelling, has been meticulously restored and is now the Taft's home. Other surviving structures on the property include a barn, corn crib, smoke house, packhouse, two slave dwellings and a brick well. The Taft's home and lifestyle embody the truly dynamic nature of preservation.
Forsyth County's month-long celebration touched on an array of topics and issues related to preservation, from a more traditional lecture about the restoration of George Washington's historic home at Mt. Vernon to a "This Place Matters" photo contest on Facebook, inspired by the 2009 National Preservation Month theme.
The series championed other preservation related issues and successes, including the unveiling of a historic marker in the Happy Hill neighborhood and a lecture titled "Preserving history is teaching our children about the past" at the Old Bethania School – a historic community institution providing a venue for colonial days, crafts, civil war reenactments, music, dramas, and historical exhibitions in need of restoration funds.
While Preservation Month ends on May 31st, the important messages addressed, information shared, projects accomplished, and successes achieved at events such as those in Forsyth County will impact the preservation movement throughout the year and well beyond.
Visiting Forsyth? You're in luck. There is still time to celebrate Preservation Month.
- Thursday, May 21: Evenings at The Children's Home, "Winston-Salem: Then and Now"
- Wednesday, May 27: Old Salem's Lunch and Learn, "The African American Experience"
- Thursday, May 28: Evenings at The Children's Home, "Building a New Public Garden in Kernersville, North Carolina"
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