13. Forsyth County -- Winston-Salem -- 4/14/06
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forsyth_County%2C_NC
From downtown Greensboro, I got on old 40 (now Business 40) and took the narrow, tunnel-like interstate--similar to the one through Greensboro, except scarier--through downtown Wimpstom. When I was in high school, I was in jazz band class, and we had a Christmas songbook. My band director would make up new song title names like "A Dusty Field" for "Adeste Fidelis." One of the ones we liked to play was "Good King Winston-Salem." So anytime I hear the song about our friend Wenceslas, I think of this city in Forsyth County, and vice-versa. I was humming the song as I walked around downtown.
Winston-Salem also has more band dorkiness associated with it...the only time I saw DCI (Drum Corps International) live, at Winston-Salem State University's Bowman-Gray stadium...complete with a racetrack around it. It was pretty cool.
I'm actually a big fan of Winston-Salem. It has a good earthy feel to it, and it even has Old Salem, which I have enjoyed walking through. I like the contrast between the old town and all the new skyscrapers and stuff. I have 2 friends that are of Moravian heritage from the area, one of whom's relatives is the namesake of Kernersville, also in Forsyth County. And this is also where Wachovia Bank started. And lots of cigarettes have been made here. AND, the longest plank road in the country ran from Fayetteville to Winston-Salem...once again because it seemed cooler than the railroad at the time. There's not really a direct route from Fay to WS anymore. Oh well.
I drove around the courthouse for a while to make sure I picked the best side for a picture...but both sides looked the same. I liked this side because there were fewer people, and you get the cool skyscraper juxtaposed in there. I don't know if there's another courthouse around, since this one sure seems tiny for such a big county! I called my Moravianish friend Patrick and asked him, and he thought that was probably it (though he's from Stokes County).
Winston-Salem also has more band dorkiness associated with it...the only time I saw DCI (Drum Corps International) live, at Winston-Salem State University's Bowman-Gray stadium...complete with a racetrack around it. It was pretty cool.
I'm actually a big fan of Winston-Salem. It has a good earthy feel to it, and it even has Old Salem, which I have enjoyed walking through. I like the contrast between the old town and all the new skyscrapers and stuff. I have 2 friends that are of Moravian heritage from the area, one of whom's relatives is the namesake of Kernersville, also in Forsyth County. And this is also where Wachovia Bank started. And lots of cigarettes have been made here. AND, the longest plank road in the country ran from Fayetteville to Winston-Salem...once again because it seemed cooler than the railroad at the time. There's not really a direct route from Fay to WS anymore. Oh well.
I drove around the courthouse for a while to make sure I picked the best side for a picture...but both sides looked the same. I liked this side because there were fewer people, and you get the cool skyscraper juxtaposed in there. I don't know if there's another courthouse around, since this one sure seems tiny for such a big county! I called my Moravianish friend Patrick and asked him, and he thought that was probably it (though he's from Stokes County).
posted by Charles @ 10:45 PM
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