The main high school building (shown) and auditorium were added to the Register of Historic Places in 1991. | Photo by WStoday
It’s a beaut, Winston-Salem, it’s a beaut. This holiday season we’re unwrapping a few presents you won’t find under a tree or in a store. From city-themed artworks to monetary donations and historical artifacts, check out these gifts given to the Twin City through the years.
Hanes Park and RJ Reynolds land | In 1919, the Hanes and Reynolds families donated more than 70 acres of land that would end up becoming Hanes Park, RJ Reynolds High School, and Reynolds Auditorium. The land was worth about $500,000, which is the equivalent to roughly $9.5 million today. Check out the article written in the Winston-Salem Journal when the land was originally donated.
The Winston-Salem Foundation | Also in 1919, Col. Francis Henry Fries donated $1,000 to help start The Winston-Salem Foundation. In the 100+ years since, it has managed more than $600 million and helped more than 1,500 charitable organizations improve the community in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County.
Plus, earlier this year, MacKenzie Scott broke her own record for the single largest gift in Winston-Salem State University’s history. The chancellor called it “life-changing.”
It’s not too late to get into the holiday spirit with events around Winston-Salem. Tap the button below for a little bit of everything coming up locally.
Prep for post-holiday cleanup chaos with our go-to organization hacks:
🎁 Tuck leftover wrapping paper into this storage container with handy pockets for ribbons + bows.
🌲 Keep ornaments protected in a durable storage box with drawers that hold up 128 pieces.
🎀 Organize holiday decor in these best-selling containers that are transparent so you can easily see what’s inside.
🚪 Prevent your wreath from getting crushed with a specially designed storage bag that keeps its shape intact.
💡 Say goodbye to tangled wires — this storage solution features three spools for easy holiday light organization.
Speaking of big gifts, one Christmas, my grandma gave me a weather balloon with a whopping 30-ft circumference. I couldn’t tell you why — the only air I dreamed of back then was Air Jordan — but sometimes you just have to nod and say “Wow, thanks so much, Grammy.”
Somehow, this gift didn’t make the return flight from Columbus, Ohio to Boston. Ask my mom about that.
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