Famous Lai
ark
The ol<l coffee-pot in Wiiislon-
Saleni lias been run inlo by
unions and automobiles and has
been condemned by city offi¬
cials. but it lias continued to sur¬
vive.
By II All ICY Z. TUCK TIC
RADITIOXALLY :.t lm«t. the
big coffee-pot in Old Salem is
reckoned ns the dividing line be¬
tween the quaint Moravian village
and the modern industrial city of
Winston. Rut t lie two blend admir¬
ably, ami the citizens of both places
have much to be thankful for.
A possession without price, the Sa¬
lem coffee-pot is not only endeared to
those of the yesteryears; it is loved
and respected by the youth of tin-
twin cities. It is not only those from
distant places who know and speak
about it; for it lias been said that no
Crson. no matter bow often he walks
it, is unaware of its presence.
Made of extra thick and heavy tin.
the old coffee-pot is in no wise a
miniature. It is an immense struc¬
ture. Sixteen feet in circumference at
the base, and rising as much into the
air, the pot sets upon a heavy iron
post, eight feet above the sidewalk.
Many fantastic tales have been told
concerning the old landmark, some
of which could easily be true. One
old story is told that the entire Yankee
army was served with hot coffee,
upon demand, when it entered Sa¬
lem in ISC.'.. Another story is told that
the coffee-pot was erected to servo
coffee to the influx of Easter visitors
to Old Salem.
An Advertisement
It is thought that the huge recep¬
tacle was erected in 1S58 by one
Julius Mickey, as an advertisement
for his tin shop. Said to have boon
the largest ever constructed, the eoffee-
t stood just opposite the famous
lem campground where wagons
came and went from Charleston to
Philadelphia. These teamsters told
their friends in far places of the
monster coffee-pot in Old Salem,
and thus its notoriety was established.
But the coffee-pot has bad its share
of troubles. Many a wagon and team
has run against its pedestal. Once it
was knocked from its moorings and
hurled clear across the street. In 19S0
a bucking Ford struck it with such
force and violence that it was again
hurled to the sidewalk, barely miss¬
ing the head of a passing lady.
Since there was an ordinance that
no advertising signs would lie allowed
on the Streets of Salem without the
consent of the hoard, it became nec¬
essary to secure permission to have
the landmark restored to its lime-
honored place. There was a bit of
hesitancy upon the part of the hoard
in granting a permit for its re¬
establishment, but public opinion be¬
came so warm in demand for the re¬
placement of the tin pot that some
unpleasantness followed. The hoard
claimed that the old receptacle was
trespassing on the sidewalk.
The public was nonplussed. They
put their heads together and Itcgun
some serious thinking. They asked
Bishop Rond thaler to support their
request for the return of the historic
sign. They sought the advice and sup¬
port of other leading citizens. But in¬
tercessions and pleadings seemed to
get them nowhere. The authorities
apparently were hostile toward the re-
lacemcnt of the heavy tin pot which
ad threatened bodily injury to peo¬
ple more than once.
But when Mr. Henry Fries asked
the Historical Society to take the pot
and place it on exhibition in one of
their building*, the public regained at
least a modicum of hope. The society
did preserve antiquities, hut they re¬
plied that they had no place for such
a large and cumbersome relic. They
could not help.
The Bishop Helps
When protests fairly flowed to the
city boards and to the historic socie¬
ties, and when the women took side
with the public, Bishop Rotidtlialer
knew the time for action was ripe. He
opened up with the declaration that
the ancient coffee-pot was no sign,
hut that it was a most venerable land¬
mark. “I have always viewed the his¬
toric coffee- pot with admiration and
pleasure,” he said. "I think its loss
would he unthinkable.”
The coffee-pot was put up again.
When the Easter throng press the
old street of Salem this year, they
will see, as did their grandparents, the
famous old coffee-pot. It is said that
no landmark in Salem excites more
interest and admiration than does the
old sign of tin. The Moravians have
ever been a people who loved and
drank good coffee, and the huge pile of
tin still stands to attest to that fact.
Already too many ancient houses
have been torn down in Old Salem.
It is encouraging to learn, however,
that an ordinance has been recently
passed that no building in Sah
may
be demolished without the consent of
the board assigned to the preservation
of historic Salem.
Like the wise man in the Bible,
the people of Salem are beginning to
insist that “ancient landmarks must
and shall not be removed.”
DR. M. C. S. NOBLE, oldest mem¬
ber ot' the University of North Caro¬
lina faculty, celebrated his 85th birth¬
day last Friday. A large number of
well-wishers called at his home dur¬
ing the day. The Doctor also received
many congratulatory messages.
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