Winston Salem City Hall ~ 101 North Main Street

City Hall sits on the grand homesite of Judge Darius Henry Starbuck.  In 1849, D.H. Starbuck moved to Winston-Salem. He purchased the land from the Moravian church to build his home. He was appointed US Attorney by President Andrew Jackson in 1865 and had a long political career. 

His son, Henry Reuben Starbuck was born 1866, in Winston. When Henry's parents passed away, he lived in his family home which is located on the lot where City Hall is situated today.

Henry was elected to the State Senate and served in the NC Supreme court. When the Forsyth County Court was created in 1915,  the legislature appointed D.H. as a judge over the court.  The Original court house he served was 2 blocks north of here. You will hear more about the original Foryth County court house at the 4th stop of "The Talk". 

H.R. Starbuck was one of the oldest members of the Forsyth Bar Association. Judge Starbuck practiced law with his son until his death in 1958 at the age of 92.

The parcel was sold to the city to make room for City Hall.

The City Hall is the only "U" shape Renaissance Revival brick building in Winston designed by Winston based architectural firm, Northup and O'Brien. Bonds were issued in 1925 and the building completed in 1929.  The first floors were made of stone, the outside cornices are limestone and the roof is flat. The iron works and hinges were created by the blacksmiths in Salem. Inside you will see the heavy thick ceiling moldings and a grand staircase splitting into two directions with metal spirals and marble treads. The building stands on the devided line between what was the town of Salem and Winston. The magnific Magnolia trees on each side of the walkway in front are some of the oldest Magnolia trees in the city. City Hall has been renovated since then in 1982, 2000 and 2003. Listed on the National register of Historic Places in 2001. 

The First Town Hall stood where the RJ Reynolds Headquarters was built on the corner of North Main and East Fourth Street in 1892.

*Interesting fact. When Luther Lashmit joined the Northrup and O'Brien firm in 1927, they were hired as the architect for Mr. Bowman and Natalie Gray's house, Graylyn. 

Northrup and O'Brien partnership included Willard Close Northrup and Lee Alexander O'Brien and Luther Lashmit.

The firm designed many prominent buildings surrounding Winston-Salem and North Carolina. O'Hanolon (stop 6 on your tour), Ciero Francis Lowe House, Salem Town Hall located at 301 South Liberty, Agnew Hunter Bahnson House (currently the Spring House Restaurant), the Pepper Building (currently the NEW Indigo Hotel), Indera Mills located at 400 S. Marshall Street which are now condos and hundreds of schools across the state.

*This concludes City Hall.

Proceed to your left along Main Street Heading North for one and half blocks. Your next stop is 8 West Third Street, The Wachovia Bank and Trust.