Single Brothers' House, Colonial-era residence in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
The Single Brothers' House is a colonial-era residence in Winston-Salem featuring Germanic half-timber construction with exposed brick and a clay tile roof. The building contains multiple workshop spaces, a brewery section, administrative offices, and a dedicated worship hall that remain well-preserved.
The building was constructed in 1769 under architect Friedrich von Marschall's direction to serve the unmarried men of the Moravian congregation. A brick extension added by master mason Johann Gottlob Krause in 1786 expanded the structure to accommodate additional workshops.
The house served as the social heart of the Moravian community, with spaces for work, worship, and shared living. Visitors can see how unmarried men coexisted under one roof while passing down skilled trades to apprentices.
The house functions as part of Old Salem Museums & Gardens and welcomes visitors on guided tours that showcase original architectural details and period furnishings. Tours provide insight into daily workflows and the crafts practiced throughout the building.
The building shows how the Moravian community organized its members by housing unmarried men in collective households while teaching them crafts and religious practices. This system was unique to Moravian settlements in America and differed greatly from typical colonial family structures.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
