OLD SALEM
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The Moravian religious community, originally from the Czech Republic and then a refugee in Saxony, arrived on the American continent in 1735. First in Savannah, Georgia. But the Moravians, pacifists, quickly found themselves in the middle of the conflict between the Spanish who controlled Florida and the English colonies. They therefore decided to continue their journey and moved up the east coast to Pennsylvania, particularly to Lititz and Nazareth. The Earl of Granville, who then owned a portion of North Carolina, known as Wachovia and composed of the cities of Bathabara and Berhania, decided to sell his land to Moravians who were known for their seriousness and honesty. January 6, 1766 is the date that corresponds to the cutting of the first tree felled for the construction of the city, and Salem takes shape in the Moravian tradition. The city is organized around a central square and the church governs the life of the community deciding for everyone where to live and work. Salem quickly became a well-known craft centre that excelled in carpentry and pottery, soap and candle making, among others. People come from the surrounding area to sell their products and go to the market; travellers usually stay in the city's tavern. The inhabitants of Salem, on the other hand, are very pious, living at the rhythm of masses and other religious events. The community is also at the centre of their lives and is organized not into families but into social categories. On one side are children, on the other married men, on the other single men and so on. This organization prevails in many tasks and events of social life but also in eternal life. If you go for a walk around the cemetery, a huge field of identical white crosses, you will see that Moravians are not buried with their families but by social group.
Today, the old town of Salem is an open-air museum that pays tribute to the life of the Moravians at the time. A pass allows you to visit most of the workshops and historic houses, but if you don't want to buy it, you can always walk the streets, visit the cemetery, stroll around the pretty Salem campus or visit some open access sites such as the gift shop and bookstore, the Winler bakery and the Single Sister House museum. The doctor's house is also free on Sundays. And if you want to sit down for a hot drink or a quick lunch, think of The Flour Box Tea Room and Cafe.
Here are some sites not to be missed and to which the pass gives access:The Tavern Museum, a former hostel for travellers passing through.
Single Brothers' House & Gardens, the residential school for single boys. An essential step from the age of 14 up to marriage, where young Moravians were trained for their future profession.
Boy's School, the school for young boys.
Miksch Gardens & House, one of the historic houses where you can watch cooking, gardening and spinning demonstrations. Every morning, the kitchen is made in this historic house and you can watch the women dressed in period clothing cook in a traditional way on the fireplace. It happens every day in the Miksch House, except on Wednesdays when the kitchen is prepared at the Tavern Museum.
Gunsmith's Workshop, the carpenter's workshop that still manufactures and restores village furniture using only traditional methods and tools.
Potter's Workshop, the pottery workshop. We observe the potters working there, the objects produced on site are then sold at the souvenir shop.
John Vogler House, another typical house and a very interesting visit.
Doctor's House, the doctor's house.