Alice E. Sink - Wicked Winston-Salem

PRAISE FOR ALICE SINKS WRITING

Sink has taken her memories and channeled them into five years of research and writing that resulted in her book The Grit Behind the Miracle, which chronicles the true story of the Infantile Paralysis Hospital that was built in 54 hours in 1944.

Jill Doss-Raines, The Dispatch

Throughout the rare glimpses from 1900 to around the early 1950s, Sink stuck to one consistent theme in Kernersville. Sink portrayed the sense of community.

Brandon Keel, Kernersville News

Boarding House Reach reminds us of one of the most important truths of life: There are no ordinary people! Every story here is fascinatingand every one importantly belongs to history.

Fred Chappell

Community abounds in a colorful new book about the history of North Carolina boardinghousesa travelers guide to a lost place that was small town and worldly at the same time.

Lorraine Ahearn, Greensboro News & Record

A very highly recommended addition for academic and community library collections, Boarding House Reach could serve as a template for similar studies for other states.

Midwest Book Review

Hidden History of the Piedmont Triad recounts a number of interesting stories from throughout the Triadfrom historic people and places to lesser-known colorful slices of life.

Jimmy Tomlin, High Point Enterprise

In Hidden History of the Piedmont Triad, Sink writes about Lexingtons downtown dime stores. She describes how each counter was like a different department of the store, with a candy counter and comic book section popular with childrenand makeup counters that carried old-fashioned items such as Tangee lipstick and Evening in Paris perfume.

Vikki Broughton Hodges, The Dispatch.

Did you know that a nightclub in High Point once hosted the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington? Have you heard the story of Lexington native John Andrew Roman put to death on circumstantial evidence or the local World War II fighter plane pilot who flew eighty-two missions to prevent German fighters from attacking American bombers? These are but three of the many little-known storiesfound in Hidden History of the Piedmont Triad.

Arbor Lamplighter

[Hidden History of the Piedmont Triad]covers people, places and events that have been forgotten.

Ryan Gay, lifestyles editor, Kernersville News

In Hidden History of the Piedmont Triad, author Alice Sink rediscovers the quirky stories of the Piedmont Triadtying North Carolina into the rest of world history.

Our State Magazine

Hidden History of Hilton Head offers a lively array of historical tidbits and tales. From beautiful poems written by renowned locals to the songs that guided the slaves to freedom and time-tested regional recipes, author Alice Sinks collection truly encompasses the spirit of the Lowcountry.

The History Press (Charleston, SC)

The premise of No [Wo]man Is an Island is outstanding! I laughed out loudeven hollered a few timesdont remember doing that since Raney and Walking Across Egypt. I can see it as a TV sitcom if the PC police wouldnt kill it.

Carol Branard

Thank you for Hidden History of the Western North Carolina Mountainswhich is not really hidden. I knew almost all the stories and information and even some of the recipes. But then Im supposed to, as an old Haywood County boy. Great to see it all in a book!

Fred Chappell

Published by The History Press

Charleston, SC 29403

www.historypress.net

Copyright 2011 by Alice Sink

All rights reserved

All images are courtesy of the Library of Congress.

First published 2011

e-book edition 2013

Manufactured in the United States

ISBN 978.1.62584.115.5

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Sink, Alice E.

Wicked Winston-Salem / Alice E. Sink.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

print edition ISBN 978-1-60949-458-2

1. Crime--North Carolina--Winston-Salem--History--Anecdotes. 2. Corruption--North Carolina--Winston-Salem--History--Anecdotes. 3. Criminals--North Carolina--Winston-Salem--Biography--Anecdotes. 4. Winston-Salem (N.C.)--History--Anecdotes. 5. Winston-Salem (N.C.)--Social conditions--Anecdotes. 6. Winston-Salem (N.C.)--Moral conditions--Anecdotes. 7. Winston-Salem (N.C.)--Biography--Anecdotes. I. Title.

HV6795.W56S56 2011

364.10975667--dc23

2011033502

Notice: The information in this book is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. It is offered without guarantee on the part of the author or The History Press. The author and The History Press disclaim all liability in connection with the use of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever without prior written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Contents

Preface

Winston-Salem is one of my favorite cities. When I was a young girl, my aunt and I often rode the bus to the city of tall buildings and wonderful stores for a full day of shopping. We always ate lunch at the cafeteria beside the old bus station. One of my aunts good friends worked at Sosnicks in the better wear ladies department. She always dressed in a business suit and pumps; her makeup and hairstyle were immaculate. For years and years, she attended to the needs of many wealthy women who shopped in her department. I suppose she was the first personal shopper I knew. I dreamed of one day having enough money to buy a prom dress at Sosnicks, but Iand my modest budgetalways ended up at the Mother-Daughter Shoppe.

One of my daughters went to Salem College and later moved to Winston-Salem with her husband. Three of my grandchildren were born in Forsyth Hospital. My husband, Tom, and I attend church at Green Street United Methodist Church in that city.

For many years, in the 1980s and early 1990s, I taught in the Continuing Education Department of High Point College (University) at R.J. Reynolds Tobacco World Headquarters and also at Davis Training Center at Piedmont Airlines in Winston-Salem. In addition, I taught business correspondence courses for Piedmont Airlines employees.

So, I have good memories of Winston-Salem. Today, I present programs and have book signings for Winston-Salem businesses and book and civic clubs. My personal perception of the city is positive; however, as is the case in all places, history does sometimes rear its wicked little head, and when it does, chillingbut truestories are revealed.

I think it is extremely important to reconnect with the various dictionary definitions of wicked:

Morally bad or wrong; acting or done with evil intent; depraved; iniquitous; Generally bad, painful, unpleasant, etc., but without any moral considerations involved (a wicked blow on the head); Naughty in a playful way; mischievous; Slang: Showing great skill (he plays a wicked game of golf).

Websters New World Dictionary, Second College Edition

This book is dedicated to Yar. For our friend who doesnt have a wicked bone in her bodya Winston-Salem resident who has helped right many of the wrongs.

Acknowledgements and Contributors

Once again, many thanks to my husband, Tom, who continues to offer suggestions, proofread my manuscripts and graciously drive Miss Daisy (as he calls his chauffeuring) to presentations and book signings. I truly appreciate my History Press editor, Jessica Berzon, who always kept me headed on the right track while I was researching and writing this book. Her editorial advice is priceless. Katie Parry and Dan Watson, my publicists, work diligently to arrange presentations and book signings, and I sincerely appreciate their continued efforts and publicity. A big thank-you to Jaime Muehl, senior editor, who keeps me on track with Chicago (15th edition), house deviations, spelling and consistency. As for Jamie Brooke Barreto, sales specialist, let me assure you that her marketing skills are superior, and for that talent, I am grateful.