Museum offers wealth of Wallburg history
When the son of Wallburg’s namesake built a new home in the heart of the village in 1896, who could have guessed it would still be standing 130 years later? Even more remarkably, no one could have imagined it would become the keeper of the town’s long, rich history.
Since 2022, the George W. Wall Historic House and Museum has worked to share and preserve local history. With the support of the Town of Wallburg’s leaders, museum curator Donna Smith welcomes dozens of visitors to the historic home each month. From learning about George Washington Wall and his wife, Hattie Charles Wall, to viewing photographs of churches, schools and residents from years gone by, a visit to the museum makes for a memorable experience.
For Smith, whose roots in Wallburg run deep and wide, sharing the community’s history is personal. A portrait of her beloved grandparents even hangs on the wall of the house, reminding her of visits to their home as a child less than a half a mile away.
“I’m very fortunate that growing up, my parents would take me to my grandparents’ house right down the road,” she said as she walked through the museum. “They had a small farm. Granny had chickens, my grandpa had pigs. I learned a lot there.”
Beyond her local roots, Smith has a familial connection with the Wall family. Her grandfather worked for Wall Lumber Company for a time, the business founded by George and his brother Charles Moses Wall in the late 1880s. This business would set the brothers up for financial success as they supplied lumber to furniture companies in Lexington, Thomasville and High Point.
With success came luxury. When George and Hattie built their new home at the turn of the century, they equipped it with only the finest features. Ornate stained-glass windows, a state-of-the-art icebox and first-of-their-kind electrical fixtures bear witness to the Wall family’s prominence in their community.
Yet Smith will be the first to tell you that the museum focuses on far more than just the Walls.
“It’s not all about the Walls,” she said. “It’s a lot more too — it’s the community.”
The historic home features areas dedicated to various chapters of Wallburg’s past. One room shares the story of the Liberty-Piedmont Institute, which once educated students from across the state in Wallburg. Another will fill you in on the tales of the once-booming village of Browntown, which was situated just a few miles away.
Books line the shelves of the museum, inviting visitors to find a cozy spot to read. Well-researched genealogies of local families are also available to peruse, giving visitors the opportunity to trace their own roots.
For Smith and so many others, a walk through the home is like a journey back in time. It’s a journey she is more than happy to share.
George W. Wall Historic House and Museum is located at 8801 N. N.C. Highway 109 in Winston-Salem. Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
