About the Northwest Ward

The Northwest Ward stretches from downtown to Pfafftown. Its northern boundary is University Parkway and on the south, it's Reynolda Road, Polo Road and Robinhood Road.

Northwest Ward is represented by City Council Member Wanda Merschel.

It was a crossroads in the wilderness when the Moravians from Pennsylvania came here. They named the first settlement Bethabara and at that time, it was a far western outpost on the colonial frontier. The Moravians prospered and moved on from Bethabara to build Salem and then Winston-Salem, but it all began here...and the story is told on the original site at Historic Bethabara Park on Bethabara Road...maintained and operated by the Recreation and Parks Department.

Speaking of parks, Hanes Park's 16 tennis courts and the Joe White Tennis Center is in use year round with tournaments, lessons or just to hit a few sets.

Also at Hanes Park are three ball fields, a track and playground equipment. There are many areas to take a daily walk or ride on your bicycle.

Working in conjunction with the outdoor facilities at Hanes Park is the Central Family YMCA with its indoor pool, track, gymnasium and programs for all ages.

On the hill to the northwest is R.J. Reynolds High School with its imposing auditorium that has recently undergone a major renovation. Wiley Middle School and Brunson Elementary are at one end of Hanes Park.

In 1891 on the high hill just to the east, the West End Land Development Company built the 100 room Zinzendorf hotel. Visitors could sit on the porches of this resort, feel the cool breezes and view the Sauratown Mountains. The wood and shingle building caught fire and burned to the ground less than a year later. On the site today are the law offices of Kilpatrick, Stockton. After the fire, the developers turned to residences and for the next twenty years the west end section was called the most important single residential area in North Carolina. In 1905, Tobacco industrialist W. A. Whitaker gave a plot of land at 4th Street and Glade Street for Winston's first city park...it was named in honor of his wife. Today Grace Court Park is the community center for the residents in the magnificantly restored homes in West End. The West End Association has erected a clock at the gazebo which is often used for outdoor weddings and as the center for neighborhood social events.

Four West End homes have been converted to elegant bed and breakfast inns. One of them, the Colonel Ludlow House, was originally the home and office of the first city engineer.

West End is tied to downtown by popular neighborhood restaurants in the Burke and 4th Street areas. The new Westend Village downtown revitalization will include mixed use retail shopping and residential living.

Northwest Ward includes part of our downtown. On the edge is the Sawtooth Center and Winston Square Park, the western end of Restaurant Row on Fourth Street and the Stevens Center. The Holly Avenue neighborhood is a residential component in the master plan for revitalizing downtown.

Almost out of place too close to downtown is the open and tranquil field of the Methodist Children's Home. When it opened in 1909 it was one of the largest farms in the area. Ten years later, Winston-Salem's great industrialist, R.J. Reynolds moved into his bugalow just a bit further out Reynolda Road. It was a working farm and self-contained village with its own church, school and post office. Today the 60 room mansion, known as the Reynolda House Museum of American Art, is a major tourist attraction with a national reputation for its art collection. The village is now exclusive shops and restaurants. The formal gardens have endured as one of the city's showplaces.

The farmland beyond Reynolda Village was donated to Wake Forest College, then located near Raleigh, to move here with plans to become a major university. President Harry Truman came in 1954 for the groundbreaking ceremony and Wake Forest has fulfilled those dreams of success with a student body now of more than 5,000. Its schools of Law and Business have a national reputation for excellence. Twice, its Wait Chapel has hosted nationally televised presidential candidate debates.

With all the attractions in Northwest Ward, it may seem there isn't anyone who call it home now. But living comfortably amidst the landmarks are stable neighborhods such as Foxhall off Polo Road, West Highlands near Reynolds High School, Woodberry Forest, Windsor Forest and Town and Country off Reynolda Road. There are fine homes around the private Oldtown Golf Course off Coliseum Drive. Northwest Ward has seen several subdivisions spring up off Shattalon Drive. These residents are served by Oldtown Recreation Center and the city maintains the Bethabara Greenway, a walking and bike path that follows creeks and preserved natural areas.

One of the city's first shopping centers, Reynolda Manor is still thriving today. The former movie theater across the street, is now a branch library.

The home of our earliest history, our largest center for higher education or just home to many residents of Winston-Salem...this is Northwest Ward.