Sisters House Merchandise

Introduction

Established in 1772 by early Moravian settlers, Salem is the oldest school in the country dedicated to the education of women. The earliest building on campus is the Single Sisters House, which stands as one of the most significant buildings in the history of women's education in the United States. Built in 1785 and enlarged in 1819, Single Sisters House is the oldest building on a college campus in North Carolina. It is the longest standing building in the United States continuously associated with the education of girls and women.

The story of the Single Sisters House dates back to a time in American history when education for women was a radical idea. Its remarkable story began in 1766 when sixteen brave young women walked from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, to their new home in the wilds of North Carolina. These Single Sisters, unmarried women of the Moravian community, later established a house of their own--the Single Sisters House--in the village of Salem, North Carolina. They moved into their new home on April 5, 1786, twenty years after that 500-mile trek from Pennsylvania. The 16,000 square foot structure sheltered dedicated teachers and female students who were eager to learn mathematics, science, and geography, along with the arts of music, drawing, and needlework. The Single Sisters, the unmarried women of the Moravian community, operated the school for many years as one of their successful entrepreneurial enterprises. The building is a lasting reminder of the value of equal education and opportunity for women. The house has endured long years of institutional use, and they have taken their toll. A wealth of original material remains, however, and Salem has made a commitment to restore this important structure. Future generations will continue to be inspired by this historic structure and the legacy of the strong women behind it.

With assistance from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Park Services' Save America's Treasures Fund, our goal of restoring this building to active use is finally a reality. Salem has hired a Philadelphia firm, Marianna Thomas Architects, with experience in historic preservation, since the careful restoration of this noteworthy structure is important to the campus as well as the wider community. Salem is pursuing a multi-use approach to the preservation of Single Sisters House, including interpretative space, which will be open to the public. The story of the Single Sisters, women whose strong faith, leadership, and community service helped to build an educational institution that thrives more than 230 years later, needs to be told.

We hope you will enjoy the website. Please check back often for updates on the progress of this important project to save the Single Sisters House.