Winston Salem Visitor Guide 2017 - 13

HISTORY

Winston-Salem's
uncommon
historic thread

here is a 'sisterhood'
here," says Lynette
Matthews-Murphy,
owner and founder
of Spring House
Restaurant, Kitchen & Bar and Quanta Basta Italian Eatery & Wine Bar.
"I believe Winston-Salem's authenticity
opened the door for me to develop supportive, lifelong bonds with women from
all walks of life - it's an unashamedly
creative and nurturing environment." The
feeling is echoed across the city among
women entrepreneurs who are executives,
business owners, restaurateurs, and chefs.
The thread of female equality was started by Moravians, who founded the Single
Sisters' House on the campus of Salem
College in 1785. The Single Sisters were
radicals of their time, insisting on an
education when it was not the norm for
women. They could marry - or not -
and they en oyed ﬁnan ial independen e.
Not content with a curriculum made up
only of sewing and drawing, the women
wanted to study math, science, and
other disciplines.
More than two centuries later, innovative female leadership continues to set the
city apart. "It is impossible to speak about
women in business in our community
and not recognize the remarkable depth
and breadth of talented female business
leaders who have led the phenomenal arts
organi ations that ontri ute so signiﬁcantly to our community's identity and

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ability to attract and retain exceptional
talent," says E. Merritt Vale, president
and CEO of the Winston-Salem
Symphony. "The unique legacy for supporting women in leadership throughout
our community may well have its roots
in our Moravian heritage."
The thread tying together women and
entrepreneurship started by the Single
Sisters would continue
weaving itself into the city's
fabric with efforts led by
Katharine Reynolds and
others who would come
after her. The elite socialite of her day was cut
from a different cloth
than her peers and was
fearless in advancing
many causes, especially
those for women.
Reynolds founded
the state s ﬁrst unior
League and was previously president of the
city's integrated YWCA in 1917,
the same year that she completed Reynolda
House. Her daughters, Mary and Nancy,
continued her philanthropic ventures in
education and the arts.
"People are accepting here of women
in business with a voice," says Vivian
oiner o-o ner of
eet otatoes
Restaurant with partner, Chef Stephanie
Tyson. "Being in business for 14 years
in Winston-Salem has been met with

obstacles but more often than not we
have been measured by our quality,
service, and our commitment to high
standards says oiner.
eet otatoes
Restaurant, along with many others
businesses, especially in downtown,
are loo ed at as ﬁrst su essful
and then as women- owned - that is
true progress."
A few blocks away
Mary Haglund, owner
of Mary's Gourmet
Diner, happily shares
that her purpose is not
just serving up plates of
Southern comfort food
but also supporting,
empowering, and
educating women
entrepreneurs through
her organization, Mary's
Mavens. "Women are
setting a trend in WinstonSalem," says Haglund.
"Instead of only thinking
about ourselves, we help
other women succeed. We see the
accomplishments of each woman as
an accomplishment for us all." ws

EARLY LEADER
Katharine Reynolds (above), wife of
R.J. Reynolds who founded the
eponymous tobacco company, was a
champion for women in Winston-Salem.

PHOTOS (THIS PAGE): REYNOLDA HOUSE MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART; (RIGHT PAGE) JAY SINCLAIR, J FARLEY PHOTOGRAPHY

Sisterhood in the
Single Sisters' City

UNIQUE LEGACY Today, (clockwise from top left) Lynette Matthews-Murphy of Spring House Restaurant, Kitchen & Bar;
Mary Haglund of Mary's Gourmet Diner; Chef Stephanie Tyson and Vivian Joiner of Sweet Potatoes Restaurant; and E. Merritt Vale,
president and CEO of the Winston-Salem Symphony; are all part of a passionate community of female leaders in the city.

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Winston Salem Visitor Guide 2017

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Winston Salem Visitor Guide 2017