Page 10 - MOST RECENT

History is the witness of the times, the

torch of truth, the life of memory, the teacher

of life, the messenger of antiquity.

CICERO

from the official Moravian diaries of the period that "At four o'clock in the morning of June 2nd the entire
Dobson's Tavern was the first stopover place on the long company left" and from George Washington~s own diary
journey between the Moravian settlements of Salem and we read that he had breakfast "at one Dobson's". So
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. our crossroads had the honor of entertaining "our illus-
Now we come to a red letter day in our history. On trious President". We hope Mrs. Dobson knew about
May 31st, 1791 President George Washington visited his visit in time to give him a really good, big breakfast!
Salem. He was returning from his Southern tour and After leaving Dobson's ·Crossroads the presidential
decided to remain two nights in Salem. A letter from party continued on its way toward Guilford Battle-
Salem to Bethabara reads, "You will not have the honor ground. About four miles from the crossroads they
of being visited of our illustrious President as he will go stopped at a spring to g~t water. This spring is located
from here to the Battleground of Guilford tomorrow on the farm of the late J. Carl Beeson. As the party ap-
morning". We know from the Salem Diary of 1791 that proached the spring a little girl came up and was much
frightened, but the President alighted, told her he was
General Washington and talked with her. Before he left
he dropped a coin in her little tin cup. This little girl
lived · to be over ninety years old and was well remem-
bered by the late Charlie Pegram and his sister Rachel
SITE OF DOBSON'S
Brittin Pegram. Mr. Pegram also lived until his 90th
HERE GEORGE WASHINGTON BREAKFASTED J\JNE 2 ,1791.
THE FOLLOWING EXCERPT IS FROM HIS DIARY OF HIS birthday and was well-known in this area. Thus only
SOUTHERN TOUR: •l!fiJ. fl.•,~J.i~" , <>.,. .
two lifetimes spanned the history of this country from
·k'_ '11 .. IN COMPANY WITH THE COVR. I SET OUT fOI\
• . • CVILFORO BY 4 O'CLOCK-BJ.EAKFAS TED AT ONE George Washington almost to the present day.
DOB &ON'• AT THE DISTANC E OF ELEVEN. MILU
Stokes County records show that on October 25,
F ROM A LEM • • .''. • '
1813, Gottlieb Schober bought from William Dobson,
Sr. and William P. Dobson 1032 acres "at the crossroads".
There are many interesting facts about Gottlieb Schober.

This home was built in the 1860's by Rufus Harmon, son of Salome This is the home of Mrs. William Herman Morton on West South Main
Kerner Harmon, one grandson of "Joseph of Kernersville." Rufus was a Street built by Joseph E. Kerner, son of John Frederick Kerner. The house
coach maker and his home stood on the W est side of Main Street (site of built around 1845, was a long house with a long porch upstairs and down.
H armon Park.) The home was moved to the present location on South In 1893 a cyclone blew half the house away. Joseph E. was one of Ker-
Cherry Street. It was bought and remodeled by Mr. and Mrs. Charles nersville's first postmasters and this house was the first post office. Mrs.
Edwards in 1953. Mrs. Edwards is a descendant of Joseph Kerner. Morton resides in the home, and her grandchildren are the 5th generation
to Jive in this house.

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